WHAT:       Cherokee Nation distributes more than $6 million among 108 school districts

WHEN:       Thursday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:     Sky Room at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa

WHO:          Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

WHO:          Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner

WHO:          Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd

WHO:          Tax Commission Administrator Sharon Swepston

WHO:           Executive Director of Education Services Ron Etheridge

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Cherokee Nation will distribute more than $6 million to 108 northeast Oklahoma school districts Thursday during the tribe’s annual Public School Appreciation Day.

Each year the tribe allocates 38 percent of tax revenue from the sale of tribal car tags to help schools pay for needs such as teacher salaries, advanced student coursework, classroom technology and other programs.  

Thursday’s distribution is an increase of around $300,000 compared to last year’s disbursement.

The school districts receive money based on the number of Cherokee Nation citizens they have enrolled, though funding benefits all students.

Since 2002, the tribe has awarded school districts in northeastern Oklahoma $62.3 million in education contributions from car tag revenue.