Weekly Opinion Editorial

LEGISLATURE SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
by Steve Fair

The 53rd Oklahoma legislature convenes today. One of the first bills they will consider is SB #718. The bill, if passed and signed into law, would effectively strip the State Board of Education of its authority over the Department of Education.
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The bill has been predicated because of the actions of the board toward newly elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi. The board, composed of all Democrats, blocked three of her five hires in a very contentious, partisan first meeting.
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“As a statewide-elected official chosen by the citizens of Oklahoma, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi must be allowed to hire her own staff and implement promised reform at the Department of Education,” said Speaker of the House Kris Steele, (R-Shawnee). “Senate Bill 718 will give her that authority. It is important to advance this necessary reform so we can truly begin the important work of improving Oklahoma schools to benefit all children of this state.”
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After reading my op/ed in last week’s Duncan Banner, Dennis Howard called me to discuss the State Board of Education/Janet Barresi controversy. Howard, a Waurika native, was the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture under former Governor Keating. Dennis has been involved in Oklahoma politics for decades, starting his political career driving for Henry Bellmon when the former U.S. Senator was campaigning for Governor. Howard is now a professor at Langston University. Dennis has served in several capacities in several past Republican administrations. In the 1980s, he was appointed to the State School Board by Governor Bellmon.
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Howard said there came a time when the conservative Rs appointed by Bellmon became the majority on the board and began to question the actions of then School Superintendent Sandy Garrett. The Democrat controlled legislature passed legislation to effectively render the board irrelevant. The Democrats did exactly what the Republicans plan to do with SB #718.
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I know the temptation to do what the Democrats did years ago to a Republican controlled board seems timely and prudent. After all- turn about is fair play, but Republican lawmakers need to proceed with caution. ‘Neutering’ a board of citizens and a constitutionally established entity because of the actions of some partisan members of a board is not the right course of action.
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One thing the legislature should do is remove the State board’s oversight on personnel. A statewide elected official must be able to hire their own key staff members. All of the people that Barresi wants to hire are qualified. The board’s actions in not giving her the freedom to put together her own team was out of order and clearly partisan.
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The second thing that should happen is any board member who is unwilling to follow the prescribed duties of the position should resign. To remain on the board simply to obstruct Barresi’s agenda is flat out wrong. That clearly appears to be the motives of at least two of the more vocal members of the board, but some of the other members are voting with them and their motives should be questioned as well. They were appointed for oversight, not to engage in political debate.
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I like Janet Barresi. I consider her a friend, but just because she won the November election doesn’t mean she should be immune from a constitutionally established board. After all the hoopla that was generated from the recent board meeting, perhaps the current board members will rethink their stance or resign. One of the most vocal critics of Barresi, Tim Gilpin, will go off the board in April. The situation might very well resolve itself without a legislative fix.
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If lawmakers simply ‘redefine’ the State School board’s responsibilities, they send a message to every citizen who serves on citizen oversight boards that unless you do exactly as we want, we will pass legislation to make you irrelevant. Citizen boards were established because they do not have to face voters. They can make tough decisions and not face re-election. Doing away with oversight is not what Republicans are about. Barresi and the board should be allowed time to work out their differences.
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After listening to a recording of the meeting, it is clear the Democrat board members were not happy Barresi was elected. Their behavior was rude, insolent, disrespectful and unprofessional toward her and her staff. However, everyone makes mistakes and now that they know the public is watching, the next board meeting might be more civil and productive.
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Some have pointed out the only statewide elected official that has a ‘citizen’s oversight board’ is the Superintendent of Public Instruction. They think that’s unfair and perhaps it is, but like it or not, the State Board of Education was constitutionally established forty years ago(1971) and cannot be eliminated without a vote of the people.
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With an annual budget of over three billion dollars and over four hundred direct employees, the State Department of Education is a huge agency. Barresi should be given the freedom to build her team and implement her agenda- with proper oversight as prescribed by the State Constitution.
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Because Republicans now have control of the process means we should proceed with caution and think of the consequences of our actions. SB#718 might seem like a good idea today, but it's unintended consequences might hurt Oklahoma.