OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, members of the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus held a press conference in response to the Appropriations and Budget (A&B) hearing for the Oklahoma State Department of Education held earlier this afternoon.

Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, a former Tulsa Public Schools teacher/librarian, says the purpose of these A&B meetings is for legislators to get answers for Oklahomans.

“Our role as representatives is to bring the voice of the people to the capitol, including asking questions of our state agencies,” McCane said. “It is incredibly frustrating that our State Superintendent continues to refuse to answer or listen to the people of Oklahoma. I will continue to hold the State Superintendent accountable just as the people of District 72 have asked me to do. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will do the same, it is the least we can do for the families depending on us.”

Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, commented on today’s presentation at the press conference.

“After listening to the State Superintendent talking about the budget today. It is clear he still doesn’t really understand the intricacies of running a local school district, much less statewide,” Rosecrants said. “The State Superintendent is a national expert on repeating culture war talking points, but he’s not doing anything to move our schools toward progress. It is our children and our hardworking teachers who are harmed by his hateful policies and inflammatory rhetoric. He’s not an expert in leading our public schools. A perfect example of this is his latest edict on immigrants: it’s unconscionable, unconstitutional, and definitely un-Christian.”

Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, says the presentation from OSDE was disappointing.

“We heard a number of rosy pronouncements from the State Superintendent, but the data doesn't match the claims made,” Fugate said. “We see in our scores Oklahoma has not made any progress, and we continue to lag where we did in 2019. The State Superintendent was most excited to tout the accomplishments brought on by his predecessor. He claimed 117 schools were taken off the at-risk list but wasn't able to tell us which were removed because they were put on by mistake, when we know that a significant number of those schools were included incorrectly. I was disappointed in the overall presentation.”

Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, says the State Superintendent is more focused on politics than serving the people.

“There are two Superintendent Walters: the earnest politician, and the shameless self-promoter looking for a DC job,” Waldron said.

The entire press conference can be viewed on the Oklahoma House Democrats Facebook Page.

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