Lawmakers push for change in power at OSBE
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Lawmakers have put forward legislation that would allow State Board of Education members to have more of a say in Oklahoma education.
'For me, the way I look at this is if we're going to have a board overseeing how taxpayer dollars are being spent and the education of our kids, then the board members should be able to have some say on the agenda items,' said House Speaker Kyler Hilbert (R-Bristow).
Hilbert is pushing for the amendment which would allow board members to introduce an item at the monthly board meetings. According to the legislation, two members would agree, and then that item would be added.
Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, repurposed House Bill 1491 to allow board members to place items on their meeting agendas. Many lawmakers on both sides if the aisle endorsed the measure.
Stitt-appointed OSBE members clash with Supt. Walters
As of right now, the law states that the Superintendent of Public Instruction has all the say in what goes on the agenda. That is Ryan Walters.
Governor Stitt recently appointed three new members to the board of education after Walters proposed a rule to count undocumented students and their families.
'Do your job,' said Stitt at a presser after his announcement.
It was the following board meeting where the new members brought up that they had concerns surrounding the proposed rule and wanted to discuss it or take action.
But they found out they couldn't take action, that it was up to the superintendent as to what goes on the agenda.
'Why am I even here?' asked new board member Ryan Deatherage during the meeting.
Now, lawmakers appear to be stepping in to try and give them more power at the meetings.
'This isn't about Supt. Walters. This isn't about Governor Stitt. I want to take the focus of everything that we're doing and bring it back to the students,' said Speaker Hilbert.
Walters responded to the push from lawmakers in part with, 'I'll let them argue over this like kids in a schoolyard kickball game. I'm going to focus on fighting for the best interests of Oklahoma's parents and students.'
Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded by approving of the move by lawmakers in part saying, 'I applaud our legislative leaders for doing what they can to clean up the mess that Gov. Stitt and Supt. Walters have made of our public education system.'
It passed Wednesday morning but still must go through the Senate and the governor.
Supt. Walters responded saying, 'Governor Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond want to continue to play politics with President Trump's mandates. I'll let them argue over this like kids in a schoolyard kickball game. I'm going to focus on fighting for the best interest for Oklahoma's parents and students.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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