Enid, OK — The monthly meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE) was abruptly postponed Thursday after concerns arose regarding a potential violation of state law.
The controversy began when The Oklahoman reported that the agenda for the meeting had been posted online just 20 minutes short of the legally required 24-hour notice. According to the Open Meetings Act, public meeting agendas must be made available to the public at least 24 hours before the meeting, both online and physically at the meeting location.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) defended its actions, claiming that it had met the law’s requirements. However, the timing of the posting—around 19 minutes late—led to immediate concerns from board members and legal advisors. An article published by The Oklahoman on Thursday revealed email exchanges in which board members and the board attorney expressed worries about the possible legal implications.
Senator Mary Boren, a vocal critic of the OSDE, weighed in on the matter, stating, “They’ve always tried to get right up close to that line and see how far they can get without getting in trouble.” Boren’s remarks highlighted the growing frustration over what some perceive as a pattern of pushing the boundaries of the law.
In response to the controversy, OSDE spokesperson Grace Kim released a statement acknowledging that “due to a technical issue,” the agenda was posted online 19 minutes late. Kim explained that the agenda had been sent to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) for posting ahead of the deadline, though this explanation did little to quell concerns.
OMES, which is responsible for posting the agenda once it is received, disputed any suggestion that it was at fault. In a statement, OMES clarified that the OSDE was responsible for the development and timely posting of its meeting agendas. “It’s important to note, that OSDE is responsible for the development of its meetings and agendas and allowing enough reasonable time to post those agendas so that the public may receive notice and attend the open meeting,” the agency said, emphasizing that attempts to blame OMES were “dishonest and misleading.”
The delay in posting the agenda led to the board meeting being postponed, and a subsequent report indicated that discussions over the Social Studies Standards were among the topics that board members had hoped to revisit. However, Superintendent Ryan Walters reportedly rejected a request to discuss these standards, which are expected to be voted on by lawmakers next week.
The issue has sparked a wider conversation about transparency and accountability within the Oklahoma State Department of Education. With lawmakers and the public watching closely, this controversy adds to the ongoing scrutiny of state education policy and practices.
