Oklahoma
Oklahoma Legislature needs long-range plan to bridge education gaps | Opinion
Oklahoma issued an all-time high of 4,676 emergency certifications for the 2023-24 school year. That is in stark contrast to the 32 emergency certifications issued for the 2011-12 school year.
In addition, schools are also increasingly hiring adjunct teachers who have no certification whatsoever. Alternative and emergency teaching certifications require a bachelor’s degree. This allows schools to hire individuals with only a high school diploma full time as adjunct teachers.
When Oklahoma had the notorious distinction of having some of the worst bridges in the nation, the Legislature created a special long-range plan for funding. Twenty years after its adoption, Oklahoma has made significant improvements to the state’s highway infrastructure due to an increase to its annual budget of more than $400 million.
Why hasn’t the Legislature created a similar long-range plan for improving its funding for education? Don’t all students deserve to have a qualified teacher?
Perhaps the answer is that most of the money expended for highways goes to private contractors who have an incentive and the resources to make campaign contributions to legislators, whereas education funding goes to public entities, which cannot.
What the state needs is something like the Education Reform Act of 1990. It increased state funding to reduce class sizes, establish minimum teacher salaries, provide for teacher assistants, competency testing, college ready courses, and mandatory professional development. Senate Bill 201 by Sen. Adam Pugh is a good start and has already passed the Senate Education Committee.
Over three decades ago, Oklahoma City discovered that being a low tax, low regulation state wasn’t enough to attract business. To improve its standing, it passed MAPS. It’s time the state came to the realization that it needs to make a major advance in our education system if we are serious about bringing business to the state.
McGoodwin is a former deputy director of the Office of State Finance, now the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
The roof of a home in Oklahoma City collapsed following a fire early Thursday morning, according to firefighters.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department says firefighters were called around 2 a.m. to the scene of a fire at a home near Southeast 29th Street and South Shields Boulevard.
After arriving at the scene, firefighters reported flames coming from the home and serious structural damage, including the roof, which had collapsed due to the fire.
Additionally, OKCFD reported this was not the first emergency services response to the home, with a call for medical services being placed to the same address only a few hours earlier.
“We know that earlier today, they’d made a medical call over here,” OKCFD Battalion Chief Greg Lindsay said. “Somebody was staying in that building, so we’re being extra careful to check and make sure that everybody got out.”
No injuries were reported. Fire investigators believe the cause was related to a cooking incident.
TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma Alliance for Animals is searching for additional volunteers for its Dog Walkers Club to help their dogs in boarding explore the outside world.
The organization said anyone with an hour to spare this week or during the upcoming weeks is welcome to come out and spend time with their dogs.
The walks allow each dog to have a fun break from being inside their kennel, while also letting them meet and socialize with new people.
The organization explained, “Not only does it brighten their day, but it also helps reduce stress, improves their behavior and gives us photos and videos that help them get adopted. The dogs who get out, socialize and have people advocating for them are often the dogs who find homes the fastest.”
The organization encourages everyone to come out, including couples, families, retirees and individuals who are looking for a fun way to stay active.
To learn more or to sign up as a volunteer, click here.
To learn more about Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, you can visit their website here.
A man died after being shot late Tuesday night near NW 23rd Street and N Portland Avenue in Oklahoma City, according to police.
Police say the shooting happened around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials say one male victim was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No suspect information is available at this time.
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