Podcast: The joy of hassling the Hof(meister)

Podcast: The joy of hassling the Hof(meister)

Podcast: The joy of hassling the Hof(meister)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister is our guest on this week’s episode of Live from the News Dungeon. The state’s top elected education official talks about how she got involved in education, the “fluke” that kicked off her career as a public servant and whether she is considering a run for governor.

Hofmeister also weighs in on the dynamics of the current State Board of Education, plans for expanding summer school this year and the debate over capping class sizes. Meanwhile, our historical nugget segment visits the striking similarities between the challenges facing public education in Oklahoma today and the problems that were cropping up right after statehood.

So listen to our latest episode of Live from the News Dungeon today and remember to tell your friends that they can subscribe on PodBean, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora or Apple Podcasts, as well as its connected platforms.

As always, you can listen to this week’s episode embedded right here:

The topics at hand: All things education CONTINUE READING: Podcast: The joy of hassling the Hof(meister)

MEGAN PRATHER: Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma - NONDOC

Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma

Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma

Since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, journalists have been covering the details, legal questions and uncertainties in the wake of the landmark court decision. Complicated and delicate in nature, the affirmation of Indian Country reservations and ongoing developments constitute an important storyline for the state of Oklahoma and the Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole nations.

This story is a part of the Oklahoma Media Center’s Promised Land collaborative effort, which shows how the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision will affect both tribal and non-Indigenous residents in the state. 

Recently, the Oklahoma Media Center launched a collaborative reporting project called The Promised Land: A Supreme Court decision places Oklahoma at a crossroads.

Newsrooms across the state have committed to share their content regarding issues pertinent to court rulings and their effects on Indigenous and non-tribal residents of Oklahoma.

The following recap features the opening paragraphs of five stories that were published between April 17 and April 23 by Oklahoma reporters. To read more from each story, click on the provided hyperlinks.

The snippets below have been edited lightly for date clarity and to include additional links to relevant information.

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Judge rules State of Oklahoma has jurisdiction for former KCA reservation CONTINUE READING: Promised Land recap: How the McGirt ruling is affecting legal matters in Oklahoma

MEGAN PRATHER: Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms - NONDOC

Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms

Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms

The governing board of Epic One-on-One Charter School agreed to the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s proposed settlement terms Wednesday night, one day after the SVCSB rejected Epic’s initial proposal.

The new settlement agreement (embedded below) still needs to be approved by the SVCSB, but Epic released a statement Wednesday night saying its new “settlement agreement reflects the exact terms proposed by the SVCSB at its April 20, 2021, meeting.” If approved, the Epic settlement would conclude the SVCSB’s charter termination proceedings, which began months ago in the wake of a state audit of Epic’s governance, finances and controversial “learning fund.”

“While we have objected to the politicization of the (state) audit and some of its findings, we have implemented many changes it recommended to strengthen our school and make our operations more transparent,” said Community Strategies Board President Doug Scott in a statement. “We’re in a different, stronger and better place than we were six months ago, and I’m proud of the hard work of this Board and our school leaders. I want to thank the SVCSB and executive director Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson for her leadership during this period of time. Everyone involved has a servant’s heart and wants to serve children and families to the best of our ability.”

Wilkinson did not return a phone call seeking comment about the Epic settlement CONTINUE READING: Epic board agrees to SVCSB settlement terms

Megan Prather: Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals - NONDOC

Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals

Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals

The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board held a special meeting this afternoon where members approved a motion to draft a new consent agreement to conclude charter termination proceedings with Epic One-on-One Charter School.

Epic attorney Bill Hickman and assistant Attorney General Marie Schuble will each submit new Epic settlement proposals with amendments requested by the SVCSB, such as full cooperation with the State Auditor & Inspector’s Office and the appointment of a compliance officer.

Epic’s governing board had proposed a settlement agreement at its April 14 meeting in an effort to resolve the SVCSB’s charter termination case, but the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board declined to accept their proposal today.

“I’d like to make a motion to have the parties, through their designated counsel, submit an amended consent order that includes, but is not limited to the sections that (SVCSB director) Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson will CONTINUE READING: Back to the drawing board: SVCSB calls for new Epic settlement proposals

MEGAN PRATHER: 'Where my beliefs are': Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

'Where my beliefs are': Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

‘Where my beliefs are’: Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

When Gov. Kevin Stitt’s most recent appointee to the State Board of Education, Trent Smith, successfully moved to approve a sweeping resolution about charter school funding at a March meeting in an effort to settle a 2017 lawsuit, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister called the move “unexpected.”

“This is a radical departure from following the law. Instead, it is really an outrageous step in creating law,” Hofmeister said, emphasizing that the Oklahoma Legislature is tasked with creating state statute regarding education policy. “That process has been stripped away and, instead, four Gov. Stitt appointees chose what they wanted and just did it.”

Hofmeister’s comments touched on a question that had been brewing for some time: Does the governor have too much influence in determining how State Board of Education members vote?

“We believe all appointed board members of state agencies should be acting in the best interest of Oklahomans,” said Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education CONTINUE READING: 'Where my beliefs are': Stitt hires, fires State Board of Education members

MEGAN PRATHER: Epic's controversial 'learning fund' will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

Epic's controversial 'learning fund' will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

Epic’s controversial ‘learning fund’ will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

In meetings Tuesday that lasted until after midnight, the governing board of Epic Blended and Epic One-on-One charter schools, Community Strategies, approved a motion that will move the school’s controversial learning fund from private account management to public bank accounts.

The board also approved items after a nearly four-hour executive session, including a settlement proposal regarding contract termination proceedings with the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board.

Epic’s learning fund reimburses the families of Epic Blended and Epic One-on-One students for up to $1,000 of educational curriculum or extra-curricular purchases and is currently administered by the for-profit management company Epic Youth Services, which is owned by Epic co-founder Ben Harris and David Chaney.

Epic’s assistant superintendent of finance, Jeanise Wynn, presented the proposed changes, which would, effective July 1, place all funds allocated to the learning fund in bank accounts owned by Community Strategies doing business as either Epic Blended Learning Charter or Epic One-on-One Charter School, respectively.

“This will also require that all revenue and expenditure records for the public bank CONTINUE READING: Epic's controversial 'learning fund' will change, settlement proposed for SVCSB

OKLAHOMA ELECTION UPDATE - Paula Lewis re-elected chairperson of OKCPS Board of Education - NonDoc

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OKLAHOMA ELECTION UPDATE

T.W. Shannon concerned ‘political pressure’ may be delaying tribal highway projects

by Tres Savage / 25min

In consultation with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is creating “new processes and procedures” for highway projects undertaken in partnership with tribal nations, a stark shift in policy that caused Transportation Commissioner T.W. Shannon to ask frustrated questions of ODOT director Tim Gatz during the restructured Transportation Commission’s meeting Monday.

Paula Lewis re-elected chairperson of OKCPS Board of Education

100+by Megan Prather / 12h

Paula Lewis will continue to serve as chairperson of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education after winning Tuesday’s general election with about 52 percent of the vote. Challenger and current District 1 Representative Charles Henry walked away with about 48 percent of Tuesday’s vote despite finishing ahead of Lewis in February’s primary. Results […] The post appeared first on NonDoc

Bradley Carter, Barbara Young win OKC City Council runoffs

34by Matt Patterson / 12h

Bradley Carter and Barbara Young are headed for the OKC City Council horseshoe. Carter defeated Shay Varnell in the OKC Ward 1 race today, picking up 54 percent of the vote to about 45.6 percent for Varnell. In Ward 3, Young edged out Jessica Martinez-Brooks. Young picked up 57 percent of the vote while Martinez-Brooks […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

Incumbent Councilman Darrell Davis elected Edmond mayor

300+by Tres Savage / 12h

Edmond voters selected Darrell Davis as their next mayor today. Davis, who has already served on the Edmond City Council for nine years, received about 62 percent of the vote against homebuilder Nathan Walters. “I am humbled and honored to serve as the 36th Mayor of Edmond,” Davis said in a statement to NonDoc. “I […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

Republican Jake Merrick wins Senate District 22

69by Andrea DenHoed / 13h

Jake Merrick has won the special election in Oklahoma State Senate District 22, securing the district for Republicans with 65.5 percent of 11,330 total votes cast. He defeated Democrat Molly Ooten. The seat, which was vacated when U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK5) was elected to Congress in November, has been firmly in Republican hands for […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

In Norman, Kelly Lynn ousts Alison Petrone, streets bond passes

62by Archiebald Browne / 13h

In today’s election, Norman voters passed a $27 million bond for street projects while Ward 3 voters elected Kelly Lynn over incumbent Alison Petrone. In south Norman, voters re-elected their current board of education president. Lynn, a political newcomer, defeated Petrone with 52.4 percent of the vote, preventing her from earning a second term. All […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

SVCSB denies Epic’s motion for summary judgement, sets new hearing date

100+by Megan Prather / 15h

After an executive session during Tuesday’s meeting, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board unanimously voted to deny Epic Charter School’s motion for summary judgement regarding the board’s intent to hold a termination hearing on Epic’s charter authorization. The board also approved May 12 and May 13 as new dates for the charter termination hearing. “I […] The post appeared first on NonDoc

Gov. Stitt selects Rick Nagel for OU Board of Regents

39by Tres Savage / 22h

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has nominated Acorn Growth Companies CEO Rick Nagel for a position on the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. If confirmed, Nagel will fill the seat previously held by Chairman Gary Pierson, who Stitt appointed in 2019 after the death of another regent. “Rick Nagel is passionate about education, and his […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

Insolvent insurance? Oklahoma Schools Risk Management Trust could dissolve

27by Megan Prather / 1d

The Oklahoma Schools Risk Management Trust, a self-insurance pool that provides property and casualty insurance for public school districts in the state, recently sent an email to its 78 member districts saying the program needs an additional $850,000 in order to operate for the rest of the 2020-2021 school year, the cost of which will […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

SD 22 candidates pursue unconventional paths to victory

70by Andrea DenHoed / 1d

News coverage of the special election in Senate District 22 — the only legislative seat that will be on the April 6 ballot — has been hampered somewhat by one candidate’s refusal to talk to almost anyone in the press. While Democrat Molly Ooten has done the usual election rounds of interviews and forums, the […] The post appeared first on NonDoc .

Oklahoma County commissioners approve sheriff’s department reality show

500+by Matt Patterson / 1d

Less than a year after television shows Live PD and COPS were canceled amid criticism that the programs were exploitative and racially insensitive, Oklahoma County commissioners approved a contract this morning for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office to be featured in a reality series that will

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