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OSSM requests counselors, round-the-clock security, and building upgrades
Summary
The Oklahoma School of Science and Math requested $985,000 for FY27 — $165,000 recurring and $820,000 one-time — including a licensed professional counselor ($105,000), expansion of armed security for evenings/weekends (chair asked that OSSM seek the standard $96,000 school security grant), a $570,000 dorm roof replacement and a $250,000 fiber upgrade.
Tony Kornforth, president of the Oklahoma School of Science and Math, presented the school’s FY27 budget package and recent national rankings to the Senate subcommittee. He said OSSM needs a licensed professional counselor to support student well-being and additional evening and weekend security to protect residential students.
Kornforth requested $105,000 to fund one licensed professional counselor and $60,000 to upgrade evening and weekend security from unarmed to armed. Chair Pugh asked OSSM to adjust the request to match the state’s per-school security allocation of $96,000 to be consistent with other K–12 security grants.
OSSM also requested a one-time $570,000 appropriation to replace a 28-year-old dorm roof and $250,000 to upgrade aging fiber and Wi‑Fi infrastructure to maintain security systems and campus connectivity. Kornforth said the total package equals $985,000 with $165,000 recurring and $820,000 one-time costs.
The committee did not vote; members encouraged OSSM to submit the revised security request consistent with the state's school security grant level.
