FROM THE NEWSROOM. OLIVIA, WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT? THAT MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT 1:00 AT THE CAPITOL, BUT IT’S BEEN POSTPONED TO APRIL 24TH. THEIR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING, ACCORDING TO A REP FOR SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS. THE POSTPONEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ONGOING BATTLE OVER WHO CAN ADD AGENDA ITEMS. THURSDAY’S SCHEDULED BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, POSTPONED TO NEXT MONTH. HOURS BEFORE ITS 1:00 SCHEDULED START. IN A STATEMENT, OKLAHOMA STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS CITED OSB MEMBERS CONCERNS ON A POTENTIAL VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. THE AGENDA WAS POSTED ONLINE 19 MINUTES AFTER WEDNESDAY’S DEADLINE. A PHYSICAL COPY WAS POSTED IN TIME, SO ATTORNEYS SAID TODAY’S MEETING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. BUT THE DECISION TO DELAY WAS MADE TO AVOID ANY CHANCE OF A VIOLATION DUE TO A TECHNICAL ISSUE. THE OSB AGENDA FOR MARCH WAS POSTED ON THE INTERNET 19 MINUTES LATE. THE AGENDA WAS TIMELY POSTED AT OSD HEADQUARTERS, WHERE THE MEETING IS HELD. THE AGENDA WAS SENT TO HMS FOR POSTING AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE. BOARD COUNSEL ADVISED THE MEETING COULD CONTINUE. OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, THE BOARD MEETING FOR MARCH WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24TH, 2025, WHICH IS THE NEXT SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING DATE. IT’S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT JUST LAST NIGHT, A BILL ADVANCED THAT WOULD ALLOW BOARD OF ED MEMBERS TO HAVE A SAY ON WHAT GOES ON THE AGENDA. LAST TIME THE BOARD MET IN FEBRUARY, THE TOPIC CAUSED FRICTION. YES, AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, MEMBERS ASKED TO PUT SOME AGENDA ITEMS ON THERE. AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THEY’RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. ACCORDING TO A REP FOR SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS, THE TWO TOPICS AREN’T RELATED. HE ACTUALLY VOICED HE’S OKAY WITH THE BILL. IN AN EXCLUSIVE KOCO FIVE INTERVIEW EARLIER THIS MONTH. I’VE TALKED TO THE SPEAKER, TALKED TO THE PRO TEM. LOOK, I’VE GOT NO ISSUES WITH WITH THE BILL. IT FRANKLY WOULDN’T AFFECT ANYTHING THAT WE’RE DOING. WE’VE ALWAYS HAD THAT PRACTICE. I REACHED OUT TO BOARD OF ED MEMBERS FOR COMMENT TODAY, AND I HEARD FROM CHRISTOPHER VANDEVEN, WHO SAYS HE’S HEARD ABOUT THE CANCELLATION FROM A THIRD PARTY AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF COMMU
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Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting postponed due to Open Meetings Act
The Oklahoma Department of Education’s boardroom sat empty on Thursday despite a planned monthly meeting
The Oklahoma Department of Education’s boardroom sat empty on Thursday despite a planned monthly meeting.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelConcerns over violating Oklahoma’s Open Meetings Act caused the postponement but it comes at an already contentious time on the board.The meeting was supposed to start at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Capitol, but it was postponed until April 24, their next scheduled meeting. According to a representative for State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the postponement has nothing to do with the ongoing battle over who can add agenda items.Thursday’s scheduled Board of Education meeting was postponed just hours before its 1 p.m. scheduled start.In a statement, Walters cited OSBE members’ concerns of a potential violation of the Open Meetings Act.The agenda was posted online 19 minutes after Wednesday’s deadline.A physical copy was posted in time, so attorneys said Thursday’s meeting could have happened, but the decision to delay was made to avoid any chance of violation.“Due to a technical issue the OSBE Agenda for March was posted on the internet 19 minutes late. The agenda was timely posted at OSDE headquarters where the meeting is held,” Walters said in a statement. “The agenda was sent to OMES for posting ahead of the deadline. Board Counsel advised the meeting could continue. Out of an abundance of caution the board meeting for March will be scheduled for April 24th, 2025, which is the next scheduled board meeting date.”Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.It is interesting to note that on Wednesday night, a bill advanced that would allow Board of Education members to have a say on what goes on the agenda. The last time the board met in February, the topic caused friction.“At the last school board meeting, members asked to put come agenda items on there. Currently right now, they're not able to do that,” said state Rep. Ronny Johns.According to a representative Walters, the two topics aren’t related. Walters actually voiced he’s OK with the bill in an exclusive KOCO 5 interview earlier this month.KOCO 5 reached out to board of education members on Thursday for comment and Christopher Vandenhende said he heard about the cancelation from a third party and is concerned about the lack of communication.Top Headlines Oklahoma County sheriff calls on district judge to step down, citing abuse of power Police investigating after person killed in crash in construction zone in Moore Dozens of US bridges are at risk of vessel strikes, new reports show Shake Shack set to open its first Oklahoma restaurant at OAK developmentTIMELINE: Severe storm threat returns to Oklahoma late Saturday
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Oklahoma Department of Education’s boardroom sat empty on Thursday despite a planned monthly meeting.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
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Concerns over violating Oklahoma’s Open Meetings Act caused the postponement but it comes at an already contentious time on the board.
Tension and turmoil during Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting
The meeting was supposed to start at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Capitol, but it was postponed until April 24, their next scheduled meeting. According to a representative for State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the postponement has nothing to do with the ongoing battle over who can add agenda items.
Thursday’s scheduled Board of Education meeting was postponed just hours before its 1 p.m. scheduled start.
In a statement, Walters cited OSBE members’ concerns of a potential violation of the Open Meetings Act.
The agenda was posted online 19 minutes after Wednesday’s deadline.
A physical copy was posted in time, so attorneys said Thursday’s meeting could have happened, but the decision to delay was made to avoid any chance of violation.
“Due to a technical issue the OSBE Agenda for March was posted on the internet 19 minutes late. The agenda was timely posted at OSDE headquarters where the meeting is held,” Walters said in a statement. “The agenda was sent to OMES for posting ahead of the deadline. Board Counsel advised the meeting could continue. Out of an abundance of caution the board meeting for March will be scheduled for April 24th, 2025, which is the next scheduled board meeting date.”
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
It is interesting to note that on Wednesday night, a bill advanced that would allow Board of Education members to have a say on what goes on the agenda. The last time the board met in February, the topic caused friction.
New Oklahoma State Board of Education members asking tough questions during first meeting
“At the last school board meeting, members asked to put come agenda items on there. Currently right now, they're not able to do that,” said state Rep. Ronny Johns.
According to a representative Walters, the two topics aren’t related. Walters actually voiced he’s OK with the bill in an exclusive KOCO 5 interview earlier this month.
KOCO 5 reached out to board of education members on Thursday for comment and Christopher Vandenhende said he heard about the cancelation from a third party and is concerned about the lack of communication.
Top Headlines
- Oklahoma County sheriff calls on district judge to step down, citing abuse of power
- Police investigating after person killed in crash in construction zone in Moore
- Dozens of US bridges are at risk of vessel strikes, new reports show
- Shake Shack set to open its first Oklahoma restaurant at OAK development
- TIMELINE: Severe storm threat returns to Oklahoma late Saturday
