OKLAHOMA CITY — Five state lawmakers, including two from Cleveland County, have asked for an attorney general’s opinion on whether the state’s new immigration law is enforceable.
State Reps. Bill Nations and Wallace Collins, both Norman Democrats, and Reps. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City; Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City, and Scott BigHorse, D-Pawhuska, sent a seven-page letter to Attorney General Drew Edmondson requesting the opinion, Edmondson’s office confirmed Friday.
The letter, dated Sept. 5, asked Edmondson whether the state’s new immigration law — created by House Bill 1804 — conflicts with federal immigration law. The state law was authored by Moore Republican Randy Terrill.
“As widely reported in the press, there is a great deal of confusion regarding what the bill does and does not do,” the letter states. “There are also questions regarding to how the law will affect public agencies, schools and other members of our constituency.”
Nations said he endorsed the request because “it’s almost impossible” to have a civil conversation about immigration.
“I think that a law of this sort, this approach, is punitive and not well thought out,” he said. “It’s reactionary. This is a complicated problem that needs to have a better solution. It’s frustrating, because the abililty to have moderates sit down in a room and use common sense and come up with a workable solution is very limited.”
Nations said lawmakers asked Edmondson 21 questions about the immigration law, including:
• Can public and private elementary and secondary schools “deny issuance of identification cards to students who are not U.S. citizens, nationals, lawful permanent residents?”
• Does “categorization of immigrants for the purpose of eligibility for school identification” constitute a state-imposed regulation of immigration?
• Can state officials, including judges “rely on a defendant’s current lack of immigration status to infer that he or she was not lawfully admitted to the United States?”
• Do full due process protections, including the right to counsel, apply to proceedings?
“We need solutions,” Nations said, “and solutions are not coming from Washington, D.C.”
Friday, Terrill said he expected the measure to be challenged.
“I’m not surprised in the least that somebody would be considering filing a challenge to the bill. Maybe they are hoping the attorney general will do their research for them,” he said.
Terrill said he was “99.9” percent confident that the bill would withstand any challenge to it. “House Bill 1804 is a carefully calibrated measure,” he said. “It’s designed to sync perfectly with federal immigration law.”
Terrill said the measure was written “well within” constitutional and federal immigration guidelines.
“A state cannot regulate immigration,” he said. “A state can, however, cooperatively enforce immigration law and the federal government encourages states to cooperatively enforce the law.”
House Bill 1804, he said, was not regulation but cooperative enforcement.
“This request is just the first step in trying to thwart implementation of the law,” Terrill said.
Rep. Collins disagreed, charging the law was aimed primary at Hispanics and, therefore, racist.
“I voted against the bill, I didn’t support the bill,” Collins said. “I think it was racist and aimed primary at the Hispanic population. I think that’s wrong.”
And while Terrill said recent polls show “a vast majority” of Oklahomans want tougher immigration laws, Collins said most Oklahomans didn’t understand the issue.
“People are not educated about the real facts of federal immigration,” he said. “They don’t understand.”
Edmondson’s spokesman, Charlie Price, said the attorney general will assign the letter to an associate for review. But that review, Price said, could take several weeks.
Portions of the law are set to go into effect Nov. 1.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Legal immigration takes years, very costly, attorney says
Immigration laws in the United States are so convoluted that it can take decades before an immigrant — seeking to become a legal resident — can achieve that goal, a Norman attorney said Friday.
Giovinna Perry, who practices immigration law in Oklahoma City, said some Hispanic families are forced to wait anywhere from 12 to 15 years to become legal residents. For residents from the Philippines, the wait can be even longer — more than 20 years.
“One of the things people say all the time is, ‘why don’t they just legally come here,’” Perry said. “Well, the answer is because it isn’t that easy.”
Speaking at the Cleveland County Democratic Party’s weekly Tyner Corn Bread and Beans luncheon, Perry said federal immigration law requires one of two relationships: either through family or through employment. “But somebody has to file an application,” she said.
“Before 1996 people could go in and out of the country with no repercussions. But after that, Congress changed the law. They developed a quota system and limited the number of available visas, and every year they meet that quota. It’s created a backlog.”
To make matters worse, she said, the federal government “doesn’t treat borders the same way” and many times, immigrant workers in the United States are exploited or the victims of illegal actions by law enforcement.
“The exploitation of immigrants is big in this country. You see it in the news more and more every day. We have reports of law officers going to grocery stores on Shields (Boulevard) asking people for papers. Those things are illegal — stopping people and asking for papers.”
Perry said Oklahoma lawmakers also “contributed to the problem” when they adopted House Bill 1804.
“Right now, because of HB1804, a lot of people are scared and leaving the state of Oklahoma,” she said. “Employers are scared and they don’t understand.”
Perry said the new law requires companies to “sign up with certain information programs” to verify a worker’s residency. “For state offices and state contractors, the law goes into effect Nov. 1. For private companies, it’s July of 2008 and applies to all new workers.”
Because of the law, Perry said many companies are firing all their current workers. “Then they can’t find anyone to do the work. It’s a problem in construction, housing, hotels and the food processing industries — all the jobs we know the immigrants are doing right now.”
Oklahoma’s law — like those of other states, she said — “is a bad way” to solve the problem. “I believe it’s going to have a real negative impact on state economy. And I don’t think the American public will stand for it.”
To solve the problem, Perry said policy leaders should focus on four areas — better border security, a foreign policy that helps strengthen the economy of other countries, a path to citizenship for all undocumented workers currently in the United States, and more worker visas for immigrant workers at all levels.
“We need to focus on all four areas,” she said. “But right now the government is just focused on security. That’s like saying you’re going to cure a sick person and not focus on preventative medicine. It just won’t work.”
Giovinna Perry, who practices immigration law in Oklahoma City, said some Hispanic families are forced to wait anywhere from 12 to 15 years to become legal residents. For residents from the Philippines, the wait can be even longer — more than 20 years.
“One of the things people say all the time is, ‘why don’t they just legally come here,’” Perry said. “Well, the answer is because it isn’t that easy.”
Speaking at the Cleveland County Democratic Party’s weekly Tyner Corn Bread and Beans luncheon, Perry said federal immigration law requires one of two relationships: either through family or through employment. “But somebody has to file an application,” she said.
“Before 1996 people could go in and out of the country with no repercussions. But after that, Congress changed the law. They developed a quota system and limited the number of available visas, and every year they meet that quota. It’s created a backlog.”
To make matters worse, she said, the federal government “doesn’t treat borders the same way” and many times, immigrant workers in the United States are exploited or the victims of illegal actions by law enforcement.
“The exploitation of immigrants is big in this country. You see it in the news more and more every day. We have reports of law officers going to grocery stores on Shields (Boulevard) asking people for papers. Those things are illegal — stopping people and asking for papers.”
Perry said Oklahoma lawmakers also “contributed to the problem” when they adopted House Bill 1804.
“Right now, because of HB1804, a lot of people are scared and leaving the state of Oklahoma,” she said. “Employers are scared and they don’t understand.”
Perry said the new law requires companies to “sign up with certain information programs” to verify a worker’s residency. “For state offices and state contractors, the law goes into effect Nov. 1. For private companies, it’s July of 2008 and applies to all new workers.”
Because of the law, Perry said many companies are firing all their current workers. “Then they can’t find anyone to do the work. It’s a problem in construction, housing, hotels and the food processing industries — all the jobs we know the immigrants are doing right now.”
Oklahoma’s law — like those of other states, she said — “is a bad way” to solve the problem. “I believe it’s going to have a real negative impact on state economy. And I don’t think the American public will stand for it.”
To solve the problem, Perry said policy leaders should focus on four areas — better border security, a foreign policy that helps strengthen the economy of other countries, a path to citizenship for all undocumented workers currently in the United States, and more worker visas for immigrant workers at all levels.
“We need to focus on all four areas,” she said. “But right now the government is just focused on security. That’s like saying you’re going to cure a sick person and not focus on preventative medicine. It just won’t work.”
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Unreleased report says state funding more than $800 million short
OKLAHOMA CITY — A controversial education study — completed in 2005 but never officially released by the Oklahoma Legislature — paints a dismal picture of state education funding and calls for an influx of more than $800 million in new spending, The Transcript has learned.
Commissioned in 2004, and completed at a cost of $150,230 in April of 2005, the two-part study by Colorado-based Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, was prepared for the Legislative Service Bureau — a state office controlled by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate.
The first part of the study, which cost $32,930, was released in November of 2004. That report examined the spending of school districts which successfully met state performance standards.
The second report of the study — entitled “Calculating the Cost of an Adequate Education in Oklahoma,” — analyzed the “adequacy of revenues available to elementary and secondary school districts in Oklahoma” for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
That portion of the report — finished in April of 2005 but never released — cost $117,300 and says state per-student spending should be increased to almost $7,000 to “ensure school districts have a reasonable chance” to meet state and federal student performance expectations.
Those extra funds, documents show, would amount to more than $844 million.
Records indicate Oklahoma allocated $5,622 per student in education spending for the 2003-2004 fiscal year; during that time, about 618,000 students attended Oklahoma public schools.
But that $5,622 figure, the study said, is $1,367 shy of the amount needed for schools to reach an “adequacy level” — a level which funds “base services” to all kindergarten through 12th grade students and covers additional costs for serving students with special needs — that is, special education, at-risk, and English as a Second Language (ESL) services.
And while some officials say the document is proof the state’s education system is drastically underfunded, others downplay the report and question its data.
Either way, few have seen the second document.
“The study just reinforces the Governor’s view that we have to put more resources in the classroom,” said Paul Sund, a spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry.
Sund confirmed officials in Henry’s office had read the study earlier this year, but only after being shown the study by a television news reporter.
But Lt. Gov. Jari Askins — a member of the House of Representatives in 2004 — said she never saw the study, as did State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett.
“No. That Augenblick study was never made available to me,” Garrett said. “I have not seen it and I don’t think it was released to anyone else.”
Former House Speaker Todd Hiett, who served as House leader during the time the study was completed, did not return phone calls from The Transcript. However, Damon Gardenhire, a spokesman for current House Speaker Lance Cargill, claimed the study’s second part was released.
“I checked, and in fact, the study was made available,” Gardenhire wrote in an e-mail.
Developed using a “professional judgment” approach, the Augenblick study used panels of educators and education service providers to “specify the resources needed” for a hypothetical group of different sized schools and districts.
Forty-four school officials — including Bartlesville physics teacher Granger Meador, who testified Tuesday at a House hearing on merit pay — participated in the study.
Meador said he was disappointed the study was never released. “I was very frustrated,” he said. “But I did get a copy about a year ago.”
Written using data taken from three different panels, the “professional judgment approach is particularly useful” in examining the future costs of schools and districts in meeting state performance standards, Augenblick officials said.
“Oklahoma, like many states uses a ‘foundation-type’ formula as the basis for allocating a majority of the state’s aid to school districts,” the study said. “Under a foundation approach, the state typically determines a fixed amount of revenue per student — the foundation level.”
But those officials say the ‘foundation style’ of funding doesn’t include the state and federal school performance expectations and, because of that, schools don’t receive the funds necessary to properly educate students.
“In many states — including Oklahoma — the determination of the foundation level is based primarily on the total revenue available and does not take into account the state and federal expectations for district and school performance,” the study said. “Such a method for determining the foundation does not reflect the level of resources needed to fully implement standards-based reform.”
And though Henry’s office said the study underscored the governor’s call for increased education funding, Gardenhire questioned the report’s validity.
“Other studies reach different conclusions,” Gardenhire said. “And other states are experiencing fiscal problems because of similarly flawed studies by Augenblick.” Gardenhire added the study’s conclusions were “questionable at best since the firm (Augenblick) was clearly a tool of the NEA.”
Other education leaders disagree.
Oklahoma Education Association president Roy Bishop said the study confirms why the teacher’s union recently sued then-House Speaker Hiett and Senate Pro Tempore Mike Morgan.
“Not releasing the second study sends a terrible message to the people of Oklahoma,” Bishop said. “It says that our legislative leaders don’t want the public to see this because they have not funded our educational system adequately.”
Bishop said lawmakers withheld the study “because of the huge amount” of money involved.
“There’s an agenda out there to make sure taxes are cut and to reduce growth revenue and this study would have put a serious issue on the table for discussion and they don’t want to deal with that.”
Bishop also criticized claims that both parts of the study had been released.
“I don’t believe that,” he said. “If they were out there, why wouldn’t they bring them up? Why bury it? Why hide it?”
Commissioned in 2004, and completed at a cost of $150,230 in April of 2005, the two-part study by Colorado-based Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, was prepared for the Legislative Service Bureau — a state office controlled by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate.
The first part of the study, which cost $32,930, was released in November of 2004. That report examined the spending of school districts which successfully met state performance standards.
The second report of the study — entitled “Calculating the Cost of an Adequate Education in Oklahoma,” — analyzed the “adequacy of revenues available to elementary and secondary school districts in Oklahoma” for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
That portion of the report — finished in April of 2005 but never released — cost $117,300 and says state per-student spending should be increased to almost $7,000 to “ensure school districts have a reasonable chance” to meet state and federal student performance expectations.
Those extra funds, documents show, would amount to more than $844 million.
Records indicate Oklahoma allocated $5,622 per student in education spending for the 2003-2004 fiscal year; during that time, about 618,000 students attended Oklahoma public schools.
But that $5,622 figure, the study said, is $1,367 shy of the amount needed for schools to reach an “adequacy level” — a level which funds “base services” to all kindergarten through 12th grade students and covers additional costs for serving students with special needs — that is, special education, at-risk, and English as a Second Language (ESL) services.
And while some officials say the document is proof the state’s education system is drastically underfunded, others downplay the report and question its data.
Either way, few have seen the second document.
“The study just reinforces the Governor’s view that we have to put more resources in the classroom,” said Paul Sund, a spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry.
Sund confirmed officials in Henry’s office had read the study earlier this year, but only after being shown the study by a television news reporter.
But Lt. Gov. Jari Askins — a member of the House of Representatives in 2004 — said she never saw the study, as did State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett.
“No. That Augenblick study was never made available to me,” Garrett said. “I have not seen it and I don’t think it was released to anyone else.”
Former House Speaker Todd Hiett, who served as House leader during the time the study was completed, did not return phone calls from The Transcript. However, Damon Gardenhire, a spokesman for current House Speaker Lance Cargill, claimed the study’s second part was released.
“I checked, and in fact, the study was made available,” Gardenhire wrote in an e-mail.
Developed using a “professional judgment” approach, the Augenblick study used panels of educators and education service providers to “specify the resources needed” for a hypothetical group of different sized schools and districts.
Forty-four school officials — including Bartlesville physics teacher Granger Meador, who testified Tuesday at a House hearing on merit pay — participated in the study.
Meador said he was disappointed the study was never released. “I was very frustrated,” he said. “But I did get a copy about a year ago.”
Written using data taken from three different panels, the “professional judgment approach is particularly useful” in examining the future costs of schools and districts in meeting state performance standards, Augenblick officials said.
“Oklahoma, like many states uses a ‘foundation-type’ formula as the basis for allocating a majority of the state’s aid to school districts,” the study said. “Under a foundation approach, the state typically determines a fixed amount of revenue per student — the foundation level.”
But those officials say the ‘foundation style’ of funding doesn’t include the state and federal school performance expectations and, because of that, schools don’t receive the funds necessary to properly educate students.
“In many states — including Oklahoma — the determination of the foundation level is based primarily on the total revenue available and does not take into account the state and federal expectations for district and school performance,” the study said. “Such a method for determining the foundation does not reflect the level of resources needed to fully implement standards-based reform.”
And though Henry’s office said the study underscored the governor’s call for increased education funding, Gardenhire questioned the report’s validity.
“Other studies reach different conclusions,” Gardenhire said. “And other states are experiencing fiscal problems because of similarly flawed studies by Augenblick.” Gardenhire added the study’s conclusions were “questionable at best since the firm (Augenblick) was clearly a tool of the NEA.”
Other education leaders disagree.
Oklahoma Education Association president Roy Bishop said the study confirms why the teacher’s union recently sued then-House Speaker Hiett and Senate Pro Tempore Mike Morgan.
“Not releasing the second study sends a terrible message to the people of Oklahoma,” Bishop said. “It says that our legislative leaders don’t want the public to see this because they have not funded our educational system adequately.”
Bishop said lawmakers withheld the study “because of the huge amount” of money involved.
“There’s an agenda out there to make sure taxes are cut and to reduce growth revenue and this study would have put a serious issue on the table for discussion and they don’t want to deal with that.”
Bishop also criticized claims that both parts of the study had been released.
“I don’t believe that,” he said. “If they were out there, why wouldn’t they bring them up? Why bury it? Why hide it?”
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
COMMENTARY: Cleveland County residents will have to solve jail problem themselves
For several years now, Cleveland County’s Board of Commissioners has struggled with the county’s ever-increasing jail population.
The issue has bounced back and forth for quite a while, and then, in 2006, state officials began to increase the pressure on the county to reduce its inmate population.
Built to hold 177, the jail’s population has hovered near or over the 200 mark for quite a while.
Twice, jail inspectors have threatened to fine the county huge amounts or close the jail if something wasn’t done to reduce the number of inmates there.
Some measures have helped.
The county has agreements with other counties for the housing of prisoners, and a new county drug court has helped to reduce the inmate population — slightly.
But the county’s biggest problem is the offspring of two attitudes which have reduced the necessary funds available to run the facility and, at the same time, increased the number of crimes the public can be put in jail for.
Call it I-don’t-want-to-pay meets Tough-on-crime.
To make matters worse, state lawmakers — who would rather spend their time trying to micromanage county government instead of trying to solve statewide issues — tried to strong arm commissioners with a couple of silly laws which did nothing more than generate political fodder for re-election campaigns.
So Cleveland County’s Commissioners have, for several years now, been stuck squarely in the middle.
And you can rest assured they don’t like being there.
Various solutions have been proposed — expanding the current jail, which is located in downtown Norman; constructing a second facility on a 30-acre plot of land along Franklin Road, near the York International plant; or building another facility in Lexington next to the state prisons there.
Each idea has its good and bad components.
But the problem is very few people want to do any listening. Most, instead, just want to whine and moan about how they don’t want to pay for a jail or how it shouldn’t be build “in my backyard.”
This while they also want to lock people up for everything ranging from first time drug offenses to $50 bogus checks.
Well, gang, we’ve now reached that point where our collectives backs are against the wall.
Something has gotta’ give.
Unless county officials can find a location, and come up with a mechanism to fund the construction of a new jail, they’ll be forced to expand the old one.
Norman’s downtown merchants are not too hip on having a jail dominate their skyline and the folks who live in the country near Franklin Road don’t want the jail on their side of town.
Then, there’s the problem with building a facility in Lexington. Law enforcement officials don’t like that idea because of the logistics of moving prisoners back and forth.
But, again, the fact remains that something has to be done.
And it has to happen soon.
So here’s my suggestion: Call a huge, well-publicized countywide meeting at say, the fairgrounds.
Get all the interested parties in the same room. If they don’t come they are forever banned from complaining.
Then, lock the doors and don’t let anyone out until they reach a decision.
Since Oklahoma isn’t Dickensonian London there are no workhouses or treadmills. We’re out of dungeons — thankfully, we haven’t got to the point where we’re executing people for DUI.
But we’re close.
So reason and common sense are going to have to play a major role in where and when and how the county builds and pays for a new jail facility.
We’re also going to have to expand the use of alternative and community-based sentencing.
Political games, rhetoric and a one-sided attitudes are not going to solve the problem. It’s going to take brainwork and some well though out ideas by citizens of Cleveland County.
Because if we don’t do something soon, the state will.
And I promise you that solution will cost far more than any of us can imagine.
The issue has bounced back and forth for quite a while, and then, in 2006, state officials began to increase the pressure on the county to reduce its inmate population.
Built to hold 177, the jail’s population has hovered near or over the 200 mark for quite a while.
Twice, jail inspectors have threatened to fine the county huge amounts or close the jail if something wasn’t done to reduce the number of inmates there.
Some measures have helped.
The county has agreements with other counties for the housing of prisoners, and a new county drug court has helped to reduce the inmate population — slightly.
But the county’s biggest problem is the offspring of two attitudes which have reduced the necessary funds available to run the facility and, at the same time, increased the number of crimes the public can be put in jail for.
Call it I-don’t-want-to-pay meets Tough-on-crime.
To make matters worse, state lawmakers — who would rather spend their time trying to micromanage county government instead of trying to solve statewide issues — tried to strong arm commissioners with a couple of silly laws which did nothing more than generate political fodder for re-election campaigns.
So Cleveland County’s Commissioners have, for several years now, been stuck squarely in the middle.
And you can rest assured they don’t like being there.
Various solutions have been proposed — expanding the current jail, which is located in downtown Norman; constructing a second facility on a 30-acre plot of land along Franklin Road, near the York International plant; or building another facility in Lexington next to the state prisons there.
Each idea has its good and bad components.
But the problem is very few people want to do any listening. Most, instead, just want to whine and moan about how they don’t want to pay for a jail or how it shouldn’t be build “in my backyard.”
This while they also want to lock people up for everything ranging from first time drug offenses to $50 bogus checks.
Well, gang, we’ve now reached that point where our collectives backs are against the wall.
Something has gotta’ give.
Unless county officials can find a location, and come up with a mechanism to fund the construction of a new jail, they’ll be forced to expand the old one.
Norman’s downtown merchants are not too hip on having a jail dominate their skyline and the folks who live in the country near Franklin Road don’t want the jail on their side of town.
Then, there’s the problem with building a facility in Lexington. Law enforcement officials don’t like that idea because of the logistics of moving prisoners back and forth.
But, again, the fact remains that something has to be done.
And it has to happen soon.
So here’s my suggestion: Call a huge, well-publicized countywide meeting at say, the fairgrounds.
Get all the interested parties in the same room. If they don’t come they are forever banned from complaining.
Then, lock the doors and don’t let anyone out until they reach a decision.
Since Oklahoma isn’t Dickensonian London there are no workhouses or treadmills. We’re out of dungeons — thankfully, we haven’t got to the point where we’re executing people for DUI.
But we’re close.
So reason and common sense are going to have to play a major role in where and when and how the county builds and pays for a new jail facility.
We’re also going to have to expand the use of alternative and community-based sentencing.
Political games, rhetoric and a one-sided attitudes are not going to solve the problem. It’s going to take brainwork and some well though out ideas by citizens of Cleveland County.
Because if we don’t do something soon, the state will.
And I promise you that solution will cost far more than any of us can imagine.
COMMENTARY: Fatherhood, part 2
A couple of weeks ago, I penned a column about how I though the state should change its child custody laws.
I spelled out what I thought was wrong with the system and offered some suggestions for fixing it up.
And by the message I received, you would have though I suggested canceling the football program a the University of Oklahoma.
Yes, the defecation struck the rotary oscillator.
I’m sure the computer guys here at the newspaper weren’t too happy with the quantity of e-mail I received because of that column.
I published one response — well written and thought out — but many of the others were (even for me) a little too crass for a family newspaper.
I was especially fond of the one which questioned the legality of my birth and my mother’s moral standards.
Anyway, the column caused a big ruckus.
Good.
Because I meant everything I wrote. (I can almost hear those keyboards clicking now).
So, because I’m so good at causing a fight, I thought I’d revisit the subject this week. Only this time, I’m not going to repeat my call to ditch Oklahoma’s useless child custody system.
This week, I’d rather discuss fatherhood.
Or, if you will, the art of being a Dad.
Here where I work, one of my co-workers, a tall chap named Christian, is the perfect example of decent, hardworking Dad.
Granted, Christian hasn’t had the best luck with the opposite sex, but despite his divorces, he’s a great father.
His kids are polite, they smile, they laugh and you know they live in a home where they are loved.
Christian talks about them all the time.
You can watch his face light up and he tells me about his son’s soccer game or stories about his daughter and her passage from being a pre-teen into a teenager.
I watch him smile as he talks about the smallest member of the family, who’s not yet five.
Yeah, Christian gives a damn.
He cares about his kids. And he takes care of his kids.
He makes sure they are well fed, they do their homework and they understand right from wrong.
He also makes sure each child knows how much they are loved.
Most of you probably won’t ever get the chance to meet Christian. Heck, unless you were introduced, you probably wouldn’t know him from Adam.
Too bad, too.
Because Christian is the type of Dad that you should meet.
He’s the perfect example to use when you hear all that crap about how a single Dad can’t be as good a parent as a single Mom.
We all can learn a lot from guys like Christian.
Patience, humor and the ability to remember that kids — even at their best — are going to drive you nuts sometimes; these things Christian has in abundance.
His kids are lucky.
By the time they reach their adult lives, they’ll be well prepared for the world and all its challenges.
Why? Because of their Dad.
Because of Christian.
Like I said before, I’m not going to apologize for believing the child custody system in Oklahoma is screwed up and needs to be overhauled.
And I’m not going to back down on what I think needs to be done.
But please believe me when I say, we wouldn’t have to worry about a thing if more Dads were like my buddy Christian.
Because he knows that nothing can replace a decent, caring father.
I spelled out what I thought was wrong with the system and offered some suggestions for fixing it up.
And by the message I received, you would have though I suggested canceling the football program a the University of Oklahoma.
Yes, the defecation struck the rotary oscillator.
I’m sure the computer guys here at the newspaper weren’t too happy with the quantity of e-mail I received because of that column.
I published one response — well written and thought out — but many of the others were (even for me) a little too crass for a family newspaper.
I was especially fond of the one which questioned the legality of my birth and my mother’s moral standards.
Anyway, the column caused a big ruckus.
Good.
Because I meant everything I wrote. (I can almost hear those keyboards clicking now).
So, because I’m so good at causing a fight, I thought I’d revisit the subject this week. Only this time, I’m not going to repeat my call to ditch Oklahoma’s useless child custody system.
This week, I’d rather discuss fatherhood.
Or, if you will, the art of being a Dad.
Here where I work, one of my co-workers, a tall chap named Christian, is the perfect example of decent, hardworking Dad.
Granted, Christian hasn’t had the best luck with the opposite sex, but despite his divorces, he’s a great father.
His kids are polite, they smile, they laugh and you know they live in a home where they are loved.
Christian talks about them all the time.
You can watch his face light up and he tells me about his son’s soccer game or stories about his daughter and her passage from being a pre-teen into a teenager.
I watch him smile as he talks about the smallest member of the family, who’s not yet five.
Yeah, Christian gives a damn.
He cares about his kids. And he takes care of his kids.
He makes sure they are well fed, they do their homework and they understand right from wrong.
He also makes sure each child knows how much they are loved.
Most of you probably won’t ever get the chance to meet Christian. Heck, unless you were introduced, you probably wouldn’t know him from Adam.
Too bad, too.
Because Christian is the type of Dad that you should meet.
He’s the perfect example to use when you hear all that crap about how a single Dad can’t be as good a parent as a single Mom.
We all can learn a lot from guys like Christian.
Patience, humor and the ability to remember that kids — even at their best — are going to drive you nuts sometimes; these things Christian has in abundance.
His kids are lucky.
By the time they reach their adult lives, they’ll be well prepared for the world and all its challenges.
Why? Because of their Dad.
Because of Christian.
Like I said before, I’m not going to apologize for believing the child custody system in Oklahoma is screwed up and needs to be overhauled.
And I’m not going to back down on what I think needs to be done.
But please believe me when I say, we wouldn’t have to worry about a thing if more Dads were like my buddy Christian.
Because he knows that nothing can replace a decent, caring father.
Nations: State can't afford merit pay
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma can’t afford the cost of merit pay for its public school teachers because local tax support for public schools is too low, a member of the House Education Committee said Tuesday.
Norman Rep. Bill Nations, a Democrat, said the state can’t fund a merit pay proposal because Oklahoma “can’t even afford to get teacher pay to the regional average.”
“That’s one of the reasons our teachers are so frightened,” he said.
Nations, along with members of the House Education Committee, spent Tuesday attending an interim legislative hearing on House Speaker Lance Cargill’s merit pay proposal.
The meeting was the second of several meetings planned this fall.
Tuesday, lawmakers heard from representatives of the Oklahoma Education Association, schoolteachers, union representatives from Minnesota and the Norman-based group Professional Oklahoma Educators.
Though most of the speakers urged legislators to bring the teachers’ base salary to the regional level, Nations said getting there would be difficult.
“First we’re going to have to adequately pay all the teachers,” he said. “As long as we’re are losing teachers to surrounding states, then base pay will be a problem.”
But funding future pay increases and providing school districts additional money for operating revenue “will be a struggle,” Nations said because the state’s tax base is too low.
“Here’s the secret that no one in this room is going to mention,” he said. “The fundamental problem is local support for schools in Oklahoma is too low. Property taxes are too low.”
Because the state continues to pick up more of the cost of common education, a greater portion of Oklahoma’s budget is used to fund education, he said. “It’s true. We’re not giving enough money for operational costs. Education funding is too much of a percentage of our budget. Other states have much bigger local support. We pick up what local funds don’t cover.”
And public schools, he said, can’t survive on just local support.
“If we are the bottom two or three in property taxes, we’re going to continue to have problems. But no one is going to alter that — it’s not gonna’ happen.”
Instead, Nations predicted the struggle to fund public schools will continue.
“This has been going on since 1907. We take everything under God’s green earth to support education. And we have to, it’s got to come from somewhere.”
And while Nations acknowledges “record appropriations” have been made to the state’s education system, he said the problem will continue because of Oklahoma’s low-tax structure.
“The real Republican answer is the stronger the economy gets, the more revenue we will have to fund education. But there is no political will up here to deal with real problems. It won’t happen.”
Nations said there have been only two times in state history when the state teacher pay reached the regional and national averages.
“Only twice since 1907, both during oil booms, did teachers’ pay go to national average. Once during the ’20s and once in the early ’80s.”
And Oklahoma won’t get to that level again, he said, unless the economy stays strong.
“It’s not anything that we’ve done,” he said. “Nothing is going to happen to change the ad valorem picture. We just better hope the Oklahoma economy keeps on pumping.”
Norman Rep. Bill Nations, a Democrat, said the state can’t fund a merit pay proposal because Oklahoma “can’t even afford to get teacher pay to the regional average.”
“That’s one of the reasons our teachers are so frightened,” he said.
Nations, along with members of the House Education Committee, spent Tuesday attending an interim legislative hearing on House Speaker Lance Cargill’s merit pay proposal.
The meeting was the second of several meetings planned this fall.
Tuesday, lawmakers heard from representatives of the Oklahoma Education Association, schoolteachers, union representatives from Minnesota and the Norman-based group Professional Oklahoma Educators.
Though most of the speakers urged legislators to bring the teachers’ base salary to the regional level, Nations said getting there would be difficult.
“First we’re going to have to adequately pay all the teachers,” he said. “As long as we’re are losing teachers to surrounding states, then base pay will be a problem.”
But funding future pay increases and providing school districts additional money for operating revenue “will be a struggle,” Nations said because the state’s tax base is too low.
“Here’s the secret that no one in this room is going to mention,” he said. “The fundamental problem is local support for schools in Oklahoma is too low. Property taxes are too low.”
Because the state continues to pick up more of the cost of common education, a greater portion of Oklahoma’s budget is used to fund education, he said. “It’s true. We’re not giving enough money for operational costs. Education funding is too much of a percentage of our budget. Other states have much bigger local support. We pick up what local funds don’t cover.”
And public schools, he said, can’t survive on just local support.
“If we are the bottom two or three in property taxes, we’re going to continue to have problems. But no one is going to alter that — it’s not gonna’ happen.”
Instead, Nations predicted the struggle to fund public schools will continue.
“This has been going on since 1907. We take everything under God’s green earth to support education. And we have to, it’s got to come from somewhere.”
And while Nations acknowledges “record appropriations” have been made to the state’s education system, he said the problem will continue because of Oklahoma’s low-tax structure.
“The real Republican answer is the stronger the economy gets, the more revenue we will have to fund education. But there is no political will up here to deal with real problems. It won’t happen.”
Nations said there have been only two times in state history when the state teacher pay reached the regional and national averages.
“Only twice since 1907, both during oil booms, did teachers’ pay go to national average. Once during the ’20s and once in the early ’80s.”
And Oklahoma won’t get to that level again, he said, unless the economy stays strong.
“It’s not anything that we’ve done,” he said. “Nothing is going to happen to change the ad valorem picture. We just better hope the Oklahoma economy keeps on pumping.”
Lawmakers hear from union leaders, school officials on merit pay proposal
OKLAHOMA CITY — Before state lawmakers consider any merit pay plan for teachers they should keep their promise to bring teacher salaries to the regional average, the president of the state’s largest teachers union said Tuesday.
Speaking Tuesday at a House of Representatives hearing, Roy Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, said the state ranks last regionally and 47th nationally in average teacher pay.
“We should have a compensation system that has at its core, a fair, unbiased salary schedule that pays teachers strong competitive and professional salaries,” Bishop said. “Funding for any pay plan must be reliable and sustainable. Let’s start with the regional average and then implement a plan for quality professional development and improve working conditions.”
Bishop’s comments drew criticism from Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill.
“I believe in the politics of ‘can’ and not just ‘either or,’” Cargill said. “As I read your opening statement, to me that appears to create a false choice. I think we can do both. I believe we can have funding with reform and I think that, fundamentally, that’s what the people of this state deserve. I’d like to know why you disagree with that.”
Bishop answered, saying that promises made by state lawmakers haven’t been kept.
“Historically, people sat in your position and promised us the same thing and we haven’t seen those results,” he said. “We’ve heard merit pay as being a new concept, but these programs have been around since the 19th century. They come around every 20 years, and they don’t work because the people who put them together don’t fund them. They find out that more teachers qualify than they ever imagined and then we have unfunded mandates.”
Instead of merit pay, OEA officials said lawmakers should invest in professional development. “Oklahoma teachers need the tools and resources necessary to get the job done,” said OEA Associate Executive Director Dottie Caldwell. “The success of such programs as National Board Certification and the Oklahoma Teachers Improving Math in Middle School proves that quality professional development equals student success.”
Caldwell cited the Wayland Bonds Elementary School in Moore as an example. There, she said, school principal Robert Romines implemented a professional development program which was developed by the union and funded by the State Department of Education.
Romines said the program was a “huge” success.
“Although the planning and implementation of the program was initially difficult and time consuming, the benefits are evident. Students have prospered from the efforts put into this valuable curriculum development,” he said.
After completing the three-year program, fifth grade students’ pass rate jumped to 98 percent and sixth grade pass rates were 99 percent, Romines said. Over half the students in both grades were in the advanced level, he said.
Union officials said the program is proof that lawmakers should fund professional development programs.
“We know teacher success depends on supportive school administrators, sufficient tools and resources and effective professional development,” Caldwell said.
However, at least one teachers’ group sided with the House’s Republican leadership.
Officials from the Norman-based Professional Oklahoma Educators association said their members are “unhappy with the state’s current salary system” and would prefer some type of performance pay system.
Citing an on-line poll of 750 members from the group’s 3,000-member association, executive director Ginger Tinney said “nearly 80 percent of Oklahoma teachers are unhappy with the state’s current salary system and nearly 70 percent prefer some form of performance pay system.”
“We have heard from the teachers themselves that they are not afraid of accountability,” she said. “In fact, they are tired of seeing their accomplishments go unrewarded. Teachers feel they should earn more if they do better work.”
Former Marlow school administrator Rep. Ray McCarter questioned the group’s data.
“A couple of times you mentioned, ‘all Oklahoma teachers,’” McCarter said. “But actually what percentage of your membership — in your professional organization — are Oklahoma teachers?”
Tinney said about 3,000 of the state’s 53,000 public school teachers are members of the association.
“The point I was making was that when you say, ‘Oklahoma teachers support merit pay’ you’re only talking about a small percentage of teachers in Oklahoma that you surveyed,” McCarter said. “Out of 53,000 teachers only 750 of your 3,000-member group answered the survey. But saying ‘80 percent of Oklahoma teachers’ support merit pay is grossly overstated.”
Tinney said the small sample didn’t invalidate the survey.
“I’m not going to invalidate it (the survey) because of that,” she said.
Following a presentation by Bartlesville physics teacher Granger Meddar, the hearing broke for lunch and then reconvened in the afternoon to hear from school administrators.
Three other hearings on the issue are scheduled between now and Oct. 9.
Speaking Tuesday at a House of Representatives hearing, Roy Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, said the state ranks last regionally and 47th nationally in average teacher pay.
“We should have a compensation system that has at its core, a fair, unbiased salary schedule that pays teachers strong competitive and professional salaries,” Bishop said. “Funding for any pay plan must be reliable and sustainable. Let’s start with the regional average and then implement a plan for quality professional development and improve working conditions.”
Bishop’s comments drew criticism from Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill.
“I believe in the politics of ‘can’ and not just ‘either or,’” Cargill said. “As I read your opening statement, to me that appears to create a false choice. I think we can do both. I believe we can have funding with reform and I think that, fundamentally, that’s what the people of this state deserve. I’d like to know why you disagree with that.”
Bishop answered, saying that promises made by state lawmakers haven’t been kept.
“Historically, people sat in your position and promised us the same thing and we haven’t seen those results,” he said. “We’ve heard merit pay as being a new concept, but these programs have been around since the 19th century. They come around every 20 years, and they don’t work because the people who put them together don’t fund them. They find out that more teachers qualify than they ever imagined and then we have unfunded mandates.”
Instead of merit pay, OEA officials said lawmakers should invest in professional development. “Oklahoma teachers need the tools and resources necessary to get the job done,” said OEA Associate Executive Director Dottie Caldwell. “The success of such programs as National Board Certification and the Oklahoma Teachers Improving Math in Middle School proves that quality professional development equals student success.”
Caldwell cited the Wayland Bonds Elementary School in Moore as an example. There, she said, school principal Robert Romines implemented a professional development program which was developed by the union and funded by the State Department of Education.
Romines said the program was a “huge” success.
“Although the planning and implementation of the program was initially difficult and time consuming, the benefits are evident. Students have prospered from the efforts put into this valuable curriculum development,” he said.
After completing the three-year program, fifth grade students’ pass rate jumped to 98 percent and sixth grade pass rates were 99 percent, Romines said. Over half the students in both grades were in the advanced level, he said.
Union officials said the program is proof that lawmakers should fund professional development programs.
“We know teacher success depends on supportive school administrators, sufficient tools and resources and effective professional development,” Caldwell said.
However, at least one teachers’ group sided with the House’s Republican leadership.
Officials from the Norman-based Professional Oklahoma Educators association said their members are “unhappy with the state’s current salary system” and would prefer some type of performance pay system.
Citing an on-line poll of 750 members from the group’s 3,000-member association, executive director Ginger Tinney said “nearly 80 percent of Oklahoma teachers are unhappy with the state’s current salary system and nearly 70 percent prefer some form of performance pay system.”
“We have heard from the teachers themselves that they are not afraid of accountability,” she said. “In fact, they are tired of seeing their accomplishments go unrewarded. Teachers feel they should earn more if they do better work.”
Former Marlow school administrator Rep. Ray McCarter questioned the group’s data.
“A couple of times you mentioned, ‘all Oklahoma teachers,’” McCarter said. “But actually what percentage of your membership — in your professional organization — are Oklahoma teachers?”
Tinney said about 3,000 of the state’s 53,000 public school teachers are members of the association.
“The point I was making was that when you say, ‘Oklahoma teachers support merit pay’ you’re only talking about a small percentage of teachers in Oklahoma that you surveyed,” McCarter said. “Out of 53,000 teachers only 750 of your 3,000-member group answered the survey. But saying ‘80 percent of Oklahoma teachers’ support merit pay is grossly overstated.”
Tinney said the small sample didn’t invalidate the survey.
“I’m not going to invalidate it (the survey) because of that,” she said.
Following a presentation by Bartlesville physics teacher Granger Meddar, the hearing broke for lunch and then reconvened in the afternoon to hear from school administrators.
Three other hearings on the issue are scheduled between now and Oct. 9.
Teacher's union, school officials question merit pay proposal
MOORE — It’s not that Jill Dudley, the president of the Moore Association of Classroom Teachers, doesn’t like the idea of merit pay.
In fact, she says, Moore teachers have used a merit pay system for years.
Dudley says teachers in her district already have merit pay proposals in their contract, and can negotiate more if they want to.
“If we want, we can go to the negotiation table and develop some form of merit pay,” she said. “We have that ability.”
Plus, in Moore, district teachers receive additional pay for increasing their education, serving as mentor teachers or receiving national board certification.
“We already have merit pay in the sense that if you go further your education — that is, doing something to merit additional pay — you receive a stipend.”
Additionally, she said, teachers who are board certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards receive $5,000 per year for 10 years and teachers who serve as mentor teaches to others are paid an extra $500.
“Our state is spending millions on that form of merit pay and I support that,” Dudley said.
What concerns her — and other area school officials — is a problem over a commitment. The Oklahoma Legislature, she says, made a commitment to raise teacher pay to the regional average.
And so far that hasn’t happened.
“Our concern, as an association, is we want them (state lawmakers) to keep the promise of getting us to the regional level; then we’ll talk about merit pay, extending the school day and other issues like that.”
Dudley isn’t alone in her belief.
Norman schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano agrees.
Like Dudley, Siano believes lawmakers must solve the regional pay issue before moving on to a merit pay proposal.
“We have a situation in our state where we’ve had a target of meeting the regional average (in teacher pay),” he said. “There’s been a commitment made to do that. I think we have to meet that commitment first.”
And while Siano and Dudley both acknowledge a regional pay level for teachers is “a moving target,” both officials say reaching the level must be the state’s first priority.
“Lawmakers need to keep their commitment,” he said.
But regional pay isn’t the pair’s only concern.
A merit pay proposal — which should be designed to be fair and open to all teachers — would be expensive and could cost millions of extra dollars.
“The proposal presented at the August interim study included data on a school in Little Rock, Ark.,” Dudley said. “And that plan was implemented with private donations and not state allocated money. I believe a state plan would cost millions.”
Oklahoma Education Association president Roy Bishop said a merit pay plan could cost the state in excess of $470 million.
“The criteria has to be fair, and open to everyone,” Bishop said. “Every one has to have the chance to get it. So, as an example say you gave a $10,000 stipend for merit to teachers; Oklahoma has 47,000 teachers so lawmakers are going to have to come up with $470 million to fund a merit pay plan.”
And no matter what type of plan is developed, Bishop says, the cost will be expensive.
“Whatever they do they are going to have to put that kind of money into salaries and the merit pay plan. It won’t be cheap.”
And those extra funds, school leaders believe, could also be used in other areas.
School costs, Siano said, continue to increase and state lawmakers don’t have a good record when it comes to funding district operational budgets.
“I don’t think we’ve adequately funded common education for all of the variables that go into common education,” Siano said. “Granted, our state has made a significant effort to fund some aspects, and it’s been a good effort.”
But operational costs, he said, haven’t been addressed.
“Operational funding, keeping up with the cost of running the district, the prices of textbooks and everything that goes with opening the doors and running the district, keep going up,” he said. “There’s a significant gap in that.”
And those issues, both officials believe, must be addressed first.
“It’s a complicated issue,” Siano said. “I would hate for it to be rushed into without all the variables being considered. They’re gonna’ have to do lots of work between now and February.
In fact, she says, Moore teachers have used a merit pay system for years.
Dudley says teachers in her district already have merit pay proposals in their contract, and can negotiate more if they want to.
“If we want, we can go to the negotiation table and develop some form of merit pay,” she said. “We have that ability.”
Plus, in Moore, district teachers receive additional pay for increasing their education, serving as mentor teachers or receiving national board certification.
“We already have merit pay in the sense that if you go further your education — that is, doing something to merit additional pay — you receive a stipend.”
Additionally, she said, teachers who are board certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards receive $5,000 per year for 10 years and teachers who serve as mentor teaches to others are paid an extra $500.
“Our state is spending millions on that form of merit pay and I support that,” Dudley said.
What concerns her — and other area school officials — is a problem over a commitment. The Oklahoma Legislature, she says, made a commitment to raise teacher pay to the regional average.
And so far that hasn’t happened.
“Our concern, as an association, is we want them (state lawmakers) to keep the promise of getting us to the regional level; then we’ll talk about merit pay, extending the school day and other issues like that.”
Dudley isn’t alone in her belief.
Norman schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano agrees.
Like Dudley, Siano believes lawmakers must solve the regional pay issue before moving on to a merit pay proposal.
“We have a situation in our state where we’ve had a target of meeting the regional average (in teacher pay),” he said. “There’s been a commitment made to do that. I think we have to meet that commitment first.”
And while Siano and Dudley both acknowledge a regional pay level for teachers is “a moving target,” both officials say reaching the level must be the state’s first priority.
“Lawmakers need to keep their commitment,” he said.
But regional pay isn’t the pair’s only concern.
A merit pay proposal — which should be designed to be fair and open to all teachers — would be expensive and could cost millions of extra dollars.
“The proposal presented at the August interim study included data on a school in Little Rock, Ark.,” Dudley said. “And that plan was implemented with private donations and not state allocated money. I believe a state plan would cost millions.”
Oklahoma Education Association president Roy Bishop said a merit pay plan could cost the state in excess of $470 million.
“The criteria has to be fair, and open to everyone,” Bishop said. “Every one has to have the chance to get it. So, as an example say you gave a $10,000 stipend for merit to teachers; Oklahoma has 47,000 teachers so lawmakers are going to have to come up with $470 million to fund a merit pay plan.”
And no matter what type of plan is developed, Bishop says, the cost will be expensive.
“Whatever they do they are going to have to put that kind of money into salaries and the merit pay plan. It won’t be cheap.”
And those extra funds, school leaders believe, could also be used in other areas.
School costs, Siano said, continue to increase and state lawmakers don’t have a good record when it comes to funding district operational budgets.
“I don’t think we’ve adequately funded common education for all of the variables that go into common education,” Siano said. “Granted, our state has made a significant effort to fund some aspects, and it’s been a good effort.”
But operational costs, he said, haven’t been addressed.
“Operational funding, keeping up with the cost of running the district, the prices of textbooks and everything that goes with opening the doors and running the district, keep going up,” he said. “There’s a significant gap in that.”
And those issues, both officials believe, must be addressed first.
“It’s a complicated issue,” Siano said. “I would hate for it to be rushed into without all the variables being considered. They’re gonna’ have to do lots of work between now and February.
Cargill says merit pay will benefit state
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The idea isn't new.
For several decades, Oklahoma -- along with many other states -- has kicked around the concept of a merit pay system for public school teachers.
And while some lawmakers say nothing has been done about the issue, a form of merit pay was adopted in the mammoth education reform bill, House Bill 1017, developed during the term of then-Gov. Henry Bellmon.
Since then the idea has been an off-again, on-again thing -- being tossed back and forth between legislators, the governor and education leaders.
This year it's back.
Following two successive pay increase for state teachers, House Speaker Lance Cargill announced at an August press conference that he would push for the adoption of a merit-based system for teacher pay.
"We fund our schools with tax dollars, and taxpayers demand accountability," he said. "More money alone won't solve our problems in education."
Cargill said he believes most Oklahomans will support the idea.
"For most Oklahomans, performance pay makes perfect sense because it rewards teachers for success," he said. "Only investment coupled with higher standards, rising expectations and meaningful results can create the education system all Oklahomans deserve. By rewarding teachers based on their performance, we're raising the bar for education all across the state."
And to achieve that success, Cargill said the state needs to "incentivize excellence and reward success."
"We have supported teachers in a tremendous way over the past three years," he said. "Teacher pay raises are the highest in the country on a percentage basis."
But not everyone agrees with the Harrah Republican.
Union officials, teachers and even some school administrators say state lawmakers should keep their previous commitment to bring teacher pay in Oklahoma to the regional average before they tackle the issue of merit pay.
"Our legislative leaders made a promise to get to us to the regional (salary level) average over a five-year period," said Oklahoma Education Association President Roy Bishop. "Next session is the fifth year, and I believe they should keep that promise."
Oklahoma teachers, Bishop said, are "at least" $1,600 below the regional average. "If the speaker thinks we're at the regional average, he's incorrect," he said.
Cargill says the Legislature's commitment has been kept -- in three years instead of four.
"The commitment was to raise teachers' salaries by $4,800," he said. "And we've actually accelerated that to three years, rather than four."
Still the rhetoric has, at times, turned ugly.
In press releases, Cargill claims that "performance pay has never been given serious consideration in Oklahoma."
"We've basically had the same teacher compensation system for a hundred years," he said. "Some opponents are so stuck in the past that they can't possibly move this state forward. But now is the time for bold reform."
To do that, House leaders have planned a series of hearings designed to gather information about the issue.
The first hearing, held Aug. 21, featured Gary Ritter, an associate professor and endowed chair in education policy at the University of Arkansas' Department of Education Reform.
Ritter told lawmakers that performance pay programs in other states resulted in better results for students and a better work environment for teachers.
"This is a promising strategy. It's worth trying and evaluating rigorously," he said. "The one component we know improves student performance is the effectiveness of a teacher."
A second hearing, set for Sept. 11, will feature speakers from teachers' unions and school administrators.
"That's the whole point of having the hearing," said Damon Gardenhire, Cargill's spokesman. "So the speaker and other folks can gather information and take a close look at what will work best for Oklahoma teachers."
For several decades, Oklahoma -- along with many other states -- has kicked around the concept of a merit pay system for public school teachers.
And while some lawmakers say nothing has been done about the issue, a form of merit pay was adopted in the mammoth education reform bill, House Bill 1017, developed during the term of then-Gov. Henry Bellmon.
Since then the idea has been an off-again, on-again thing -- being tossed back and forth between legislators, the governor and education leaders.
This year it's back.
Following two successive pay increase for state teachers, House Speaker Lance Cargill announced at an August press conference that he would push for the adoption of a merit-based system for teacher pay.
"We fund our schools with tax dollars, and taxpayers demand accountability," he said. "More money alone won't solve our problems in education."
Cargill said he believes most Oklahomans will support the idea.
"For most Oklahomans, performance pay makes perfect sense because it rewards teachers for success," he said. "Only investment coupled with higher standards, rising expectations and meaningful results can create the education system all Oklahomans deserve. By rewarding teachers based on their performance, we're raising the bar for education all across the state."
And to achieve that success, Cargill said the state needs to "incentivize excellence and reward success."
"We have supported teachers in a tremendous way over the past three years," he said. "Teacher pay raises are the highest in the country on a percentage basis."
But not everyone agrees with the Harrah Republican.
Union officials, teachers and even some school administrators say state lawmakers should keep their previous commitment to bring teacher pay in Oklahoma to the regional average before they tackle the issue of merit pay.
"Our legislative leaders made a promise to get to us to the regional (salary level) average over a five-year period," said Oklahoma Education Association President Roy Bishop. "Next session is the fifth year, and I believe they should keep that promise."
Oklahoma teachers, Bishop said, are "at least" $1,600 below the regional average. "If the speaker thinks we're at the regional average, he's incorrect," he said.
Cargill says the Legislature's commitment has been kept -- in three years instead of four.
"The commitment was to raise teachers' salaries by $4,800," he said. "And we've actually accelerated that to three years, rather than four."
Still the rhetoric has, at times, turned ugly.
In press releases, Cargill claims that "performance pay has never been given serious consideration in Oklahoma."
"We've basically had the same teacher compensation system for a hundred years," he said. "Some opponents are so stuck in the past that they can't possibly move this state forward. But now is the time for bold reform."
To do that, House leaders have planned a series of hearings designed to gather information about the issue.
The first hearing, held Aug. 21, featured Gary Ritter, an associate professor and endowed chair in education policy at the University of Arkansas' Department of Education Reform.
Ritter told lawmakers that performance pay programs in other states resulted in better results for students and a better work environment for teachers.
"This is a promising strategy. It's worth trying and evaluating rigorously," he said. "The one component we know improves student performance is the effectiveness of a teacher."
A second hearing, set for Sept. 11, will feature speakers from teachers' unions and school administrators.
"That's the whole point of having the hearing," said Damon Gardenhire, Cargill's spokesman. "So the speaker and other folks can gather information and take a close look at what will work best for Oklahoma teachers."
Askins: State lawmakers have more to do before problems solved
State lawmakers still have “a lot more to do” to address the treatment of women, working families, and small business in Oklahoma, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins said Friday.
Askins, a Democrat, spoke at the Cleveland County Democratic Party’s weekly Tyner Cornbread and Beans luncheon.
Speaking to a small crowd of about 30, Askins used a recent state visit by several Afghan businesswomen as a reference point, saying the problems Afghan women face in their country “are not that far behind” problems faced by women in Oklahoma.
“Many of the issues that have made it difficult for them to succeed in Afghanistan are not that far behind Oklahoma in terms of the way we treat small business owners, the way we treat working families, the way we treat women,” she said. “So it was a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do, and the work that goes on, and the policies made in Oklahoma City impact more than just the people who work at the State Capitol.”
The Afghan women, she said, inspired her and kept her “grounded about what’s real.”
Dressed in a bright pick jacket and black skirt, Askins said her first year as Senate president as “was different” for her and her office. “Having 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans made it an interesting time in the state Senate this year,” she said.
She said spent a lot of time last year watching lawmakers. “I spent a great deal of time in the Senate. I felt like it was important, even if there was not a vote that was tied. It was important for me to be around as the president of the Senate, and to remind them that if they didn’t play nice I would be there.”
Being able to walk the halls and having access to the Senate floor helped her stay prepared, she said. “It reminded me of when I was a child and we would fight in the living room. My mother would say ‘don’t make me come in there and settle that.’”
Askins said she told Senate leaders Mike Morgan and Glenn Coffee the same thing. “I told Senator Morgan and Senator Coffee ‘don’t make me come in there and settle that,’ but I’ll come, if you make me. And I think they knew that.”
And while Askins said she spent last year urging Democrats and Republicans to work together, the 2008 legislative session, she predicted, will be much more political.
“I’ve had people ask me before what I think the most important issues will be during this next legislation session,” she said.
“And I don’t know that it really matters, because based on how the Senate conducted business this last session I would tell you that every issue that is controversial in the Senate, the strategy behind it will be the effort of the Republicans to take over. That will be the driving force behind most issues.”
An election year, she said, changes the “noise” of what comes out of Oklahoma City. “And so I expect that to happen again.”
Askins, a Democrat, spoke at the Cleveland County Democratic Party’s weekly Tyner Cornbread and Beans luncheon.
Speaking to a small crowd of about 30, Askins used a recent state visit by several Afghan businesswomen as a reference point, saying the problems Afghan women face in their country “are not that far behind” problems faced by women in Oklahoma.
“Many of the issues that have made it difficult for them to succeed in Afghanistan are not that far behind Oklahoma in terms of the way we treat small business owners, the way we treat working families, the way we treat women,” she said. “So it was a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do, and the work that goes on, and the policies made in Oklahoma City impact more than just the people who work at the State Capitol.”
The Afghan women, she said, inspired her and kept her “grounded about what’s real.”
Dressed in a bright pick jacket and black skirt, Askins said her first year as Senate president as “was different” for her and her office. “Having 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans made it an interesting time in the state Senate this year,” she said.
She said spent a lot of time last year watching lawmakers. “I spent a great deal of time in the Senate. I felt like it was important, even if there was not a vote that was tied. It was important for me to be around as the president of the Senate, and to remind them that if they didn’t play nice I would be there.”
Being able to walk the halls and having access to the Senate floor helped her stay prepared, she said. “It reminded me of when I was a child and we would fight in the living room. My mother would say ‘don’t make me come in there and settle that.’”
Askins said she told Senate leaders Mike Morgan and Glenn Coffee the same thing. “I told Senator Morgan and Senator Coffee ‘don’t make me come in there and settle that,’ but I’ll come, if you make me. And I think they knew that.”
And while Askins said she spent last year urging Democrats and Republicans to work together, the 2008 legislative session, she predicted, will be much more political.
“I’ve had people ask me before what I think the most important issues will be during this next legislation session,” she said.
“And I don’t know that it really matters, because based on how the Senate conducted business this last session I would tell you that every issue that is controversial in the Senate, the strategy behind it will be the effort of the Republicans to take over. That will be the driving force behind most issues.”
An election year, she said, changes the “noise” of what comes out of Oklahoma City. “And so I expect that to happen again.”
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