Weekly Opinion Editorial

OVERSIGHT SHOULD NOT BE PARTISAN!
by Steve Fair

Last week, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Baressi had her first meeting with the State Board of Education. The meeting, which received a lot of media attention, was contentious to say the least. The meeting had loud exchanges, name-calling and some inappropriate statements made by members of the board.
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It was reported that during the meeting one member, former State Senator Herb Rozell, stated the agency’s new legislative liaison Jessica Russell would be ‘worthless’ to the board if she took maternity leave during the legislative session. Rozell’s remark had Russell so upset she left the room in tears. A couple of Republican legislators called for his resignation. One said he regretted his vote to confirm Rozell as a board member. Rozell has said he was just joking and has offered to apologize to Russell.
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The Oklahoma state board of education is composed of seven members- one from each of the five congressional districts, one at-large member, and the Superintendent who presides over the meetings. All members of the board, with the exception of the Superintendent are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. They serve for six (6) year terms and their terms are staggered so that one member’s term expires every year.
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The current board members are Tim Gilpin, a Tulsa attorney; ex-state Sen. Herb Rozell, of Tahlequah; Betsy Mabry, 1993 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year; Sue Arnn, of Ardmore, an educator who has served on several boards; Gail Foresee, of Shawnee, an educator who served two years on the Governor’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Committee; and Gayle Miles-Scott, of Oklahoma City, an assistant accounting professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. Her sister is the embatted District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange. All current board members are registered Democrats. Baressi is the first Republican to be the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the first new Superintendent in twenty(20) years.
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The state board of education is charged with determining the policies and directing the administration and supervision of the public school system in the state. The board was created back in 1971 after Oklahomans approved State Question #481. From statehood until 1971, the Governor, the AG, the Secretary of State, and the State School Superintendent served as the State Board of Education. All of the current members of the state board of education were appointed by former Governor Brad Henry, a Democrat.
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During the meeting, the board did not approve three of the five staff members Baressi presented, saying they were not qualified for the positions they were being hired. The three positions are the three most critical to the agency- Chief of Staff, Communications Director, and Finance Director. One member of the board stated they believed approval of the staff was a function of the board and that Baressi’s appointment of her campaign manager to the Chief of Staff position was political patronage.
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Some conservatives immediately said they wanted the state board of education dissolved. They want to give Baressi the freedom to implement the the education reforms she campaigned on. After all, Baressi was elected by the people and the board is composed of appointees who don’t have to face the voters. Some others want the legislature to ‘neuter’ the board with legislation. In my opinion, that is not what needs to be done.
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First, oversight is good, so long as it is not partisan. The state board of education should not be dissolved- it should perform oversight. Granted, the board’s actions this week were clearly partisan. In a statement sent to CaptialBeatOK, State House Minority Scott Inman, (D-OKC) said “State law makes it clear that the Superintendent answers to the Board of Education, not the other way around. I commend the members of the Board of Education, who performed their duties according to state law.”
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Former Governor Brad Henry does not share Inman’s viewpoint. On Flashpoint Sunday, Henry said he believes Baressi has the right to hire her own staff. The board’s actions were clearly partisan and not oversight. If the current board members are so partisan that they are unwilling and unable to work with Baressi, then they should resign. When people don’t agree, it’s completely understandable when they part company. To remain on the board just to slow or obstruct Baressi’s agenda is dishonest and clearly not what the voters mandated when she was elected.
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Second, Baressi faces a huge challenge- a contentious board, a down budget, underfunded teacher pensions, and an Oklahoma education establishment that just doesn’t get it. Her education reforms are needed to move the state forward, but Baressi should remember what Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”