Oklahoma will consider a new measure to make the role of school district superintendent an elected position in response to a wave of controversial situations involving scholastic leaders, Fox News Digital has learned.
There have been accusations and news reports about several issues: the refusal to remove “pornographic books” from school libraries, the firing of a teacher for not complying with a COVID-19 face mask mandate, and media reports of “nothing (his ) done” in response to reports a high school football coach was bragging to his parents about sexual conquests.
In 2021, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called the firing of mask-averse teachers “ridiculous” and said their talents are needed more than ever.
“This is about a school district not following state law — this is not a debate about masks,” he said, after the Oklahoma City district reportedly fired several teachers, adding that the state previously banned such layoffs.
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In February, Oklahoma Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters – who is himself an elected official – threatened to downgrade the accreditation of schools in Edmond, Oklahoma, if the books “The Glass Castle” and “Kite Runner” were not removed from the top list. are removed. school libraries.
Walters called the inaction “undermining accountability,” though Edmond’s superintendent said the state did not have the authority to remove the books based on a 1997 district policy.
In another case, in Edmond, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of neighboring Texas, among others, destroyed videos showing part of a school fundraiser where students licked each other’s toes.
In a public statement, school officials appeared to celebrate the event:
“This afternoon, Deer Creek High School announced that a total of $152,830.38 had been raised for Not Your Average Joe Coffee, an organization created to “inspire our community by engaging students and adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities involve,” school staff wrote.
“All participants in the meeting were students who had pre-registered for the game(s) they were playing. No Deer Creek faculty or staff participated in any of the games during this Clash of Classes meeting,” said one read part of the last part of the statement.
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Walters called the fundraiser “filth” and Cruz said it was “child abuse.”
In another district on the Arkansas line, now-former Muldrow Superintendent Leon Ashlock resigned after driving drunk and crashing a school vehicle on Creek Turnpike. According to KOCO, two 100-proof bottles of cinnamon schnapps were found in the console.
Walters told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that a case involving a school’s response An athletic director’s criminal activities with a student also caught his attention.
“Even in a conservative state like Oklahoma, where voters have overwhelmingly made it clear that they want the left’s radical progressive policies out of public schools, we continually see regulators defy their will, ignore their concerns, and refuse to take action that’s needed.” is to improve education. results while protecting Oklahoma children,” Walters said.
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“This has to end.”
“And the best way to do that is to require that superintendents be elected by voters.”
Walters called the legislation a common-sense solution to efforts to improve education for Sooner State children.
Walters previously made headlines when he led his state be the first to obtain appropriate funding to provide a Bible to each school. The official said the move dilutes “woke curricula” and provides students with a “historical document” that the founders used to form their government.
