OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Democrats are, for the fifth time, calling on the Republican Supermajority to issue a special bipartisan committee to investigate the State Superintendent after new allegations the Oklahoma State Department of Education is taking funds the legislature allotted school districts for security enhancements. House Democrats have long believed the Superintendent’s actions and inactions rise to the level of impeachment.
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, says it is past time to act on this issue.
“We have continuously raised the concerns of Oklahomans regarding the State Superintendent,” said Leader Munson. “On August 29, 2023, we called for a special bipartisan committee to investigate whether there are grounds 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, we renewed our call again after a report OSDE was potentially misusing federal tax dollars. We have written the Attorney General to request an audit of how these taxpayer funds are being spent, and we formally filed House Resolution 1052 for a special bipartisan investigative committee on May 29, 2024. It is past time to hold the State Superintendent accountable. I am glad some of my Republican colleagues are speaking out, but it is now time to act. Republicans hold the supermajority in both legislative Chambers and the Governor’s mansion – they have the power, it’s time they use it. Our students, teachers, and families have suffered long enough.”
Assistant Democratic Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, says Oklahomans deserve answers for where these missing funds are going.
“The ongoing lack of transparency is alarming,” said Provenzano. “Where are these dollars going? As a former school administrator, I know the public deserves their tax dollars to be accounted for, especially when it comes to our public schools and the resources they need for their safety. The longer we let the State Superintendent go unchecked, the worse it will get.”
Democratic Caucus Chair Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, says public schools have been unsupported by OSDE for far too long.
“The new school year is upon us, and we have lost faith in the leadership of OSDE to support our school districts for student learning,” Ranson said. “Districts haven’t received their full federal funding from last year and are starting the school year in a funding deficit and many schools still do not know how many Title One federal dollars to expect after several requests. Our students deserve support. They deserve better.”
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