OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s public school teachers are being asked to “participate in the process of constructing a new teacher performance pay plan” by completing an online survey about House Speaker Lance Cargill’s merit pay idea.
The survey — located at: www.okhouse.gov/survey/ — is sponsored by Cargill’s office.
“Any Oklahoma teacher may log on to the House Web site to fill out a survey that asks their opinion on specifically how the plan should be constructed,” Cargill, R-Harrah, said in a media release e-mail Friday.
The survey follows several weeks of interim studies conducted by the House of Representatives about the speaker’s merit pay idea. Since September, House education committee members have heard opinions from business leaders, career tech professionals and representatives of the state teachers’ union about a possible merit pay plan for state teachers.
Cargill said House leaders were polling teachers because they wanted their input.
“In Oklahoma, we value our educators, and we want their help in developing an outstanding educational system in which all our children can excel,” he said.
Officials from the state’s largest teachers’ union, the Oklahoma Education Association, urged their 40,000-plus members to participate.
In a posting on OEA President Roy Bishop’s Web blog, Bishop directs state educators to the survey.
“They are currently conducting an interim study on the topic of performance pay and they are hearing testimony from many experts who are sharing their experiences and knowledge on the subject,” Bishop wrote. “They would also like to hear from you. Please click on the link and give them your opinions.”
Cargill’s office said the survey includes questions such as:
• “Are you satisfied with the current public school teacher pay structure? If not, why?”
• “How would you change or enhance it?”
•“If we adopt a performance or incentive pay plan, what evaluation tools do you think would be the most effective?”
Other questions deal with growth in student achievement, collaboration, peer review and professional development.
“With their (teachers’) input, and with input from other experts, we hope to develop a performance pay plan that is fair to all teachers and rewards those teachers who help their students succeed,” Cargill said.
While the speaker’s office says about 1,300 have already taken part in its survey, those filling out the online form are required to include their name, school and what grades and subjects they teach.
“In order to verify that the individuals filling out the online surveys are in fact teachers, the survey features a space for teachers to fill out their name, their school and what grades and subjects they teach,” Cargill’s release said.
Next Tuesday, the House Education Committee will hold its final interim study hearing on the merit pay issue.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Feds nail Moore men for fraud
OKLAHOMA CITY — Two Moore men have been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for crimes relating to false aircraft engine log books and filing false tax returns, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s office said this week.
John C. Richter, United States Attorney for Oklahoma’s Western District said Moore residents Larry Gene Good, 59, and Allen D. Good, 37, were sentenced in federal court for crimes relating to false aircraft engine logbooks and filing false tax returns.
A third man, Robert Evan Parker, 44, of Oklahoma City, also was sentenced in the case.
Richter said Allen Good was sentenced to 51 months in prison for making false entries in aircraft engine logbooks and ordered to pay $363,633 in restitution. Good also was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit to the United States $176,243.
He has been incarcerated since May of this year.
“Through their involvement in the sale of unsafe aircraft engines with false logbooks, these defendants created a substantial danger to the purchasers and the public,” Richter said. “We will not hesitate to prosecute those who create this sort of danger.”
On September 28, co-defendants Robert Evan Parker and Larry Gene Good received also received federal prison sentences.
Larry Gene Good was sentenced to 14 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $306,990, while Parker was sentenced to 72 months in prison for the aircraft-engine and tax charges.
Larry Good also was ordered to serve one year of supervised release after his release from prison and Parker was ordered to pay restitution to 19 victims totaling $378,633.
In addition to the 72 months of incarceration and restitution, Parker was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit to the United States $176,243.
In December 2006, a jury convicted Parker of conspiracy, making false aircraft engine logbook entries and mail fraud. The evidence at trial established that Parker worked with Larry Good’s son, Allen Good, who overhauled and sold aircraft engines that were not safe and that were accompanied by engine logbooks that misrepresented the work performed on the engines.
The Goods did business as Good Aviation in Washington, Okla. Most of the engines fell within the “experimental” category, Ritcher said.
Ritcher said Parker sold the engines and false logbooks to individuals across the country who responded to classified advertisements he placed in an aviation publication.
According to trial testimony, Parker provided some of the parts for the engines and caused misleading engine data plates to be attached to some of the engines.
Those engines, the jury was told, contained used parts that according to the logbooks should have been new, as well as parts stamped “not airworthy.”
Purchasers and their aircraft engine mechanics from various states testified that the engines were not safe for use in flight. Several purchasers attempted to fly with the engines and were forced to land immediately because of engine problems.
In addition to the convictions at trial relating to aircraft engine logbooks, Parker pleaded guilty Friday to filing a false personal federal income tax return for the 2002 calendar year.
Parker admitted that when he signed his tax return, he knew he was reporting substantially less in gross business receipts than he actually received. His 72-month sentence was based on both the conviction at trial and the plea to the tax crime.
Just before the December 2006 trial, Larry Good pled guilty to misprision of a felony, or failure to report knowledge of a felony, based on his failure to report his son making false logbook entries. Good’s son signed many of the logbooks, and virtually all of the logbooks bore the number of Larry Good’s aircraft and powerplant certificate. This certificate — issued by the Federal Aviation Administration — indicates to the public that the holder can perform quality work on aircraft and therefore played an important part in the crimes committed by Parker.
The sentences are part of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. The Oklahoma City Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration also provided assistance in the investigation.
John C. Richter, United States Attorney for Oklahoma’s Western District said Moore residents Larry Gene Good, 59, and Allen D. Good, 37, were sentenced in federal court for crimes relating to false aircraft engine logbooks and filing false tax returns.
A third man, Robert Evan Parker, 44, of Oklahoma City, also was sentenced in the case.
Richter said Allen Good was sentenced to 51 months in prison for making false entries in aircraft engine logbooks and ordered to pay $363,633 in restitution. Good also was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit to the United States $176,243.
He has been incarcerated since May of this year.
“Through their involvement in the sale of unsafe aircraft engines with false logbooks, these defendants created a substantial danger to the purchasers and the public,” Richter said. “We will not hesitate to prosecute those who create this sort of danger.”
On September 28, co-defendants Robert Evan Parker and Larry Gene Good received also received federal prison sentences.
Larry Gene Good was sentenced to 14 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $306,990, while Parker was sentenced to 72 months in prison for the aircraft-engine and tax charges.
Larry Good also was ordered to serve one year of supervised release after his release from prison and Parker was ordered to pay restitution to 19 victims totaling $378,633.
In addition to the 72 months of incarceration and restitution, Parker was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit to the United States $176,243.
In December 2006, a jury convicted Parker of conspiracy, making false aircraft engine logbook entries and mail fraud. The evidence at trial established that Parker worked with Larry Good’s son, Allen Good, who overhauled and sold aircraft engines that were not safe and that were accompanied by engine logbooks that misrepresented the work performed on the engines.
The Goods did business as Good Aviation in Washington, Okla. Most of the engines fell within the “experimental” category, Ritcher said.
Ritcher said Parker sold the engines and false logbooks to individuals across the country who responded to classified advertisements he placed in an aviation publication.
According to trial testimony, Parker provided some of the parts for the engines and caused misleading engine data plates to be attached to some of the engines.
Those engines, the jury was told, contained used parts that according to the logbooks should have been new, as well as parts stamped “not airworthy.”
Purchasers and their aircraft engine mechanics from various states testified that the engines were not safe for use in flight. Several purchasers attempted to fly with the engines and were forced to land immediately because of engine problems.
In addition to the convictions at trial relating to aircraft engine logbooks, Parker pleaded guilty Friday to filing a false personal federal income tax return for the 2002 calendar year.
Parker admitted that when he signed his tax return, he knew he was reporting substantially less in gross business receipts than he actually received. His 72-month sentence was based on both the conviction at trial and the plea to the tax crime.
Just before the December 2006 trial, Larry Good pled guilty to misprision of a felony, or failure to report knowledge of a felony, based on his failure to report his son making false logbook entries. Good’s son signed many of the logbooks, and virtually all of the logbooks bore the number of Larry Good’s aircraft and powerplant certificate. This certificate — issued by the Federal Aviation Administration — indicates to the public that the holder can perform quality work on aircraft and therefore played an important part in the crimes committed by Parker.
The sentences are part of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. The Oklahoma City Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration also provided assistance in the investigation.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Collins: Schools need better violence prevention
OKLAHOMA CITY — Norman Public Schools could be the site of a pilot program designed to identify troubled students and better prevent school violence, a state Representative said Tuesday.
Norman Democrat Wallace Collins said he would file legislation next year to create a program which would give public schools increased access to mental health professionals.
“We’re all aware of the school shootings that have taken place in this country in recent years,” Collins said. “In many cases, officials realized there was a problem well before a student went on a rampage, but failed to deal with it. I believe the state needs to do a better job identifying troubled students and addressing their problems before an attack occurs.”
Collins said his bill will create a pilot program at Norman Public Schools which places licensed social workers at schools to provide assistance when teachers identify potential problem students.
“A lot of these kids need help — such as medication or counseling,” he said. “If teachers feel a student is potentially dangerous, they should be able to refer that student to social workers who have expertise dealing with emotionally troubled individuals. By intervening early, we could eliminate the likelihood of future school shootings.”
In addition, by using licensed, trained mental health professionals, Collins said teachers wouldn’t face an additional burden on already limited classroom time.
“I’m not trying to put another task on the teacher,” he said. “But teachers are on the front lines, and I believe they see the initial signs of trouble. If we had a mental health resource for them, then we could prevent problems before they happen.”
Norman school officials said they were impressed with the idea.
Norman superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said he was “very open” to collaborating with officials from the Department of Mental Health or Department of Human Services.
“I think it could work,” he said. “We make referrals all the time. Our counselors are also qualified as people who can intervene, but our resources are limited. I’d like to see more efforts to bring services closer to the families and students who need them.”
Siano said Collins could model his proposal after a joint program in effect between NPS and Norman Regional Hospital.
That effort, he said, places nurses at local schools to provide health services for students.
“There is no mandate for school nurses,” he said. “There is no funding for school nurses and there should be. But our program is a primary example of a model collaboration that has benefited more than 13,000 students.”
The program, he said, is funded by the schools and Norman Regional and offers Norman school students “a full health services program.”
“In our first year, we had more than 8,000 student health encounters, either with a nurse or health assistant,” he said. “It’s a win-win for us and Norman Regional.”
Collins said state leaders need to work quickly to address students mental health needs.
“There’s been plenty of school violence across the nation for quite a while,” he said. “After the shooting at Virginia Tech I was shocked to think people were saying, ‘I knew this guy had all these different signs,’ and thinking that all these signs got missed and that no one did anything. I felt that we’ve got to try and do something.”
Rather than wait until after another shooting, Collins said he wanted the state to be proactive. “That’s why I’d like to see schools working and talking with social workers and mental health professionals.”
Collins said the bill will be filed in time for the 2008 legislative session.
“After the Virginia Tech shooting, a lot of people said they saw warning signs but failed to act, and now 30-some people are dead because of it. We can’t afford to repeat that mistake in Oklahoma.”
Norman Democrat Wallace Collins said he would file legislation next year to create a program which would give public schools increased access to mental health professionals.
“We’re all aware of the school shootings that have taken place in this country in recent years,” Collins said. “In many cases, officials realized there was a problem well before a student went on a rampage, but failed to deal with it. I believe the state needs to do a better job identifying troubled students and addressing their problems before an attack occurs.”
Collins said his bill will create a pilot program at Norman Public Schools which places licensed social workers at schools to provide assistance when teachers identify potential problem students.
“A lot of these kids need help — such as medication or counseling,” he said. “If teachers feel a student is potentially dangerous, they should be able to refer that student to social workers who have expertise dealing with emotionally troubled individuals. By intervening early, we could eliminate the likelihood of future school shootings.”
In addition, by using licensed, trained mental health professionals, Collins said teachers wouldn’t face an additional burden on already limited classroom time.
“I’m not trying to put another task on the teacher,” he said. “But teachers are on the front lines, and I believe they see the initial signs of trouble. If we had a mental health resource for them, then we could prevent problems before they happen.”
Norman school officials said they were impressed with the idea.
Norman superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said he was “very open” to collaborating with officials from the Department of Mental Health or Department of Human Services.
“I think it could work,” he said. “We make referrals all the time. Our counselors are also qualified as people who can intervene, but our resources are limited. I’d like to see more efforts to bring services closer to the families and students who need them.”
Siano said Collins could model his proposal after a joint program in effect between NPS and Norman Regional Hospital.
That effort, he said, places nurses at local schools to provide health services for students.
“There is no mandate for school nurses,” he said. “There is no funding for school nurses and there should be. But our program is a primary example of a model collaboration that has benefited more than 13,000 students.”
The program, he said, is funded by the schools and Norman Regional and offers Norman school students “a full health services program.”
“In our first year, we had more than 8,000 student health encounters, either with a nurse or health assistant,” he said. “It’s a win-win for us and Norman Regional.”
Collins said state leaders need to work quickly to address students mental health needs.
“There’s been plenty of school violence across the nation for quite a while,” he said. “After the shooting at Virginia Tech I was shocked to think people were saying, ‘I knew this guy had all these different signs,’ and thinking that all these signs got missed and that no one did anything. I felt that we’ve got to try and do something.”
Rather than wait until after another shooting, Collins said he wanted the state to be proactive. “That’s why I’d like to see schools working and talking with social workers and mental health professionals.”
Collins said the bill will be filed in time for the 2008 legislative session.
“After the Virginia Tech shooting, a lot of people said they saw warning signs but failed to act, and now 30-some people are dead because of it. We can’t afford to repeat that mistake in Oklahoma.”
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Russell says Iraq war isn't lost
The war in Iraq isn’t lost, a veteran of the campaign told Cleveland County Republicans Tuesday.
Retired Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander of the forces that captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, said America should continue to fight for the Iraqi people and continue its war against terror.
Russell, now a resident of south Oklahoma City, spoke Tuesday to about 60 members of the Cleveland County GOP during the group’s monthly luncheon at Coaches Restaurant.
Russell spoke briefly about the war, his capture of Hussein and about his displeasure with MoveOn.org’s recent full-page newspaper advertisement blasting U.S. General David Petraeus. The veteran then answered questions from the audience.
“(The war) it’s not lost,” Russell said, “only in the mind of some legislators and groups like MoveOn.org.”
In fact, Russell said, the war is actually getting better.
“There has been an interesting development in the last year,” he said. “A year ago you didn’t hear any of our national leaders — Republican or Democrat — saying the word ‘victory.’”
However, Russell said the recently issued Iraq Study Group report used the same word. “The Iraq Study Group report came out and guess how many times the word ‘victory’ was used in the report?” he said. “Three, three times.”
Facts which show, Russell said, the war is improving.
Russell also had harsh words for the political organization MoveOn.org.
“Who would have thought we would have seen full-page articles against our military? I’m trying to imagine 1942 when we had security setback after security setback to see a full-page ad expressing that General Marhsall was a traitor to the country. Or, on the anniversary of Dec. 7, 1942, you go to the theater the Movitone newsreel said, ‘and now a word of Emperor Hirohito.’”
When the country starts “doing things like that” Russell said, “we’ve lost our way.”
He said he was pleased by “the universal condemnation” of the MoveOn ad.
Now retired from the military, Russell serves as chairman of Vets for Victory, a group that says it wants to engage and change public sentiment to achieve victory in the war on terror.
However, Russell’s tenure with that group could be short-lived.
Tuesday afternoon he said he will seek the state Senate District 45 seat, being vacated by state Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, who is retiring due to term limits.
“I haven’t officially announced,” he said. “But I have filed paperwork with the state Ethics Commission and I’ve started fundraising.”
Retired Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander of the forces that captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, said America should continue to fight for the Iraqi people and continue its war against terror.
Russell, now a resident of south Oklahoma City, spoke Tuesday to about 60 members of the Cleveland County GOP during the group’s monthly luncheon at Coaches Restaurant.
Russell spoke briefly about the war, his capture of Hussein and about his displeasure with MoveOn.org’s recent full-page newspaper advertisement blasting U.S. General David Petraeus. The veteran then answered questions from the audience.
“(The war) it’s not lost,” Russell said, “only in the mind of some legislators and groups like MoveOn.org.”
In fact, Russell said, the war is actually getting better.
“There has been an interesting development in the last year,” he said. “A year ago you didn’t hear any of our national leaders — Republican or Democrat — saying the word ‘victory.’”
However, Russell said the recently issued Iraq Study Group report used the same word. “The Iraq Study Group report came out and guess how many times the word ‘victory’ was used in the report?” he said. “Three, three times.”
Facts which show, Russell said, the war is improving.
Russell also had harsh words for the political organization MoveOn.org.
“Who would have thought we would have seen full-page articles against our military? I’m trying to imagine 1942 when we had security setback after security setback to see a full-page ad expressing that General Marhsall was a traitor to the country. Or, on the anniversary of Dec. 7, 1942, you go to the theater the Movitone newsreel said, ‘and now a word of Emperor Hirohito.’”
When the country starts “doing things like that” Russell said, “we’ve lost our way.”
He said he was pleased by “the universal condemnation” of the MoveOn ad.
Now retired from the military, Russell serves as chairman of Vets for Victory, a group that says it wants to engage and change public sentiment to achieve victory in the war on terror.
However, Russell’s tenure with that group could be short-lived.
Tuesday afternoon he said he will seek the state Senate District 45 seat, being vacated by state Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, who is retiring due to term limits.
“I haven’t officially announced,” he said. “But I have filed paperwork with the state Ethics Commission and I’ve started fundraising.”
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