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Tulsa World Interview 2007

Best choice for Tulsa school board

During his four years on the job, Gary Percefull has proven to be an outstanding member of the Tulsa Board of Education. His obvious enthusiasm for Tulsa Public Schools and the positiveactions he's taken as a board member show that he has the best interests of the city's school children at heart.  

Percefull is seeking a second term on the school board representing Election District 1, which includes the Webster and Central high school attendance districts. His hard work and record of accomplishment have earned him re-election on Feb. 13. Percefull can share credit for a lengthy list of accomplishments during his term in office, among them, full-day kindergarten in all elementary schools, along with universal 4-year-old programs and expanded early education; expansion of arts and physical education programs in elementaries; removal of numerous schools from the No Child Left Behind "needs improvement" list; initiation of school- based health clinics. And the list goes on.  

He supported the district's systematic upgrade of school buildings through bond issues, which built a new Clinton Middle School and renovated Addams, Lee and Remington elementaries. His efforts helped TPS avoid teacher and staff layoffs during the economic downturn. He proposed a geographic assignment plan which gave qualifying neighborhood students priority in admission to Booker T. Washington High School. Percefull has worked closely with teachers, neighborhood associations and community groups. In each case his interest was improving the education of Tulsa children. Voters in TPS Election District 1 would be well-served by electing Gary Percefull to a second school board term.