Welcome to OPSUCA! The first question we always get is: “What is OPSUCA?” In Oklahoma, we are in a land of acronyms starting with the letter, “O.” So, this can be a challenge for others to know what we are by our name.

Short answer: We provide legal representation (and other services) to Oklahoma public schools, interlocals, and career technology centers in their unemployment matters before the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC). And, it’s pronounced OP-soo-kah.

Long answer: OPSUCA stands for Oklahoma Public Schools Unemployment Compensation Account. We are a non-profit, self-insurance trust account that was created and is co-sponsored by two education associations – OSSBA which stands for the Oklahoma State School Boards Association and CCOSA which stands for the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration – in 1979 for the benefit of Oklahoma’s public schools, interlocals, and career technology centers. Our goal is to save schools money in unemployment claims through offering top-rate legal representation at all stages of the unemployment process.

Currently, over 340 Oklahoma schools, technology centers, and interlocals enjoy the membership benefits of OPSUCA.  OPSUCA provides member schools with two key benefits. First, it allows them to place funds into their own interest bearing account that is used throughout the course of the year to pay for any unemployment costs. This account is managed by the OSSBA Chief Financial Officer and saves schools the budgeting problem of trying to plan for future unemployment costs throughout the year. Second, schools receive representation by an attorney before the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) through the entire administrative process. Jessica Sherrill, who is also one of the four OSSBA attorneys, represents OPSUCA member schools in all matters before the OESC, including protests of claims, appeal hearings, and the requests for statement error corrections.

As a member, your school, career tech, or interlocal will have access to information concerning any unemployment claims filed, as well as any information regarding your school’s account. You may add to or withdraw funds from your OPSUCA account at any time. You will receive quarterly newsletters, as well as periodic training opportunities.

Our goal is to provide a valuable service to schools that will prevent unnecessary expenses associated with unemployment costs, while keeping the cost of the program down.  Becoming a member is a fairly simple process. There is a fee to cover the administrative costs of operating the program, but OPSUCA does not make any money from the interest that a school’s account earns. For many schools, the interest that their account earns is more than enough to pay for the program fees.

To meet our staff, click here.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address:  2801 N. Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 125, Oklahoma City, OK 73122
Phone: 405-528-3571/888-528-3571
Fax:  405-609-3050
Email:  jessicas@ossba.org

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