Good afternoon, everyone. Weird being here in this late in the day. Um thank you all for being here. Let's it looks like we've got a quorum. So, miss London, do you mind? I'll call us to order if you can do a roll call for us. Miss Lapaque. Here. Mister Vanderhand. Here. Mister Tenney. Here. Mister Deathridge. Here. Miss Carson. Here. Superintendent Walters. Here. So we do have a quorum. Uh miss London was the agenda posted in accordance with the Open Meeting s Act. It was. Thank
you very much. Um next item is the Pledge of Allegiance, Noqua Flag Salute. If you would stand with me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Now, they open the flag salute. I salute the flag of the state of Oklahoma. The symbols of peace unite all people. And I'm going to say a prayer here before we get started. Dear god, we pray that every Oklahoma
student gets the education that they deserve. We pray that you're with all the parents, teachers, and staff in the school to support our kids. We pray that everyone makes decisions for kids based on what the parents want for their children because parents know best for their kids. Amen. Okay. Next on the agenda. Sorry. Next on the agenda is the comments from the state superintendent. Um I'll I'll keep this pretty brief here today. Uh very excited on the
progress going on at the Federal Department of Education. Appreciate President Trump and Linda McMahon shutting down the department and working to grant states more flexibility. We offered the largest waiver in the country's history to give more power back to Oklahoma back to this board, back to the people, back to school districts. Uh we've been meeting with Trump administration on a weekly basis to hone in what that waiver can do and frankly what we're probably looking at is getting parts of the waiver over time. So, we will keep Oklahomans and the Board of
Prize of any progress made along those lines but again, this could give us more flexibility and I mean, you can nearly name it whether it's the school report card, the accountability system, student testing, teacher recruitment, child nutrition, special needs. We can go on and on but it but it would give the state of Oklahoma more flexibility and more money because the money wouldn't be tied up and the bureaucratic strings at the federal level will be given back to us. We're very excited about that. Uh very excited to continue moving forward with new curriculum as we begin to
develop that with our new standards. Uh we're also very excited about summer school programs that will be kicked off. We had a great year last year. We had some of our districts launching the biggest summer school programs that they ever had. We want to continue to support that and support districts using their best teachers in those summer school programs. We think that's very to the success of our young people to get caught back up over the summertime. Um so, that's that's something we're very excited about and lastly, we're going to make sure with the new curriculum and new content being provided for kids that we're preparing them for jobs and so you're
going to hear a lot for us as the summer moves on into next school year but how curriculum is aligning to the jobs that Oklahoma needs but also what aligns the talents of our young people. So, we're very excited about that. Um and that's all I've got. Let's go ahead and move in to discussion impossible action of the minutes. We got several of these lined up, folks. So, I'll flip here in my book but we've got January twenty-eighth, February 27th, April twenty-fourth. I know that some additions were made to those. Um
so, if there's comments, discussion, action on, let's do January twenty-eighth. This it will be the first one in your binder first. Oh and I apologize. Welcome, Becky Carson. Uh her first board meeting. So, she has been sworn in. She's ready to go. I apologize for that, Becky. We appreciate you being here and welcome to the board. I'll move to approve the January 28th, 2025 minutes. We have a motion. Do we have a second? In the conversation with mister Not necessarily need a vote to give
them in but I personally will be voting no but I did want to count her. This one and maybe you can tell me the proper boat. Is it present or abstain? If I choose to not register a vote That would be abstain. Okay. Sometimes it's present but so I just wanted to make that comment but I will second to move ahead on a vote Okay. We have a motion in a second. Is
there any further discussion before we call Roll? Yeah, miss Lenny, my cone roll force. Miss LePac, yes. Mister Vanderhandy. Abstain. Mister Tinney. Uh abstain. I just don't know how I can vote on him since I wasn't there. Mister Deathridge. Abstain. Miss Carson, abstain as as what mister Kenney said I wasn't present so. Superintendent Walters? Yes. So, motion fails, correct? Within
two. Four here and if I could just ask a question. Yes, sir. Yeah. My understanding, mister Patmos, that these minutes can still be filed and meet the requirements of the Department of Education to file these minutes that they'll provide without I would recommend that the board direct Miss London to file the minutes in accordance with the Open Meeting s Act. This has been open since January. Uh you are correct. It doesn't necessarily
have to be a vote. It's been an accommodation. Uh but they need to be placed in the records and I would strongly recommend that you direct Miss London to do that today. Okay so so the county operative technology. So, the recommendation from our board attorney is that we have a motion to place the minutes as they are now into the records without approval. Correct. Okay. Well, so I don't know if I need to resay
that but I would make that motion. Emotion to instruct and mister Pepmus mentioned Amy. I don't know if that's the appropriate but whoever Department of Education to place these minutes into the record without a vote from the board. Yes and then and not Miss London individually in her capacity as executive. Okay. So, that's the motion. So this is just so so for like thirty. So with this motion, she could file it
so that way we would meet any obligations from an open meeting without there necessarily being a vote to correct. Okay. So there is no obligation but there is a 2012 Oklahoma Attorney decision from mister Pruitt's office that goes into great detail about the minutes and he comes to the conclusion that there is no requirement of the open meeting act to approve or disapprove the minutes. However, conclusion is
they do need to be placed into the files of the board or agency to comply with the open mediums act and that's what my recommendation is consistent with this AG opinion. And and just to be clear, mister Cutmas and I had a fairly leaky conversation about all sorts of statues and stuff which hurt my head. But that's the purpose of this motion is I don't feel in good conscience having not participated in the lead up to or the meeting that I could vote to approve
but I still believe the Department of Education should be able to fulfill their legal responsibility to place those into the record. So, that's the point. So is your motion just for the January minutes? Yes. Okay. Yes Uh that sounds reasonable Second to it. We have a motion of secondly further discussion. This will pack. Yes. Mister. Yes. Mister Tinney. Yes. Mister
Guthrich. Yes. Miss Carson. Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. So that motion passes. Um the next item is when you take a look at the the the minutes of February twenty-seventh. Uh say Board of Education meeting. I would make a motion. Make a motion we did last time is to table those, do the controversial, the social study standards. I don't want to get back into that again. I know there's a case
pending on it until there's some resolution there. I I would just, my motion is just to table those minutes. I'm in second Okay, we have a motion, a second to table the minutes from the February board meeting. Any further discussion? Are there changes that need to be made to the minutes to reflect? Who made motions? More accurately or to something else. I think it's more about the process. I don't have an amendment. I just
think for the time being, I've recommended the table. And that's my motion anyway. And just to clarify, I second the motion but I can't hear. Personally, I feel like the things that I'm concerned aren't in the minutes would be rehashing conversations we've had and I don't think given the attending a lawsuit in the
appropriate to have those discussions. Would you all speak fairly and directly into your microphone, please? And mister Tinny just so is your recommendation we table them forever or are you wanting to make an amendment I recommend we just table for this meeting pending what happens I mean the lawsuits probably not going to be over in a month but I'm just not comfortable. They accurately reflect what happened at
the meeting and I I don't want to get back into that again and rehash all that. I just my motion is just a table. That's. As council, I don't like to interject but the just to be clear, the AG opinion is very clear on two things. It's clear that one, it's not to be a verbatim statement and that could be a violation of the open meetings act because it forces you to fight through it. It's supposed to be a summary of actions and things that occurred and two, that if you wait too long to get them into the official
files, the data itself could be an official of open meetings violation act. So, Uh I just wanted to advise you that as you're considering these table. I think this is February and we're now in the May and looking to go into June. No, I can't remember. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Uh so, let me just add this in. Could, well, we we can take a vote on it and come back to it but I mean, we could potentially do what we did on the first one if the board would be comfortable where we could vote on it and then potentially have it filed.
Would that meet your any issues you would have? No, of course. Functionally, they would be able to be filed but we could also show on the record that they weren't approved by the board. Correct. Okay. I just, we, we can vote and we can discuss that afterwards. I just want to get that understood before we vote. And and I appreciate that suggestion. I would support that the the only thing that would cause me heartache is if at some point, we don't get to revisit the deficiency that I think I feel like is
in those minutes. So, if you would honor a request that we could maybe if prior to the next meeting and set a time frame prior to the next meeting that we could amend the record if we could make an amendment and agree to that. I don't I Yes, sir. I don't have any issue with that. You're saying maybe perhaps if we passed them this time, we could come back with a proposed amendment next time. So, I think what superintendent Walters has asked is that we allow I'm
going to say miss London but tell me the your appropriate title so. Executive sector. So, we would allow the executive secretary to file the minutes so that the state department is compliant with their legal requirement to have minutes but that Superintendent Walters if we could revisit at the next meeting the deficiencies that we feel at least that I feel because I feel it's similar for the April minutes.
Although I don't know that I would agree with that. Is that doable legally? Yeah there's nothing wrong. Um with proposed amendments and you know it certainly can be prepared. Uh on this London that are official you certainly can make suggestions but I would recommend that we go ahead and move along with that process to be in a position to have them in the all-in-one vote. Can I just change my motion then to not approve the minutes from that but to go ahead and put em in the
whatever you used to put them in the file as needed for the department and then, we'll revisit them next meeting. Is that all proper motion? Under the AG opinion, they don't have to be approved or disapproved. Okay. And whether they're approved or disapproved doesn't mean that the action is valid or invalid. It's already occurred. The only thing that we're talking about just to put a point on it is that it reflects whether you agree with it or disagreement with it. What happened at the Meeting itself and if there are
errors and I think that one that was highlighted is mister Bethridge brought a motion. I think that that's something that is fairly easily to be corrected and we should do that but I don't think it contemplates that we would draft lengthy narratives or addendums on personal beliefs or statements based upon this AG opinion of merely state. This was the general discussion. This was the action. This was the vote. I know was the was the corrections made. I haven't found the corrections in here. The request was made in the last meeting. to be
corrected. Were were they reflected in this month's? Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Okay. Uh I'm asking. I just didn't see it. So, I'm sure they are. Yes, sir. They were. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. And that was on the the motion that you were concerned about. That's correct. Yes, ma'am. Are they? Miss London, do you mind what what section is that in that would reflect that so I could take a look at that. I was under B I believe right now. Looking at that. And I did not see that
correction. So bear with me. Miss London, would you mind helping me with what page that's on? Page four. Uh because I'm not a top board member. Dathridge moved to approve the recommendation. Okay and I I don't see it corrected in my copy. So, how. I don't think it's going to my name. It's not correct. I'm not challenging you. I'm just trying to make sure that I'm looking at the right form. Miss LaPack, did you, would you agree that it's not? Yeah, I it looks the same too. Yeah, I think I've I've got my highlight on mine so. Yeah. I think we need to take them again. But you're talking about page four which is six
A, one. A one. Yeah, I think that needs to. Yeah. Be amended to reflect I think I made the motion I don't know who seconded it. We may have to check the transcript. You did. I made them. Okay. You did. Yes, the wrong copy got in the packet. My apologies. Okay. So, if I know there's a pending motion but like if we were moving to approve, we could do that. I believe just
verbally today and say, with the correction that. Correct. This person made the motion could approve the minute. Yeah. But I you have a pending motion right now to to do something else. So, right? Yeah, I think we have a motion in a second. We have a motion in a second on the floor. So, we can withdraw or modify em. Kinda depends on where you want to go with it. Well, actually, we voted to amend these last time so I would not still stand. Even though it's just
not in here? I believe we tabled them last time. Okay, that's right. We amended and we tabled them with the idea that she was going to correct them and then, I thought maybe approval. Let's move along. I I can I can explain what happened. I amended the minutes and what happened was when I was putting the board packet together in your notebooks to save cost and not have those reprinted.
I've moved those minutes and that's why you don't show them edited in your pocket today. So the methods we received online are not the same minutes. That is correct. The ones that you received in your handout packet online are the minutes that were corrected. So, for the sake of progress, if we tabled and made it simple and tabled one more time, that's not going to unhinged anything in the department. Can we just do that? Uh and I go back to my original motion and
let's keep things moving. Can I in the spirit of keeping things moving, I think we might get bogged down on the next one. Can I, can I just, can we just table all the minutes and all of us just recognize that whatever changes need to be made, we need to communicate those. We need to see the drafts in plenty of time so we don't have this issue again. Is that I don't know if that's part of a motion or just an agreement that but I think we have
we have a motion on the floor. We have a second on the floor. We need to take action on the motion. If there's no action we have the second so we would need to vote if I if I'm correct to either kill it or restart it. That's correct. Yeah, well, I'll withdraw my second and ask mister Tinny if he wants to modify his I think we're going to let's simplify it. We'll leave it here and we can Imma Imma leave it. You guys can vote it down. Imma leave it just a table right now. Just to make it simple. We got a lot of issues Will. Can I ask missus London a question? So, if the revised amended minutes
aren't in our pocket, where can they be found? There they should be online. Yes. So they're there. Yes. Just not in your pocket because I organized the books according to the schedule. Or I'm sorry to the agenda. And this is what I printed. So see if that's correct. So, mister Tinney has filed to table or filed a motion to table the minutes. Do we have a second
or further discussion around that motion? So, mister Tinney, is your is your motion just to table? Just a table. Okay. I'll I'll second that. I'm looking at the documents that were online. I believe and there is not a correction on this and I mean I. Yes, I get this. Miss London. Yeah I I think there's just too much confusion on this topic. Let's let's table it and. Yeah. So, yeah, we've got a motion.
Wait, was there so. Yeah, I just. There's a motion in a sec. Yeah. Okay. I I would just request that we get the revised minutes before twenty-four hours before our meeting. So, we have plenty of time to review, make sure we're comfortable Um but that's just a statement. Stand by my second. Okay, we have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? So London, can you call Roll for us? Mister Pack. Uh yes.
Excuse me. Mister Van Hand. Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Dethridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Uh no. Okay, so motion passes to table the February 27th minutes. Um let's take a look at April twenty-fourth minute. So, we're at or see here. We're going to move to approve the April twenty-fourth 20 25 minutes. We have a motion. We have a motion. Do
we have a second? All second. We have a motion to second any further discussion. Miss London, do you mind calling me for us? Miss Pat. Yes. Mister yes. Mister Ten. Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson. Subtain. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Okay, motion passes. Um taking a look at the consent docket here. Uh we've got couple of items there and just a reminder board on a consent docket. I
mean, this is a pretty short one but just if you ever want to pull something off the consent docket, feel free to make that motion or reach out to us beforehand and anybody reach out to me to pull anything off but we can vote on those things. Um holistically or we can pull things off of there as well. So, there's an A which is the request to approve the exemptions of the State Board of Education Certificate Regular that's going to be in your binder there Um we have some of that information. We discussed last board meeting. In front of it there
for you to kind of continue to see the updated running total as we continue through the year. So we'll just continue to do this so you all can kind of see and again it it'll it'll change some as the year progresses and it will get kind of the year end totals closer as we get into the fall. Uh period before the next school year. And then you got the list. So the list again you can pull off any individual from that list. Um if there were to be any issues but this is to grant them the provisional license. So, the district, the
requesting district has already filed all the documentation. You kind of see that at the top part. So, that's all been received by our agency and so that's where we move forward with the recommendation that all of these emergency certificates be approved. Superintendent Walters, I'd like to before we look at voting on this, I'd like to make a couple of statements and observations just about emergency certification in general. Um I definitely and as a classroom teacher, I definitely understand the need for this. Um this is not a new issue Um you know, we would
think it is with the crisis that we're facing today but it's not. 20 years ago, I was offered a job at the State Department to oversee a grant and that grant was only going to look at teacher retention and how we gain quality teachers in this state and here we are 20 years at later asking the same questions. Um so, I definitely understand the need Um I understand the need to put quality educators in the classroom. I think it's a necessary for lack of better words and necessary evil at this
point. Um the school districts are doing the best that they can to find quality educators but they're just not here. And and so I understand that need. When I was going through the information that I was sent. The fact that we have 4-nine sorry 4500 emergency certificates in the state to year to date. Even though I we run a crisis, it kind of slap me in the face and so, I have a in saying that. I have a couple of questions about not
particular individuals but just in general. What are we doing to ensure that these individuals that are on this list and previous list, you know, we're now offering them bonuses to come to the state. Sir, what are we doing to ensure that they're not just here for the for the quick for the quick bonus and then turning away and going to another state. So, that would be my first question. Yeah, that's a good question. So, that's where in all of our bonus programs, we've required them to stay for a certain amount of years to your point. You know, if if you if you give teachers a bonus but
there's no stipulation on time, that would be the concern, right? As they come in, they get the bonus and they leave. So, all of our grant, all of our signing bonuses have all had a requirement of years to stay in the classroom. Um frankly, we've always done no less than three because a lot of the data shows after year three especially if you do five, year 5, the rate dramatically increases. That was kind of the data points there for three and 5 years being that tied with the bonus but I do agree with you. You've gotta continue to to attach longevity to it or else programs like that could be used in a way that
wouldn't actually retain them. Would be beneficial to us. Um the otherwise, when they are granted this emergency certificate, when a new teacher and they're certified and they're a first year teacher, they're given a mentor teacher and that teacher walks them through the process of that and they're in their classroom and they're observing and they're answering questions and they're meeting with that teacher. Um are we doing the same thing with those emergency certificates? That's a great question. Yes, ma'am. So, you know, we've continued to ask for the mentor program to continue in
our budget. We've also allotted more funds from the agency to support those types of programs. Uh we've also very proud of our work with the teacher empowerment program to provide grants for teachers across the state that are your high performers and one of the stipulation is that they help the oncoming teachers. So, that is something and that was a program that, you know, we've done the five or $10, 000 bonuses. These are up to forty, $50, 000 bonuses. So, I I think I completely agree with both of your sentiments there of we have to recruit, get people to come here to
stay but at the same point, you you've gotta utilize the highly talented teachers here to mentor and I mean, I've I've told the story before. If I didn't have a a gentleman that came down the hall and helped me every day, I I don't know how long I would have been a teacher for. I mean, it's just the honest truth there and so, you know, we try to make sure that the programs are in place so that when you're new and especially to your point, if you're emergency certified and I will say this, when I visit districts across the state, I do have districts that often tell me, you know, you're not going to believe it. This one of our a teacher that we really like and and their emergency certified. You know, so there there are it is interesting how
this opens up pathways for individuals but to your point, these are folks that often don't have a classroom management training and again, I I'll brag on like Putnam City and some others that have really launched a hey, we do our own classroom management and it's like a multi course. I mean, I really love when districts do that because to your point and you know, you want to make sure that that's that's done. So, I agree with the sentiment and I think that's something we've gotta just continue to do. Well, and I think that was part of my the next question is, are we requiring districts to provide training with these teachers? Um we do some. Um a lot of it
is at the district's discretion. So, I think that is something you know, always to look at. The legislatures often struggled back and forth with this of, you know, again, how much do you require? How much do you incentivize and so that's always kind of the the argument but you know, I I think that the data bears it out as well. You see that with the mentoring. Um if somebody has a mentor teacher and they rate that as a quality experience, you you see the retention rate go up dramatically so. Um another part of that is that they're only required to have a bachelor's degree. Um it does not
they do not have to have it in even in the subject matter that they're teaching or in education. Mm hmm. Which is a little bit of not not a little. It's a great concern to me and not like you said, be a list. I went through just the first four pages and there are 38 of those emergency certificates that don't have anything, their degrees don't have anything to do with education or the subject matter that the they would be teaching. Um so, for example, we have a a young lady who is a criminal justice major and she has applied for
emergency certificate for Elementary Education. Um we have a business major who is applying for a certificate in childhood. Um one of our most important areas in education is that early childhood. Where we're making those interventions at at an early age because they can make such a big difference. Mm hmm. I think we have to be really careful with that. I mean, I know you know, we're looking at, yes, they have to have a degree but sometimes that's not the most
important thing and so, that's just my concern and now, I just have a couple of three more questions. One is, there are little numbers next to the names of the individuals on some of them. Can you tell me what those little numbers represent? Um by the individuals or by the district. By the individuals. The numbers in Perens. Yeah. Uh I believe they're in. So, the first one on the list. Sorry, miss. Kristen. Yes, they are in. Yeah. So, I don't want to say names out loud but the first one has a number oh that's my way. In the
parenthesis EDIC. Yeah. Um let me flip to the first page. See if we've got an explanation of that. I do not remember at the top of my head here. I know those individuals, some of those individuals that have that also have the star which indicates they're asking for a renewal. Right. Um so, I thought that I assume that that meant that's how many times they've asked for a renewal but Um that's a good question. Um I'm not sure. I can check into that for you because. Because if that is what it represents, that concerns me
that this is their fifth time to ask for a renewal but yet they're not certified yet. That would be my concern No, I understand though. Time to to get it an education Um also was one of our steps that we're taking to get the ones that district say, oh, you won't believe. This is, you know, she's one of our best teachers and she's emergency certified. Sure. What are we doing to attract and to enable those that were able to keep those good ones and get those good ones certified? Are we giving them any type of, you know, sometimes, I
know, the University of Central Oklahoma would offers not stipends but they would give credit to mentor teachers I was a mentor teacher for a student teacher, I got credit at the college level that I could go and take classes. Sure. Um and so I was just entered to what are we doing to make sure that they are headed down the path of getting certified. Well, that's a great question and and most of the time, you know, when you do the emergency certification, you can't come back and ask for the same emergency certification, the same area but to your point, what you do is people can ask for a different area
and so, you know, that right now is in the legislation. So, that's in statute. So, you know, districts. Now, I will say just for the context, districts do have to post the position. If someone applies that has the proper certification, they get the job first. So, just I just want to give that context. Yes, everybody listen but but no, I mean, you know, right now, the incentives are basically, you know, that we're trying to actively get districts to go out and recruit and retain. We've got a lot of build your own programs that have come. We've heard a lot of great things of those of you know, getting kids that are seniors to come
back, kind of do some teachers assistant work, and then come back over the summers and work with the district. So, the grow your programs have been very successful. Uh we funded some of those in the past as well and so, I think, you know, those are the type of things we try to do to continue to incentivize that and try to reward the districts to do it and that's also, I mean, frankly, I'll go back to it again, the teacher empowerment program where there's over 30 million dollars available. That is a district decision and now we we finally got up to you know, we got a lot more districts sent onto that but again, they can utilize that to incentivize mentor teacher, to incentivize certifications, things like that. So, I mean, we try to
give them the flexibility but also encourage them to do Okay, thank you for addressing those. I just you know, the year-to-date total was a little over 4500 and like I said, it's not, this is not a new issue. It's not a new problem for our state but it is just began that it is now, you know, what I would call a crisis when we have 40, 000 educators in this state and that's about 10% of our our teacher workforce. Thank you for addressing those. Absolutely. And I just ask a
question. Great conversation and clearly the two of you are on the same page because you're both in the classroom. I need a little catch up. You mentioned the bonus. Mm hmm. So, is there a bonus for emergency certified or for teachers? So, an emergency certified teacher is getting a bonus. That's a great question. Um and thank you for clarifying. Uh all of our bonus programs, you have to have an active certificate. So, emergency certs are not eligible for it. So, frankly, when we first read the program, that was one of the incentives was well. Also, you you're not eligible these
programs unless you get a certification. So, that's something we've always tried to kind of tout as well of, you know, as part of our incentive package, we try to incentivize the teachers to go ahead and follow through with the certification. So, if those emergency certified teachers, if they did follow through, at the end of that, they could apply for that bonus. They could. Mm hmm. Yes, ma'am. Mm hmm. Okay. So, those are all the bonuses and areas that we have shortages. Not necessarily specific to this but they could work into that. That's correct. Yes, sir. Thank you. Oh sorry. Go ahead.
Superintendent Walters, I've been asked several times about the bonus program. Mm hmm. Is there something that you could possibly have somebody on your staff kind of prepare a synopsis for us board members that. Sure. Um kind of goes through that. So, what it we kind of talk about the different bonus programs just so that we're a little more educated and that when we're approached, that we have some talking points that we could share with school district across the state? Absolutely and you know,
that's one of those things that would love to love to give you guys an update on that and would love to continue to advertise it. Um it's one of those things where we've had tremendous success with it and we're going to continue to try to find any kind of incentive program we can and make sure that the districts are utilizing them. That's kind of the other part of it is you know, especially our districts are on the border level because they really try to go in Arkansas and Texas and utilize em but absolutely happy, happy to do that. Superintendent Walters, on the consent docket on action item B, are we going to be able to that out just so I could address that. Yeah, they're separated,
right? Like we would vote on eight. Yes, sir. We would vote on A and then go to B. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Superintendent Walters. Uh I I appreciate that too, superintendent. How would we get that just in our Emails or later on or how's that going to give in? Absolutely, we can even, I think it would be good to do a full synopsis of the first year program, second year program, and then what we're doing this year. So, y'all would have the context too. So, we very much appreciate it. And we put that a full report. Okay, excellent. That'd be great. Thank you. Are you, miss Carson, I appreciate your insight.
That that was helpful to all of us. Are you going to make a motion one way other on this. If you want to we'll reline your expertise. I make a motion that we go ahead and improve the State Board of Education Teacher Certification and prevent these emergency certificates. Then I would second. Okay, we have a motion a second. Is there any further discussion? Miss Lonnie, do you mind calling roll for us? Miss LaPat, yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Penny? Yes.
Mister Guthridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. And now, yes, sir. Miss Death, mister Deathridge, let's move to six I mean, sorry. Five B discussion of possible recommendations on the qualified suppliers, the mobile panic system. So, there's again, some of this was provided last time but we've got the the panic minute in history, the RFI that was sent out, I believe the memorandum was added. I believe you had that last time. So, we wanted you
to get the whole have the information in front of you there as believe we tabled it or or we that whatever we did, we kicked it to this board meeting. So, let's happy to discuss or answer any questions we can from from that. Thank you, Superintendent Walters. Um I I would ask I am going to make a motion here in just a second but is there some documentation when we talked about the qualifications of the vetting of these that the vendors. I I see that they're on here but could we get a copy
of the vetting process and what was used to vet these in the scoring system and how that went about. Uh I would greatly appreciate that. Um I've done quite a bit of research and had conversations with the legislation and and this all kind of evolves around Alyssa's Law. Well, it is Alyssa's Law. Um there's some movement at the Capitol and the legislator that are going to be moving funds from SDE to DPS. Um and
through so my understanding is that that this contract that they're talking about with Rave is going to be handled over there. So, we're really talking about these vendors here that's going to be inside the school district. Uh it's be basically if they wanted to go outside the scope of what the state provides, these vendors would be put on a list. Is that still your understanding, Superintendent Walter? Yes, sir. That's that's my understanding. Okay, I would make a motion that we accept these and that they be added to the list, Superintendent Walters.
And we have a motion. Hold a second. We have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Yes. Mister Vandehan. Yes. Mister Tinney? Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walkers? Yes. Um motion passes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Uh I don't know what the process would be getting a copy of that but if Email's fine with me, if it's coming to me in an Email on that vetting problem. I don't know if that'll come through OEMS or if it'll
come through our your office here, sir or. Yeah, well, we'll make sure we we will request it from OES but we'll we'll make sure that you have all that information. Miss London, let's make sure we get an Email to, well, if everybody else wants it, we can get it everybody. Just get that to the board of the all the process, scoring, just the whole, all the documentation around that. Thank you, Superintendent Walters. Yes, sir. Um let's look. So, next we have accreditation standards and board and Becky, I'm I'm going to go ahead and kind of start from beginning since that you were gone for this one
but we had a district Manford Public School District that requested a waiver. They went below the 165 days that intentionally go below the 165 days. They had the fires that really put amount for a while and and they did a great job. By the way, there's a great story there of of them moving school sites, making sure that the kids had a place to go. I mean, it was really a tremendous effort there but again, they were not able to hit the 165 days of school being in session for all sites and so they requested a waiver. We've been working actively with them. There was a little bit of
information we needed to receive. Um we try to make sure all of our Ts are crossed and Is are dotted with that. There can sometimes be federal issues with that. We don't see any issue here. They met every criteria both by the state, both by the federal government. So, the State Department of Education, we would recommend for Manford Public School District that we give, we would give them their waiver to go on 165 days of school this year. Um that that would be our recommendation. Superintendent Walters, I'll make that motion. Yes, sir. A second. We have a motion a second. Any further
discussion? Okay, miss Linda, do you mind to roll for us? Miss LaPat. Yes. Mister Van Dehan? Yes. Mister Tinny. Yes. Mister Bethridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. Okay, next it looks like Next, it looks like we have discussion on possible action moving to executive session with the board council, mister Cutmas. Um is there anything you want to say before we open up to that item? Okay. Sign make a motion. We move into
executive session. Second. With motion a second. Any further discussion? Miss London roll for us. Miss LaPat. Yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Tenney. Yes. Mister Bethridge. Yes. Miss Carson. Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Okay. Motion passes. We'll go on to executive session. I would bring your binders with you. Um okay, I believe we've got everybody back here in open sessions. So, I think do you think we need to vote? Come back in officially. So, we have a motion to
come back into an open session. So, move. Second. Got a motion a second. Any further discussion? Uh miscellaneous? Certainly, miss Lapaque. Yes. Mister Van Dehan? Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson. Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Go We are back in to open session. Do we have any motions coming out of executive session? Yes. I would like
to make a motion on agenda item 7 B. Uh and I will move to Samara Lee suspend teaching certificate and certificate number of Dylan Snow and refer that matter to a a hearing officer and the suspension will be pending that hearing. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Miss Lennon, you might come and roll for us. Miss LePac, yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes.
Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Deathridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. Any further actions coming out of executive session? Yes, I'll make a motion on agenda item 7 B to summarily suspend the teacher's certificate and certificate number of Jonah Davis pending resolution of the matter by hearing officer and referring such to a hearing officer. Second. We have
a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Miss Lynn, do you mind calling roll for us? Miss LePac, yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson. Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Motion passes. Any further motions coming out of executive session? Yes, I'd like to make a motion with respect to agenda item 7 B. Uh the motion is to summarily suspend this teacher certificate and certificate number of Alden Armstrong and refer the matter to a
hearing officer. Second. We have a motion a second. You might call and roll for us. Miss London. Miss LaPat. Yes. Mister Van Dehan? Yes. Mister Tenney. Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson. Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Motion passes. Any further actions coming out of executive session? Yes, I'll make a motion with respect to agenda item 7 B. Uh the motion is to summarily suspend the teacher's certificate and certificate number
of Samuel Melton and refer the matter to your hearing officer. Second We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Miss London, my corn roll for us? Miss Lapaque? Yes. Mister Van Dehan? Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Deathridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. Any other motions coming out of executive session? Yes, I'll make a motion on agenda item 7 B. The motion is to table this item with respect to Roger Jesse. Second
we have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Miss London, do you mind calling roll for us? Miss LePac, yes. Mister Vandehan? Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Dethridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. Any further actions coming out of executive session? Yes, I'll make a motion with respect to agenda item seven C and the motion is to accept the voluntary surrender of the teacher certificates and certificate numbers of Justin Wood and William Hale Second
We have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Miss London, you might come and roll for us. Miss LaPac, yes. Mister Van Danny? Yes. Mister Tenney. Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Motion passes. Any further motions coming out of executive session? Yes. I'll make a motion regarding agenda item 7 D. Uh and that motion is to ratify the board's previous decisions regarding the teacher certifications with
respect to Patrick Cobb, Patrick McKenzie, Jason Dowdy, Tyler Frizze Ashley Ferries and Joshua Foods. Second. We've got a motion of second. Any further discussion? Miss London, do you mind calling roll for us? Miss Lapaque? Yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Tenney. Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson. Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Motion passes. Any further motions coming out of executive session? Yes. I'll make a motion with respect to agenda item seven E and that motion is to grant the
motion for leave to amend the application with respect to Philip Koons. Second. We got a motion in a second. Any further discussion? It's your choice. Notification that white president was provided. Just a second. Just give me one second. We're in a meeting and it's it's up to Superintendent Walters if he'll permit you to speak. So, are you asking to speak? Yes, please. Why not? I have no issue with that. Yes. Yes, sir. Thank you. And I will make it very brief. I know. A lot more cover.
Uh they do have a concern because this being an adjudicative matter if my client was not provided with any notice of the change of the date of the meeting We fortunately found out about it which enabled me to be present here just a few hours before the meeting began. Uh but because this is an adjudicative matter, it would be we suggest, I suggest, more appropriate to table that motion until appropriate communication can be had with staff and with with council the department so that
Mister Coons due process rights are fully respected. There have been some other instances during the course of this matter where there's been some concern raised about that. We're not here to talk about the merits right now but just with regard to changing the nature of how the matter is presented. I have had some communication with council for the school board for the state board. Um but our understanding was not in the in the nature of what this motion does. Our understanding was that we would ultimately be able to
talk about the merits of his exoneration in the context of the appeal of his renewal. So, hopefully that makes some sense. Can I just for my own understanding. So, what you're asking today is for us to table this because of the time change of the board meeting and it would give you and your client more time to be able to present any. Work with board council to see if we can come to a consent agreement with regard to if and any merits hearing is ultimately
convened because of course, mister Koons is also in both civil and criminal defense which we fully expect that he'll be exonerated but those haven't happened yet. It'll be several months before those come to trial or or or resolution otherwise. It would be inappropriate for merits to go forward here when they're pending in state court. Yes, sir. Okay. I think I understand. Do you have is there any legal concerns if we were to grant the motion to table this this item on mister mister Koon's and if we table it, I'm just
trying to think through the timeline here. If we tabled it to the next board meeting, in essence, nothing would would functionally change. That's correct and we tabled that this was on the last agenda. Uh huh. It was able last time. It's my record and I would agree with that because there's no hearing currently scheduled. That would be a merits hearing before this body or before the board. And the appeal of the renewal decision which was administratively and just mailed to him recently has been filed
but again no hearing on that has been said. So yes there would be no prejudice to just bumping this one month so that we can have further conversations with the board council. I think in fairness probably the the State Department of Education probably needs to speak to that since you speak and spoken. Um yeah, go ahead. If you would, Jackie. So, thank you. So, it is my understanding and correct me if this is incorrect that the there is a dismissal of the suspension and then
that and then the denial has been appealed and is in the appellate process. Is that correct? Not quite close but not quite. So, a a complaint to suspend and revoke. Sure. Was ordered in 20twenty-four. We're not certain if that was adequately served but we're not here to argue that today. Sure. Um and then, essentially exporte suspension occurred. Um mister Koons then timely submitted his license renewal. Sure. I became involved in defense at this body. Uh
we communicated my representation and and it seemed like we had a tacit agreement to let this remain on hold while his civil litigation played out. But then the rejection of his renewal application came and then the application to amend the original complaint came. Sure. When we read it, it looked like it was not to dismiss it. We've had a conversation Mm hmm. Uh about that that was the intention to dismiss the reputation complaint and just rely on that. Yes. About renewal. That's correct. But
anyway you slice it. Time to do the hearing on that is later. Not now. It is yes. It's my understanding that a hearing on that in administrative hearing has already been set. Um No. Respectfully, we've received no notice of it which is. Okay. Obviously required. Sure. Yeah, absolutely. Um so, I think that with this, it's up to the superintendent obviously but I don't think that our side would have a problem with resetting that hearing to allow your
client with adequate notice to be heard because obviously, we absolutely want your client to have his his due process. That's all that we ask for and I appreciate you entertaining the interjection. Uh Well, thank you. Thank you for being here today and presenting that very clearly. Board members, happy to entertain any discussion. I don't I don't have an issue to the to the gentleman's ask to table it. If we don't, we don't feel like it has an issue with any timeline and we think
that we can move forward it I don't happy to hear kind of if you have a perspective on it if if I'm missing something with it. I mean, I would maybe just clarify one thing and cut me off a function as opposed to but. This board has not reached any decisions on the merits in this matter. So, I just want to make sure you knew that because I wasn't sure if if you were aware of that but you're actually aligned in that position. Yeah. So, yeah. I I mean, I'm fine with tabling it. So, just functionally, do we have a motion in a second on the
board right now, miss London? We don't. Okay. So, we don't have any. Okay. So, could we what would be appropriate? Table it, take no action on it. Would that give us the appropriate time to to work with council for the next meeting? You have a deferred to the state board on Yes. Yes. So, just again, my understanding of the situation is that there has been some contact with assistant assistant general council regarding this matter and so we're, I don't think we're totally
off off the page here. I think we're all kind of in the loop but I don't think that it would be a problem to put a reasonable a reasonable delay to the administrative hearing. Um we certainly want to make sure that everybody that comes before this board is given their due process and and and has their to be heard. But but just to be clear, for for the purposes of what the board would vote on, we could take no action. Mm hmm. Or I mean
no action and then we could continue, you could continue to consult with our council, board council, right? Would that be? My, appropriate. My contemplation would be that once the other litigation involving Coach Coon's resolves, that will be the point at which this body can readily make its decision without stepping in front of the jury trial or or other resolution of those matters. The the only problem that that it that we would have with
waiting for the complete resolution of the criminal trial is that as you know, they can take years and years and years. Um. I double check currently scheduled to go in September this year. Um again, the, and I, I hear you, and I understand that, but part of our issue is making sure that, I mean, the number one thing that we have to do as an agency is just making sure that we're doing our due diligence and making sure that
and I'm not saying anything about your client in any way, shape, or form, but I just want to make sure that I don't think we can postpone it through the completion of the trial, because as you know, then there were, there's potential for an appellate process, which is another there's a potential for post-conviction relief which is another time period. So, I sailed that to say this. The other thing that that I I want to be clear is that in our hearings, we don't need a reasonable doubt, standard of proof. Um and so, I I can't
I can't in good conscience say that we will wait until the completion of the criminal drive. Okay, let me jump in here. Let me just jump in here. Is there any prejudice and I'm asking on behalf of the board to serve their lawyer to be able to give them advice. Is there any prejudice to either side in delaying this until the next meeting so you guys can talk about this outside of this board meeting? Next meeting would be a perfectly fine interval as far as I'm concerned. Okay. I have no issue with that. If if the board any further,
I've I've talked the whole time. So, is there anybody in my superintendent? Oh, oh. So moved. Okay. So, we have a motion to table til the next board meeting. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion a second. Any further discussion? Miss London, you mind calling roll for us? Miss LePac, yes. Mister Van Dehan? Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Deathridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. Thank
you. Councilor. Thank you for tolerating my interruption. No, thank, thank you for being here, councilor. Um any further motions coming out of executive session? Yes, I'll make a motion on agenda item 7 F and that motion is to direct the OSDE to provide the entire record of the proceedings below to the board for our review with respect to the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law recommendations from the hearing officer for Kelly Bacott. We have a motion in a second.
Any further discussion? Miss London, do you mind calling roll for us? Miss LePak, yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Tenney? Yes. Mister Deathridge? Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters? Yes. Motion passes. Any further motions coming out of executive session? Yes, we're going to take no action with respect to you. Agenda item 7G. And so I have motions with respect to agenda items. 7, H, and I. Uh and that motion
for both, can I do this together I'm assuming. Can I do, can I do H and I together? Okay. Uh so the motions for agenda item seven H and I are to authorize board council to negotiate a mutually agreeable resolution consistent with the privilege discussion that we had an executive session today. With respect to the cases listed in those agenda items. Second, we have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Miss London, do you
want to call and roll for us? Miss Lapaque, yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Tenney. Yes. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walters. Yes. Motion passes. Any further actions out of executive session? Nope. Okay. So, that concludes the motions coming out of executive obsession. Next, let's move into public comment. I have a list here in front of me. Um the first person is Keith Olsen. Keith, as you're making your
way to the front, just remind everyone, we've got 1 minute. Jackie, can you do the timer for me? Uh please be respectful so everybody has an opportunity to speak and we'll have a timer that goes off so Keith Olsen is Keith. So, here. Okay, I'm not seeing anybody. Uh let's go to Layna Stark. Lena Stark. No. Okay. Bonnie Demartini, I think. Sorry, my paper's smudged. Bonnie Demartini.
Okay. Ashley Hall. It gets the altar. Peggy Howe. Good afternoon or good evening. My name is Peggy Howe and I'm so excited to see new board members. I thought I would today because the board members are new. I just wanted them to know about a website that Oklahoma Appleseed has on Ryan Walters. Um oops. It goes through everything that Ryan Walters has done in the last two years
that he has been a superintendent and it is very interactive and friendly. It's called the gross misconducts of Ryan Walters and his misdeeds and it's divided into several sections. The first is the failures of Walters and the department that he runs. Oh my gosh. Um the second is the incompetence of his leadership,
Actions that has overstepped his authority, personal misconducts, and misspendings of public dollars, inflammatory statements, and actions that he's done. The second part is efforts by the legislature to do certain things statutory constraints, legislative subpoenas, calls for impeach the loft investigations. Peggy, I am sorry. I did, it did, I know it was quiet but it go off. So, can you. Okay.
Can you kind of wrap? Anyway, all sorts of information if you don't know anything about him or or much about him gives you a lot of great information. Thank you, Peggy. And we'll we'll turn the volume up. Thank you for for being patient with us, Peggy, on that one. Um next, we have Mike Howe. Honorable mister Walters, esteemed members of the board. We hope that all of Oklahoma parents are aware that our land legislature lacked the courage to stop the social study standards that mister Alters,
mister Walters altered, then forced the board to pass without allowing public comment on the changes. The Senate refused to vote for the resolution that would have sent the standards back to the board. Now, included in Oklahoma schools will be curriculum that is clear indoctrination. As parents, we have the right for our children to attend public school without the danger of someone trying to impose their beliefs on them. We hope that anyone hearing this will make sure they
demand learning environments free of indoctrination, partisan propaganda, and conspiracy theories. We support our teachers and we hope our parents will support them as they focus on reading math, science, the arts, physical education, and history. As mister Walters has always told us, parent rights are important in our schools and as a parent, you have the right to opt out from any part of any curriculum in our schools. You can do so at your schools, your child's school, or at the Board of Education
of your school. In conclusion, we also understand that unpopular ideas sometimes get as we have been found out over the years, couple years that we've been doing this, we've been called woke. So, I'd like to share with you the definition that our new Pope, Leo the 14th. Okay, Mike, we did go off but look, can we. This is concluding. Okay. Being woke means awakened by compassion, guided by truth, and
committed to justice, not for some, but for all. So please, keep calling me woke. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. Next, we have Jennifer Daughtry Words matter. You say, prepare children for jobs. As in working as children, prepare children for jobs in Oklahoma, only in Oklahoma, maybe having so many emergency certificate teachers that aren't mandated to have any training is pushing us to the rate rating of 49th out of 50 in education. Your job is to
mandate that training. Incentivize real teachers, train real teachers. You're doing the opposite. The Trump administration has made it clear that they love the uneducated and you are ensuring they get what they love. You are not the children. You are not here for the children or their future. Please stop lying to people's faces. If it is your opinion, is it your personal or is it your professional opinion? Ask that of lawyers. My opinion is, well, lawyers need to differentiate, is it
their personal or their professional? So, make sure that people on this board are being truthful to you. Do not trust but verify of everything that's happening here. Thank you. Thank you, Jennifer. Next, we have Robert Hyman Okay. Next, we have Lindsey Brule. Lindsey Brule. Hi, everybody. Thanks for letting me speak today. I just wanted to. Oh, yes. Sorry. Just want to tell you a little bit of who I am. My background is I have a business degree from Oklahoma State University. I have a master of divinity from Perkins
School of Theology. So, I know and I know a lot about government. So, I know the proper place of each institution and that they don't work against each other. They're supposed to be working with each other. Um so, one of the things I just want to couple of points I wanted to bring up is I don't know why we're doing prayers. We could be doing mama in a silence but in that prayer you said about the parents best. Well, I want to send you some details and some data and I'll Email it to you that parents mental health is at an all-time low. We're over exhausted trying to figure out what's the best thing for our kids is on everything. I
can't take over my doctor's surgeries just because some doctors are bad and don't know what they're doing and then, as far as the workforce, there's more to it than just getting them ready for work. Um I spoke at the University of Arkansas recently. I was asked to come in because businesses are calling We're having a hard time. People are not thinking critically and are unwilling to work with difference. And I want to address that in our education and I think that would make a big boost if we worked on the human spirit. Thank you for listening.
Thank you for that, Lindsey. Um next, we have Sarah Lanboren. Sarah Lan Boren. I am a public school parent and I want to thank our new board members for being a breath of fresh air for this board. It's obvious that you're all here to represent Oklahomans instead of being yes men and thanks to you, Oklahomans are finally excited about what this board might accomplish. I'm so excited to speak today because I've been coming to these board meetings for almost 2 years. I've only made it into this room one time before today and I've never been chosen to speak. In case you didn't know, when Ryan Walters
became state superintendent, there was no limit on the number of public speakers. They could speak for up to four minutes and they spoke at the the meeting before any votes happened. Once parents and educators began to speak against Walters, public comment was limited to 10 people. That's when people started campaigning outside of the building overnight to be able to get a spot to speak. Then public comment was moved to the end of the meeting after all the voting happens. Time was limited to three minutes before we moved to the lottery method of choosing random speakers. Now we only get 60 seconds to speak. Ryan Walters claims to champion parents' rights and claims to stand for Oklahomans while he's
actively doing everything he can to silence our voices. I know he's also doing everything he can to limit your powers but I ask that each of you stand for us, our fellow Oklahomans and push back on the limitations on public comment. Please push for a larger location so everyone can fit in the room and push for our voices to be heard and to be heard before you've already voted. Thank you, Sarah Lynn. Uh that concludes public comment and all we've got left is adjournment. Do we have anybody will make a motion? Second. I'll second. We got a motion in a second. Uh any further discussion? Miss London, can you
call roll for us one more time? Miss LePac, yes. Mister Van Dehan. Yes. Mister Tenney. Mister Deathridge. Yes. Miss Carson? Yes. Superintendent Walter. We're adjourned. Yeah. This is a proceeding. If there has to be some decorum. For my whole school district, please. Very very Well, we just, we just. School District has a seven point lawsuit landowners are having to repay. We
wish that we would draw some attention from you and the governor to do something with this. So, sir, I will, I'll tell you this. I, we're going to adjourn if you'll hang around. Can you and I, okay. You and I will we'll speak. Yes, sir. We'll speak right now. I just, I know, procedurally, we're we're adjourning but I'm happy. I'd like I like to get the information from you, sir. Of course. Um I think I was the last vote, right? Okay. So, I'll I'll vote to yes to adjourn and thank you for being here. Tell me