Dr. Jerry Griffin is calling for Tulsa Public Schools to prepare a contingency plan for the coronavirus should it appear in Tulsa.

Griffin, a candidate for the Tulsa School Board, citing a recent announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention in which Dr. Nancy Messonnier said, “It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.”

Griffin said, “TPS administration should immediately convene appropriate school officials, to prepare and publish a contingency plan to address the coronavirus.

“I have heard from parents who are confused about what they are hearing on the news. TPS must immediately develop this plan and release it to the public.

“In addition, the system should take this issue as a ‘teaching moment’ and prepare handouts to distribute to students, and poster boards to display in the schools. Let’s not wait until the ‘worst scenario to ‘care about parents and children’.

Griffin, a Republican, faces incumbent Democrat Ruth Ann Fate in the April 7 runoff for Tulsa School Board in Office 6. John Croisant faces Republican Shane Saunders in the runoff for TPS Office 5.