Latest news with #Bible-teaching
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Senate confirms Gov. Kevin Stitt's four new state Board of Education nominees
The Oklahoma State Board of Education officially has four new members handpicked by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt as he overhauled the board. The Senate confirmed Stitt's nominations of Michael Tinney, Chris Van Denhende, Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson to the board without debate on Tuesday, May 27. The board governs the Oklahoma State Department of Education and sets policies for K-12 public schools. While Carson was confirmed to the board by a 47-0 vote, the other three nominees all received some pushback from the far-right wing of the Senate's Republican caucus. Tinney, from Norman, was confirmed by a 36-11 vote. Van Denhende, from Tulsa, advanced on a 32-15 vote, and Deatherage, from Kingfisher, by a 33-15 vote. The education board is chaired by Republican state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, but the governor has the power to appoint its six other members. Stitt shook up the board's membership in February, saying it was due to 'ongoing controversy' at the Oklahoma State Department of Education and disappointing standardized test scores. The move also came as Stitt and Walters were increasingly at odds over a wide range of policies, including Walters' proposal to require schools to not just ask for the immigration status of students, but also of their parents. Stitt named Tinney, Deatherage and Van Denhende to the board on Feb. 11 to replace three sitting members. He named a fourth new member, Carson, from Edmond, to fill an open seat on April 28. Walters, who sets the board's agenda, had received no pushback from the board on multiple controversial decisions during his first two years in office, such as issuing a statewide Bible-teaching mandate. That's changed since Stitt appointed Tinney, Deatherage and Van Denhende to the board. During three meetings, the three men have challenged Walters on multiple occasions. Tinney's nomination drew additional interest when the senator from his home district, Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, declined to carry his nomination, citing her friendship with the board member Tinney replaced, Kendra Wesson. In similar situations, the Senate president pro tempore can carry a nomination, which that title holder, Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, initially declined to do before reversing course before Tinney's confirmation hearing in the Senate Education Committee. Standridge was among the group of senators voting against Tinney's nomination. Van Denhende's confirmation hearing included fiery statements from Paxton, Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, the committee's chair, who all decried an email campaign aimed at derailing the nomination. The emails sent to Republican members of the committee compared Van Denhende to the former leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, and included personal attacks against Van Denhende and his family. Senators also criticized an anonymous conservative blog post opposing the nomination. Other nominations approved without opposition by the Senate included: • Dennis Casey of Morrison to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Casey, a former lawmaker, district superintendent and championship-winning football coach, has spent the past five years on the board that governs Oklahoma's 25 public colleges and universities and currently serves as its chair. He'll now serve a full nine-year term. • Tracy Poole of Tulsa to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, which governs Oklahoma State University along with Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami and Connors State College in Warner. Poole, a venture capitalist, will serve an eight-year term. Poole is the founder and managing partner of FortySix Venture Capital in Tulsa. • G. Rainey Williams of Oklahoma City to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Williams will serve a seven-year term. He is president of Oklahoma City-based Marco Capital Group, an investment partnership, and serves as chair of the University Hospitals Authority and Trust and the chair of OU Health. The OU board oversees OU campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa as well as Rogers State University in Claremore and Cameron University in Lawton. • Connie Reilly of Okemah to the Regional University System of Oklahoma board. The vote extended Reilly's tenure on the board, which governs six universities: the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and East Central University in Ada. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate confirms four nominees to state Board of Education
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After months of turmoil, Senate committee approves Stitt's OSBE nominations: How we got here
Three of Gov. Kevin Stitt's four recent nominees to the Oklahoma State Board of Education have passed a key milestone: confirmation by the Senate Education Committee. The nominations of Michael Tinney, of Norman; Ryan Deatherage, of Kingfisher; and Becky Carson, of Edmond are advancing to the full Senate for a final vote. Under state law, the Senate must be finished with its work by May 30. Acting on executive nominations typically is done in the final days of the annual legislative session. Tinney, Deatherage and Chris Van Denhende, of Tulsa, have served on the board, which oversees public education in Oklahoma, since February — clashing frequently with the board's chair, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters — while Carson's first board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21. Van Denhende had his nomination confirmed earlier in May by the Senate committee during a fiery meeting. 'This shouldn't be a controversial board,' Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton said, 'but unfortunately it has become that way.' When the Senate Education Committee met Tuesday, May 20, Tinney's nomination passed 10-2, with Deatherage's nomination advancing on a 9-2 vote. Carson sailed through with a 10-0 vote. The only senators voting against the nominations of Deatherage and Tinney were the committee's most far-right members, Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, and Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, R-Blanchard. Stitt had named Tinney, Deatherage and Van Denhende to the board on Feb. 11 to replace three sitting members. He named a fourth new member, Carson, to fill an open seat on April 28. The governor said in February the board shakeup was due to 'ongoing controversy' at the Oklahoma State Department of Education and disappointing standardized test scores. During his first two years in office, Walters received no pushback from the board on multiple controversial decisions, such as issuing a statewide Bible-teaching mandate or seeking to create an administrative rule that would allow the state Education Department to not just ask for the immigration status of students, but also of their parents. That's changed since Stitt appointed Tinney, Deatherage and Van Denhende to the board. During two meetings, the three men have challenged Walters on multiple occasions. The circumstances regarding Tinney's nomination featured significant additional political drama. Senate tradition requires the nomination be carried by the senator for the district in which the nominee resides, or by the Senate president pro tempore. But Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, declined to carry the nomination of Tinney, who lives in her district. Standridge has cited her friendship with Kendra Wesson, one of the three board members ousted by Stitt in February, as her reason. The Senate president pro tempore, in such cases, can also carry a nomination, but initially, Paxton, R-Tuttle, declined to do so. But after discussions with Stitt and others, Paxton changed his mind. He said Tuesday that Standridge had asked him to carry Tinney's nomination. 'We've had some time to see him on the board and see how he performs on it, so he looks like the right person for the job and (we) wanted to make sure that that we were able to get that through,' Paxton said. Paxton said he discussed Tinney's nomination with Stitt. "The governor feels very confident that he made the right appointment and would love to see that appointment to stay on there,' Paxton said of their conversation. 'He said, 'We can find somebody else, but why go find somebody else when you have a qualified person that's willing to serve?'' Tinney said he was in far southwestern Oklahoma when he heard the news. 'You guys know the kind of hurdles my nomination overcame and I don't want to rehash all that, but I'm just thankful that things got worked out and thankful I got the opportunity to be heard,' Tinney said after his hearing. 'I'm just going to hope I'll be confirmed by the Senate and then I'll get over to doing my job.' During Tinney's 37-minute hearing, Deevers grilled him about whether it might be a conflict of interest for Tinney to serve on the state board, given that Tinney's wife, Ginger, serves as the executive director of Professional Oklahoma Educators, a union-like professional organization. He also asked about a vote Tinney took in a recent board meeting against suspending the license of the teacher accused of child neglect. Tinney said everyone deserves due process in such a setting. Deevers remained unconvinced, saying Tinney had 'too severe a conflict of interest' to serve on the board. In response to a question from Sacchieri about his loyalty to the governor, Tinney replied, 'I will not be a 'yes' man.' Deatherage's hearing lasted about 23 minutes. Deevers asked him about what Title 70 — a portion of state law that governs education and the board — says concerning the board's role. Deatherage likened board members to coaches, who tell the team captain — the superintendent — what plays to run. 'The board guides and checks and makes sure … schools are winning,' Deatherage said. Deevers also asked Deatherage about a recent controversy regarding how Walters pushed through new state social studies academic standards. Deatherage, Tinney and Van Denhende all have said they didn't have sufficient time to read the final version of the standards, and that they felt deceived when Walters said they had to vote during the February meeting to meet legislative deadlines, when the actual deadline wasn't until the end of April. Carson's hearing lasted only 13 minutes. Deevers asked her only one question and Sacchieri offered a couple of others. Carson said her mantra in education was the question, 'Is it good for kids?' She also said 'our children … are watching us. What message are we sending them?' The committee also approved, without opposition, the nomination of Tulsa venture capitalist Tracy Poole to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, which governs Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Connors State College. OSU President James Hess joined three other system presidents at the hearing to support Poole's nomination. Also approved was the re-nomination of current Regional University System of Oklahoma Regent Connie Reilly, of Okemah. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Stitt's OSBE nominations get Senate committee confirmation
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In about-face, Senate leader agrees to carry nomination of state Board of Education member
In a political about-face, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton now will carry the executive nomination of state Board of Education member Michael Tinney. Paxton's decision to speak on behalf of Tinney became evident on Monday, May 19, when the agenda for the Tuesday, May 20, Senate Education Committee meeting was made public. Among others, the committee will hold confirmation hearings for three of the four recent state Board of Education nominees made by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Paxton is listed as the Senate sponsor for Tinney. Paxton wasn't available for comment Monday about why he changed his mind. No matter the reason for Paxton's decision, Stitt said he was pleased Tinney would receive a hearing. 'Mike Tinney is a great conservative and a great Oklahoman who is willing to serve his state in this capacity,' Stitt said. 'I'm glad that we're getting politics out of the way so board members can get to the business of serving our kids.' What caused Paxton's change of heart? It remains uncertain. But during a confirmation hearing for board nominee Chris Van Denhende on Thursday, May 15, Paxton took an unusual step for a Senate president pro tempore. He spoke out against what he and others believed to be an orchestrated email campaign against Van Denhende from far-right sources. Some of those emails compared Van Denhende to Mikhail Gorbachev, the former leader of the Soviet Union, and others attacked Van Denhende's family members. Paxton spoke about his disgust with the campaign and said the messages were written 'by people who feel empowered by a keyboard' who 'send emails at 2 or 3 in the morning' and called their content 'unfair, hateful opposition.' 'If you shared those things … then you are part of the problem,' he said. Van Denhende's nomination was approved by the committee and sent to the full Senate for a final vote. Stitt had named Tinney and Van Denhende to the board along with Ryan Deatherage on Feb. 11. He named a fourth new member, Becky Carson, on April 28. The governor said in February the board shakeup was due to 'ongoing controversy' at the state Education Department and disappointing standardized test scores. The overhaul also came amid increasing tension between Stitt and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, who is the board's chair by nature of his elected position. Stitt is credited with bringing Walters into Oklahoma government, but the two Republicans ― once friends and political allies — now are at odds, as Walters has taken public political positions opposite those of Stitt. During his first two years in office, Walters received no pushback from the board on multiple controversial decisions, such as issuing a statewide Bible-teaching mandate or seeking to create an administrative rule that would allow the Oklahoma State Department of Education not just to ask for the immigration status of students, but of their parents, as well. That's changed since Stitt appointed Tinney, Deatherage and Van Denhende to the board. During two meetings, the three men have challenged Walters on multiple occasions. Carson's first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, the day after her confirmation hearing. Major executive appointments require confirmation by the Senate, which typically holds such hearings in May, near the end of the legislative session. Senate tradition requires the nomination be carried by the senator for the district in which the nominee resides, or by the Senate president pro tempore. Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, declined to carry the nomination of Tinney, who lives in her district. Standridge has cited her friendship with Kendra Wesson, one of the three board members ousted by Stitt in February, as her reason. "I denied that because Kendra is a friend," Standridge told The Oklahoman on May 1. "She's also a constituent. I felt like she was doing a great job, and she was fired unceremoniously. Had Mike been treated in that way, I would deny someone else's confirmation, if they were doing a great job. "It's a horrible decision to have to make, but I felt that at the end of the day, doing what is right is standing up for my friend." At that time, Paxton had also opted against carrying Tinney's nomination, despite considerable political pressure from Stitt's office to do so. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSBE member Michael Tinney will get confirmation hearing after all
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt adds another new member to Ryan Walters-led education board
Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to fill the lone open seat on the Oklahoma State Board of Education with a veteran Edmond educator. Stitt's appointment of Becky Carson could further curb the influence of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters over the board and Oklahoma schools. Stitt and Walters, both Republicans, are increasingly at odds over how to improve K-12 education in the state. Carson is the fourth person named to the board by Stitt since February, when he ousted and replaced three sitting board members. At the time, he cited disappointing test scores and "ongoing controversy" at the Oklahoma State Department of Education as his reasons. Stitt has not formally announced Carson's appointment. Her appointment came to light through paperwork Stitt filed with the Oklahoma secretary of state on April 23. Carson's nomination, to fill a term that will end April 2, 2027, is subject to Senate approval. Spokespeople for Stitt did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the nomination. Neither did a spokeswoman for Walters. Stitt's moves to reshape the board could have major implications for Walters, who chairs the board and sets its agenda. Until this spring, Walters had faced no pushback from board members as he rolled out sweeping policy changes affecting schools statewide, such as barring school districts from changing a student's sex or gender designations in official records without board approval or implementing a statewide Bible-teaching mandate. During his first two years in office, no board member cast a vote opposite of Walters. In January, the board unanimously passed a rule Walters proposed that would require schools to track students' immigration statuses. Stitt has criticized the proposal, which is pending final approval by state lawmakers. The governor appoints six members of the seven-person board, with the state superintendent holding the seventh seat. The board has operated with only six people since October 2022, without a representative from the Fifth Congressional District. That seat remained vacant after a state senator refused to carry one of Stitt's prior nominations, Alex Gray, before the Senate. A Senate spokesman said Carson can join the board and participate in meetings before being confirmed by the Senate. That body typically works on confirming high-level executive nominations during May, the final month of the legislative session. Stitt's other new picks for the state education board, who also are awaiting Senate confirmation, already are having an impact. At the board's April 23 meeting, the three new members — Chris VanDenhende, Ryan Deatherage and Michael Tinney — delayed the approval of contested board minutes and debated with Walters about the circumstances surrounding a vote to approve controversial social studies standards. Two of them told The Oklahoman before the meeting they would like the Oklahoma Legislature to return the proposed standards to the board for further consideration. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, filed a resolution hours after the meeting to disapprove the standards. Pugh is the chair of the Senate Education Committee, which first will consider Carson's nomination. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Stitt adds another new member to Ryan Walters-led OSBE
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Supreme Court pauses Ryan Walters' attempt to buy Bibles, Bible-infused curriculum
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has halted so-called 'request for proposals' for Bibles and Bible curriculum for Oklahoma classrooms, but has left open the question about the constitutionality of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters' Bible-teaching mandate for state schools. The order, signed by Chief Justice Dustin Rowe, was issued Monday. In the past two weeks, there have been a flurry of filings in the lawsuit, which was originally filed Oct. 17. The lawsuit asked the court to halt Walters' mandate, issued in June, and bar Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education from spending $3 million in state money on Bibles. The agency is attempting a second 'request for proposals' seeking bidders to provide Bibles for classrooms. The original request was written in such a way that very few versions of the Bible — namely one endorsed by President Donald Trump — appear to meet all the standards specified. The state Office of Management and Enterprise Services, a defendant in the lawsuit, had asked the court to order it to stop working on processing two request for proposals, or RFPs, from the Oklahoma State Department of Education — one for the Bibles, a second for Bible-infused curriculum for elementary classrooms — until the court issues a final decision. The agency had told the plaintiffs it was legally obligated to proceed with processing the RFPs until a court directive ordering it to do otherwise is issued. Rowe's decision said a ruling on the plaintiff's request to enjoin Walters from 'taking any other action to implement or enforce the Bible Education Mandate is deferred to the decisional stage.' Walters' desire was to spend $3 million in money from the fiscal year that ended in June for Bibles — the current RFP — and $3 million from the current fiscal year for more Bibles. The Oklahoma Senate's education budget subcommittee didn't include the $3 million Walters requested for the current fiscal year in its recommendation for this year's state Education Department budget. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Supreme Court pauses Ryan Walters' attempt to buy Bibles
