OKLAHOMA CITY – Following their call for accountability of public funds spent on education, Oklahoma House Democrats have filed House Resolution 1052 to form a bipartisan committee to investigate the State Superintendent.
“House Democrats have called on the Speaker of the House and the Republican supermajority to hold the State Superintendent of Public Instruction accountable,” House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said. “On August 29, 2023, we called for a special bipartisan House committee to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach Ryan Walters. We renewed that call on December 15, 2023. On March 27, 2024, House Democrats renewed our call again after the United States Department of Education announced its investigation into the Oklahoma State Department of Education for possible misuse and abuse of federal tax dollars. And just last week, House Democrats sent a letter to the Attorney General requesting an investigative audit of how taxpayer dollars are being spent at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Now, in the final days of the Regular Session of the 59th Legislature, we are formalizing our request for a special bipartisan House investigative committee by filing House Resolution 1052. Over the last four months, Republicans – who hold power in both Legislative Chambers and the Governor’s mansion – have done nothing to listen to and address the concerns of Oklahomans who want to protect our public schools. It is now past time to act.”
Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, a former educator, believes this call is long overdue.
“I am pleased to see that new accountability language has been written into this year’s education bills,” Waldron said. “But if we are sincere about accountability, it’s time to send in the accountants.”
Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, a former schoolteacher and administrator says the State Superintendent’s leadership has concerned teachers and students for too long.
“The chaos that has ensued as a result of the State Superintendent’s leadership has harmed and concerned Oklahomans for a long time,” said Provenzano. “Our teachers and students deserve to feel safe and that they are in good hands. It scares me to think of the repercussions that have come and will come under the current State Superintendent. We have seen bomb threats to Oklahoma schools, the death of an Oklahoma student due in part to harmful rhetoric facilitated by our State Superintendent, and now, we see the alleged mismanagement of federal funds that could go toward providing resources for Oklahoma schools. We can work together across the aisle to find a solution that will ultimately benefit Oklahomans, and that is what this committee aims to do.”
Rep. Annie Menz, DNorman, says accountability and action need to be taken.
“Some of the people I love most in the world are registered Republicans, and they don’t sound anything like Ryan Walters,” Menz said. “I have many neighbors, constituents and colleagues who are registered Republicans, and they don’t identify with Ryan Walters. This is clearly not a partisan issue and that’s why we are calling for this committee to be bipartisan. I am the parent of a child who attends a public school in Oklahoma, and I hear from public school parents in Norman about this issue frequently. Whether I’m at the grocery store, chaperoning a field trip, or at a town event, concerned parents ask me what is being done about this situation. I am here to speak for them and stand up for parental empowerment.”
