Oklahoma
Stitt bans no-bid PR contracts. But it won’t impact Oklahoma education agreement, spokesman says. • Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from spending money on outside public relations firms by using sole source contracts.
But the executive order does not impact any existing contracts the Oklahoma State Department of Education has entered, a spokesman said.
Sole source contracts are issued without competitive bidding.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters has used state dollars for an outside firm to promote himself, his ideas and his administration, drawing criticism.
“It makes no sense for state agencies who pay the salaries of communications staff to outsource work to PR firms via sole source contracts,” Stitt said. “It’s wasteful and we’re putting a stop to it statewide.”
Stitt, in a press release announcing the executive order, didn’t mention Walters.
Lawmakers this session put in a stipulation in the State Department of Education’s budget bill that no funds can be spent “for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes” unless required for a federal grant program.”
Stitt on Friday vetoed that section of the bill, saying it would prevent any funds, appropriated or otherwise, from being used to secure media interviews, public relations, or other public promotions, except for participation in federal grant programs.
“The plain meaning of this language is unclear, but it is reasonable to assume that it could be interpreted to prevent SDE from recruiting teachers to teach our school children, prevent SDE from addressing constituent concerns, and prevent any number of routine public communications needed for a state agency overseeing thousands of employees and a majority of our students,” the veto message said.
Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, has said House leadership included the section in the measure because of concerns over a contract Walters signed with a PR firm to book national media appearances.
Walters called the section a political attack from McBride.
Walters approved a contract in March between the state Education Department and the D.C.-based firm Vought Strategies to handle national media bookings, write speeches and opinion columns, coordinate national event appearances and assist with public relations.
His agency employs a public relations person internally.
Vought Strategies indicated it would charge $200 an hour or $5,000 a month, according to records.
Dan Isett, State Department of Education spokesperson, said the executive order does not affect any existing vendor contracts at his agency.
The Vought Strategies contract was not a sole source contract, he said.
The executive order prohibits state agencies from entering into no-bid contracts with public relations, marketing, or communications firms and vendors and mandates, unless there is a statutory directive to the contrary. The executive order requires that all contracts with PR vendors be procured through a minimum 30-day request for proposal.
The executive order also mandates that agreements currently in place that were secured by a sole source shall not be renewed and shall terminate at the end of the current contractual term and implements restrictions on future contracts.
Public relations firms and vendors with active campaign-related or state question initiative contracts are banned from contracting with state agencies under the executive order.
The executive order also prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts with public relations vendors who employ registered lobbyists. Contracts must be immediately terminated if a vendor is caught participating in unregistered lobbying.
The executive order takes effect immediately.
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Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — A new program in Oklahoma is giving adults another way to finish high school by allowing them to use past credits and test scores to earn a diploma, an option officials say could help thousands of people and strengthen the state’s workforce.
For years, adults in Oklahoma who did not finish high school largely had one main option: earning a GED. Now, Oklahoma CareerTech is rolling out the Career Readiness Diploma, a pathway designed to build on what students have already completed rather than requiring them to start over.
“So in Oklahoma right now, if you look at the demographics, we have about 279,000 people in our state without a high school diploma. So it’s almost 10% of our population doesn’t have a high school diploma,” said Lance Allee, an adult education and family literacy specialist with Oklahoma CareerTech.
Allee said the program allows adults to apply previously earned high school credit and combine different assessment scores into a single record to qualify for a diploma.
“It allows the student to use previously earned high school credit. So, it’s kind of like a portfolio where you can take multiple assessment scores and put them into one portfolio to get your high school diploma,” Allee said.
The program is open to adults 21 and older. In some cases, officials said, participants can finish in just weeks, depending on how many credits they already have.
CareerTech officials say the program is also aimed at improving job prospects for individuals while helping Oklahoma remain competitive when attracting employers.
“When you’re a company and you’re looking at moving into Oklahoma, you look at the demographics and say, is there a workforce there that we can employ? And you say, well, about 10% of the population doesn’t have a diploma, they may start looking at states that surround us. So, we definitely want to get as many diplomas out there as we can,” Allee said.
The program started issuing diplomas in recent weeks, and officials said dozens more people are already in the process. For more information or to sign up click here.
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NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.
The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.
No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.
Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.
Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.
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OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.
Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.
In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve
LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.
In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.
Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.
Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.
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