{"id":4459,"date":"2025-02-12T20:33:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T20:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enidpost.com\/?p=4459"},"modified":"2025-02-12T12:49:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T12:49:16","slug":"governor-kevin-stitt-removes-three-members-from-oklahoma-state-board-of-education-amid-criticism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enidpost.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/governor-kevin-stitt-removes-three-members-from-oklahoma-state-board-of-education-amid-criticism\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Kevin Stitt Removes Three Members from Oklahoma State Board of Education Amid Criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex-1 overflow-hidden @container\/thread translate-y-[2rem] -mt-[2rem] pb-[1.5rem]\">\n<div class=\"flex h-full flex-col overflow-y-auto\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm md:pb-9\">\n<article class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-[-4px]\" dir=\"auto\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-5\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\">\n<div class=\"m-auto text-base py-[18px] px-6\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl\">\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn @xs\/thread:px-0 @sm\/thread:px-1.5 @md\/thread:px-4\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"338dd982-ae1c-400a-9584-ab659633d94d\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o-mini\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"473\">ENID, OK \u2014 Governor Kevin Stitt has announced the removal of three members from the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE), citing concerns over the state&#8217;s education system and its political distractions. In a statement released on Tuesday, Stitt emphasized that the state\u2019s declining student test scores and the politicization of the board prompted his decision.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"475\" data-end=\"759\">\u201cNothing is more important than ensuring Oklahoma kids have the best education possible,\u201d Stitt said in the release. \u201cAfter months of headlines followed by disappointing NAEP scores this month, it\u2019s clear that our education infrastructure has fallen prey to needless political drama.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"761\" data-end=\"1182\">The three members removed were all appointed by Stitt himself, marking a significant shakeup for the board, which plays a critical role in overseeing the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The governor\u2019s move follows increasing criticism of the board\u2019s near-unanimous support for policies pushed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who took office in 2023.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1742\">Since Walters\u2019 appointment, the OSBE has largely supported his initiatives without much debate. These initiatives have included controversial measures such as the revocation of certain teachers&#8217; certifications, a proposal to spend $3 million on purchasing Bibles for public school classrooms, and the approval of several new administrative rules. Critics, including former Republican State Representative Mark McBride, have argued that the board\u2019s lack of opposition has allowed Walters to implement policies that are damaging to Oklahoma\u2019s education system.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1744\" data-end=\"1968\">\u201cThe board has enabled Walters to do real damage to Oklahoma\u2019s education system,\u201d McBride said. \u201cFrom the Bibles to the rulemaking authority that he supposedly thinks he has, the board has backed all of his extreme agendas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1970\" data-end=\"2328\">Both McBride and State Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman) have voiced concerns that the leadership within the OSBE and the state\u2019s education department has harmed Oklahoma&#8217;s reputation, especially among business leaders. They pointed to the negative press surrounding the education system and how it has raised concerns among those looking to invest in the state.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2330\" data-end=\"2451\">\u201cEvery one of them is very concerned about education, Oklahoma, about bringing new people in for new jobs,\u201d McBride said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2453\" data-end=\"2726\">Boren, who has been outspoken about her dissatisfaction with the education department\u2019s communication, echoed similar sentiments. She noted that the negative publicity surrounding State Superintendent Walters\u2019 policies has impeded efforts to attract businesses to Oklahoma.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2728\" data-end=\"2933\">\u201cAll of the negative press that we\u2019ve been getting through the State Department of Education and Ryan Walters has really impeded the ability of those that want to attract business to Oklahoma,\u201d Boren said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2935\" data-end=\"3248\">Stitt appeared to share these concerns in his statement, underscoring the importance of education in fostering economic growth. \u201cIf we want to be the best state for business, we need to make sure our kids have a path to success,\u201d he wrote. \u201cIt\u2019s time for some fresh eyes and a renewed focus on our top ten goals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3250\" data-end=\"3629\">In addition to the board changes, News 4 confirmed that the OSDE\u2019s communications director, Dan Isett, parted ways with the department on Monday. Boren, who had expressed frustration with Isett\u2019s lack of communication, welcomed the change. She claimed that many legislators were dissatisfied with Isett&#8217;s approach, which often left them unable to get the information they needed.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3631\" data-end=\"3946\">\u201cThere\u2019s not a person over at the State Department of Education that I can feel comfortable reaching out to,\u201d Boren said. \u201cThe kind of communication that we\u2019ve gotten from them is filtered through folks like Dan. There needed to be a change in heart and a change in attitude from the State Department of Education.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3948\" data-end=\"4161\" data-is-last-node=\"\">The timing of Stitt\u2019s shakeup of the OSBE has raised questions for some lawmakers, but it remains clear that the governor\u2019s decision signals his determination to shift the direction of Oklahoma\u2019s education policy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-2 flex gap-3 empty:hidden -ml-2\">\n<div class=\"items-center justify-start rounded-xl p-1 flex\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pr-2 lg:pr-0\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\">\n<div class=\"text-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"absolute\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"md:pt-0 dark:border-white\/20 md:border-transparent md:dark:border-transparent w-full isolate has-[[data-has-thread-error]]:[box-shadow:var(--sharp-edge-bottom-shadow)] has-[[data-has-thread-error]]:pt-2\">\n<div class=\"m-auto text-base px-3 md:px-4 w-full md:px-5 lg:px-4 xl:px-5\">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center empty:hidden\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ENID, OK \u2014 Governor Kevin Stitt has announced the removal of three members from the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE), citing concerns over the state&#8217;s education system and its political distractions. In a statement released on Tuesday, Stitt emphasized that the state\u2019s declining student test scores and the politicization of the board prompted his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4459","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-oklahoma"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Governor Kevin Stitt Removes Three Members from Oklahoma State Board of Education Amid Criticism - Enid Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/enidpost.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/governor-kevin-stitt-removes-three-members-from-oklahoma-state-board-of-education-amid-criticism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Governor Kevin Stitt Removes Three Members from Oklahoma State Board of Education Amid Criticism - Enid Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ENID, OK \u2014 Governor Kevin Stitt has announced the removal of three members from the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSBE), citing concerns over the state&#8217;s education system and its political distractions. 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