Oklahoma

‘We need to keep some level of decorum’: Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting features political theatrics, little policy talk

Published

2 years ago

July 29, 2022

‘We need to keep some level of decorum’: Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting features political theatrics, little policy talk

Tulsa and Mustang Public Colleges turned the primary Oklahoma college districts to face penalties for Oklahoma’s so-called vital race principle ban, Thursday.

The districts got an accreditation warning for violating Oklahoma’s Home Invoice 1775, a controversial regulation governing the educating of racial and sexual ideas.

One other personal college referred to as Infinity Technology Preparatory – beneficial for probation due to a litany of economic and pupil document reporting points – was given the identical warning.

However there have been fireworks between these punishments. Oklahoma’s State Board of Training spent hours lobbing thinly veiled political assaults and arguments in a gathering primarily about accrediting the state’s Ok-12 faculties.

The board – virtually totally appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt – in the end accredited accreditation for greater than 1,000 college websites throughout the state, however spent hours of time arguing in regards to the standing of a small handful. There was comparatively little dialogue about precise training coverage inside Oklahoma school rooms.

Accreditation is a fancy and thorough course of. Oklahoma’s State Division of Training opinions a protracted listing of metrics and determines if faculties are complying with federal and state guidelines and laws.

There are basically 5 ranges of accreditation:

Accreditation with no deficiencies
Accreditation one deficiency
Accreditation with a number of deficiencies
Accreditation with warning
Accreditation with probation

Colleges with persistent points may finally have their accreditation revoked, and people towards the underside of the above scale face further oversights from Oklahoma’s State Division of Training.

Right here is a few of what occurred round dialogue of accreditation for particular college districts and the one personal establishment:

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Tulsa Public Colleges

The Oklahoma State Board of Training voted so as to add a warning to Tulsa Public Colleges’ accreditation.

The transfer comes after Tulsa Memorial Excessive College science trainer Amy Prepare dinner complained to the state Division of Training about what she mentioned was a violation of HB 1775. Prepare dinner was beforehand investigated by TPS for allegedly establishing a prayer nook in her classroom and telling a pupil that they’d “burn in Hell.”

Tulsa activist Joyce Williams pleaded with the board earlier than it voted to point out proof of the violation, which it hasn’t launched.

“If there’s proof, please be clear and present it. However I’m in opposition to any risk of penalizing Tulsa Public Colleges, and imagine me, I’m any individual who’s at the entire board conferences, and I elevate questions,” Williams mentioned.

The board however voted 4-2 so as to add the warning to TPS’ accreditation.

“Accredited with warning is ample on this case as a result of we have to ship a message,” board member Estela Hernandez mentioned through the assembly. She was joined in voting for the warning by members Jennifer Monies, Brian Bobek and Sarah Lepak.

Board member Carlisha Williams Bradley, who voted no together with State Superintendent Pleasure Hofmeister, expressed shock on the singling out of TPS.

“I’m deeply unsettled by what simply occurred,” Williams Bradley mentioned. “You selected Tulsa Public Colleges out of this listing of I don’t even know what number of districts we simply went by way of. Tulsa is the most important district in our state, and it is usually crammed with predominantly college students of shade as we speak about 1775. It’s infuriating to take a seat on this seat.”

“It’s an escalation that feels reasonably emotional,” Hofmeister mentioned of the choice to go to a warning reasonably than simply knock the district for a deficiency.

The warning means TPS is labeled as having a severe district large downside that detracts from studying. The implications for the longer term and college students are unclear, however the district should work with state officers to enhance its accreditation standing. A complete of 11 districts got accreditation with warnings.

In response, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma mentioned, “Make no mistake: Tulsa Public Colleges is just the start. The longer HB 1775 is in impact, the extra accusations we are going to see.”

TPS despatched a prolonged assertion to reporters following the assembly:

“In Tulsa, we’re educating our kids an correct – and at occasions painful, tough and uncomfortable – historical past about our shared human expertise,” the assertion mentioned. “We additionally train in a fantastically various group and wish our workforce to work collectively to be ready to do this effectively.”

That was the rationale for a coaching that state officers discovered to be in violation of HB 1775 given by a 3rd occasion.

“It’s notable that Governor Stitt’s state board of training spent vital time immediately speaking in regards to the complaints of 1 trainer in our district (among the many a whole bunch of accreditation deficiencies statewide) and no time on the catastrophic trainer scarcity dealing with each district in our state,” the assertion mentioned.

Mustang Public Colleges

Mustang Public Colleges was one other district referred to as out.

The district was beneficial for accreditation with deficiency by the State Division of Training. It was in the end accredited with warning by a 4-2 vote, alongside the identical traces because the Tulsa vote.

The Oklahoman reported Mustang investigated its HB 1775 grievance internally. It concerned an in-class workforce constructing exercise at Mustang Center College in January.

“The intent of the lesson from the trainer was to point out that every pupil has completely different experiences in life,” a report from Mustang mentioned. “It was additionally mentioned how vital it’s to deal with others with kindness and respect, since individuals by no means actually know what different persons are going by way of.”

Hofmeister and Williams Bradley have been equally vital of the board’s determination to vote on Mustang’s standing.

The district wrote in a prolonged assertion that it was shocked by the choice:

“We have been shocked to be taught of this motion,” Superintendent Charles Bradley mentioned within the assertion. “Wanting on the agenda merchandise as posted by the State Board, I have no idea how an inexpensive individual may discern that this was coming. We have been as shocked as anybody to listen to our title talked about immediately. After watching the replay of the State Board assembly, it seems that a minimum of one of many Board members, together with one who made the movement to extend the penalty, was seemingly unaware that we have been included on the agenda.”

“We’re disheartened that this single outlier occasion has resulted on this harsh motion,” Superintendent Bradley mentioned within the assertion. “We acted expediently to resolve the grievance to the complainant’s satisfaction, and but no consideration was given by the State Board to our response to this occasion. With the Board motion to extend the penalty above the advice, I critically query the standards for these accreditation classes. We’re desperate to work with the State Division to grasp why this determination was made.”

Infinity Technology

The board spent greater than an hour discussing potential probation for an Oklahoma Metropolis personal college, Infinity Technology Generals Preparatory College.

Division of Training officers accused the college of poor fiscal administration and misrepresenting its measurement when making use of for federal grant applications.

The varsity’s founder Gina Darby accused the division of attacking her and her college due to her ties to Stitt, who will face off in opposition to Hofmeister within the gubernatorial election in November after she switched events.

At one level, the board’s legal professional Travis Jett stopped Darby within the midst of her assault, saying, “we want some stage of decorum.”

In the end, the board voted to provide the personal college an accreditation warning, regardless of a advice the college be placed on probation.

Epic Constitution College

Mockingly, there was no dialogue of the probation handed right down to Epic Constitution College through the assembly, or any of the opposite eight faculties given accreditation probation.

Epic was given probation for greater than a dozen points associated to state regulation compliance, funds and accusations of bullying that have been specified by a report final month.

This was the second time Epic Constitution College has confronted an accreditation probation advice from the state lately. The earlier advice was in November 2020.

Hofmeister mentioned she would suggest probation once more at this assembly final month.

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Different gadgets of word

The board accredited a brand new Particular Training Handbook associated to insurance policies and procedures for particular training.
Secretary of Training Ryan Walters addressed the board through the public remark portion of the assembly and referred to as for members to overview the superintendent credentials of Tulsa’s Deborah Gist. He and Stitt have been longtime critics of the Tulsa superintendent.

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Oklahoma

Heard scores 18, Oklahoma State women continue hot start with 64-57 win over No. 17 West Virginia

Published

12 minutes ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Heard scores 18, Oklahoma State women continue hot start with 64-57 win over No. 17 West Virginia

Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Stailee Heard scored 18 points and Oklahoma State made the clutch plays down the stretch to upset No. 17 West Virginia 64-57 on Saturday.

The Cowgirls were sitting on a 6-57 lead when they missed a 3-pointer put Heard snagged the rebound and scored on a putback. As the Mountaineers attacked the basket on the other end, Tenin Magassa came up with a big block.

When West Virginia missed its last three shots in the final 30 seconds of the game Alexia Smith grabbed teh rebounds and she contributed the final points from the foul line with 11.4 seconds left.

Anna Gret Asi added 12 points and Micah Gray 11 for the Cowgirls (14-2, 4-1 Big 12 Conference), who are off to their best start since going 17-1 in 2013-14. Smith had 12 rebounds and Magass had five blocks.

Kylee Blacksten scored 16 points to lead West Virginia (13-3, 3-2) but only had three after the first quarter. JJ Quinerly added 10, nine below her average.

Oklahoma State was averaging more than 85 points a game but won two games in a row scoring 64. The Cowgirls held Cincinnati to 48 points and West Virginia to 27 below their league-leading average of 84.

Heard’s three-point play three minutes into the fourth quarter had the Cowgirls up 58-47 but West Virginia scored the next seven to get with 58-55 with 2:54 to play as Oklahoma State was missing seven-straight shots.

Blacksten started and ended a 12-0 run with 3-pointers that gave the Mountaineers a 17-7 lead but Gray and Asi hit consecutive 3s and the Cowgirls got within 24-23 at the end of the first quarter.

The two teams combined to make 17 of 29 shots with Blacksten scoring 13 points.

The teams cooled off the the second quarter, combining tor 7-of-23 shooting and 10 turnovers but West Virginia upped the lead to 38-33 at halftime.

Oklahoma State scored the first seven points of the third quarter and outscored the Mountaineers 17-7 to take a 50-45 lead into the fourth quarter. The Cowgirls made just 2 of 15 shots and had six turnovers as only two players score. Six different players scored for OSU, which went 7 of 10.

Oklahoma State plays at Houston on Tuesday. Colorado is at West Virginia on Wednesday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Oklahoma

Which NFL playoff teams have players with Oklahoma ties? We break it down

Published

9 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Which NFL playoff teams have players with Oklahoma ties? We break it down

The NFL Playoffs are upon us, and every team that made the postseason has at least one player with connections to our state. Some played Oklahoma high school football. Others spent all or some of their college years here at OU, Oklahoma State or elsewhere.

Here’s a look at the NFL players with a chance at a Super Bowl LIX ring:

Los Angeles Chargers

Tony Jefferson, S, OU: Came out of retirement this season after spending a year as a scout for the Ravens. Spent time on the practice squad, but played in five of the Chargers last six regular season games.

Houston Texans

Joe Mixon, RB, OU: After spending his first seven seasons in Cincinnati, Mixon had a Pro Bowl season in Houston, rushing for over 1,000 yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaylen Warren, RB, OSU: Took a small step back behind Najee Harris, rushing for a career-low 511 yards. But Warren was sidelined for a couple of games with a back injury and has been strong of late.

Devin Harper, LB, OSU: Has been on Pittsburgh’s practice squad all season after being waived by Cincinnati.

Baltimore Ravens

Mark Andrews, TE, OU: Arguably the best tight end in football. Has a career-high 11 touchdown catches this season after escaping injury in August when he was involved in a major car accident.

Justice Hill, RB, Tulsa Booker T. Washington HS/OSU: Back-up to standout Derrick Henry. Hill missed the last two games of the regular season after suffering a concussion.

Charlie Kolar, TE, Norman North HS: The third leg of the Ravens’ talented tight end group, pairing with Andrews and Isaiah Likely. Kolar, who went to Iowa State, has a career-high nine catches and 131 receiving yards.

Tylan Wallace, WR, OSU: Having a career year in his fourth season with the Ravens, catching a career-high 11 passes for 193 yards. Scored his first NFL receiving touchdown in Week 10 against the Bengals.

Denver Broncos

Nik Bonitto, LB, OU: A first-time Pro Bowler who has been mentioned in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Has 13.5 sacks, the first Bronco with double-digit sacks since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.

Marvin Mims, WR, OU: Another Pro Bowler. Speedy wideout is second on the team with 503 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. Also returns punts and kicks.

Ben Powers, OL, OU: Started every game for the Broncos at left guard. Third consecutive season he has logged over 1,000 snaps, the first in Baltimore, the last two in Denver.

Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, OU: On the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Has not played a snap for the Broncos this season.

Tanner McCalister, DB, OSU: On the practice squad. Spent his final college season (2022) at Ohio State after four years in Stillwater.

Buffalo Bills

Jordan Phillips, DT, OU: Has played in five games since being released by Dallas in November and signed the very next day by Buffalo. Played for the Bills in two previous stints.

Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs, RB, Tulsa McLain HS: Rushed for a team-high 1,329 yards in his first season with the Packers. The Alabama product has a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns, too.

Alex Hale, K, OSU: Has spent his entire rookie season on the Packers’ practice squad.

Marquis Hayes, OL, OU: On the practice squad. Second-year pro has yet to make his NFL debut.

Philadelphia Eagles

Grant Calcaterra, TE, OU: Started a career-high 13 games, logging career bests in catches (24) and receiving yards (298). After medically retiring and leaving OU following the 2019 season, finished his college career at SMU.

Jalen Hurts, QB, OU: In the MVP hunt before Philly sidekick Saquon Barkley stole everyone’s spotlight. Hurts missed the Eagles’ last two regular season games after suffering a concussion.

Lane Johnson, OL, OU: Earned his fifth invitation to the Pro Bowl this season. May well add another All-Pro honor. Made 14 starts at right tackle.

Washington Commanders

Tyler Ott, LS, Jenks HS: Tenth-year pro who played collegiately at Harvard is in his first season with Washington. Named a Pro Bowl alternate.

Chris Paul, OL, Tulsa: Guard has played in six games this season as a reserve.

Tress Way, P, Tulsa Union HS/OU: Making only his second playoff appearance in 11 seasons in Washington. The team captain and fan favorite set the franchise record for career punting yards earlier this season.

Austin Seibert, K, OU: Has been on injured reserve since missing a field goal and two extra points against Dallas. Made all his PATs and 27 of 29 field goals before that. Missed the two games prior with a hip injury.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield, QB, OU: Having his best pro season, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus passing grade of 82.4 ranks just behind Josh Allen, ahead of Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes.

Sterling Shepard, WR, Heritage Hall HS/OU: Resurrected his career in Tampa Bay. After eight seasons with the Giants, the last two of which were rough, Shepard has 32 catches for 334 yards and one touchdown.

Minnesota Vikings

Brian Asamoah, LB, OU: Reserve has played in 14 games this season, his third in Minnesota.

Jalen Redmond, DL, Midwest City HS/OU: One of the best comeback stories this season. Spent last season out of the NFL, then played in the UFL, hooked on with the Vikings’ practice squad but elevated and played in seven of the past eight games, starting two.

Walter Rouse, OL, OU: Made his NFL debut in Week 13 against the Cardinals but has not played otherwise.

Los Angeles Rams

Neville Gallimore, NT, OU: Has played in 14 games and made four starts in his first season with Rams. Spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Dallas.

Drake Stoops, WR, OU: Undrafted free agent has spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad.

A.J. Green, CB, OSU: Has been on the practice squad all season after spending the previous four seasons in Cleveland.

Kansas City Chiefs

Marquise Brown, WR, OU: Missed the first 14 games of the season due to a shoulder injury. Had nine catches in the two games he played since returning.

Creed Humphrey, OL, Shawnee HS/OU: Continues to build his case as the best center in the NFL. Stalwart and leader of KC’s offensive line. Has made 67 consecutive starts.

Wanya Morris, OL, OU: Second-year pro has made 11 starts this season. Bounced between left tackle and right tackle, the position at which he seems more natural.

Samaje Perine, RB, OU: Reserve power back has played in all of Kansas City’s games this season. Often used in short-yardage situations.

James Winchester, LS, Washington HS/OU: No current long snapper has been more consistent longer. One of only six current players on the Kansas City roster to be part of the franchise’s three most recent Super Bowl titles.

McKade Mettauer, OL, OU: Undrafted free agent signed by Kansas City, then placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury during a preseason game.

Detroit Lions

Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Wagoner HS/OSU: On injured reserve since Week 13 when he suffered a season-ending knee injury against Chicago. Prior to that, he’d played in 10 games, starting six, with 43 tackles and two sacks.

Did we forget someone? If you know of another player with ties to the state of Oklahoma in the NFL Playoffs, email Jenni Carlson at jcarlson@oklahoman.com.

Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at 405-475-4125 or jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

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Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA STANDARD: Neighbors help clear driveways and streets after snowstorm

Published

21 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

OKLAHOMA STANDARD: Neighbors help clear driveways and streets after snowstorm

TULSA, Okla — Ryder Tackett is a lifelong resident of Tulsa, and he’s happy to enjoy a little snow—but he also doesn’t mind clearing it up for drivers.

“I don’t want my parents slipping out onto the road,” he said.

He told 2News Oklahoma’s Isabel Flores about how he plows his driveway to make sure his parents stay safe after every snowfall.

This year, he said he’d ask his neighbors if they’d like their driveways plowed, too.

FLORES: “Have you seen anyone or have you yourself gone to other houses?”
TACKETT: “Uh no, I think I’m gonna do that actually. I just started.”
FLORES: “Oh wow! So you’re gonna go around?”
TACKETT: “Yeah, I think so, yeah.”

PJ Turner was also outside salting and plowing driveways.

He’s the Land Service Manager with Rancho Flores, a company that specializes in all kinds of yard work.

After all the fallen snow, Turner said it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation.

“We need a community of people, it takes a herd,” he said. “I think the more we help each other out, the better it is for our community. Plus, we can get out here in this fresh air.”