It was August 1963.
JFK was president and America still believed in Camelot.
In Washington, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and hundreds of his supporters marched to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
There, in the shadow of Lincoln, King reshaped American’s civil rights debate with a single speech.
In just a few minutes, he spoke eloquently of the need for peace, and brotherhood.
He spoke of the dream of equality which is found the hearts of all good men.
Kennedy would be assassinated in November.
Dr. King would be killed by James Earl Ray in 1968.
But his speech, that wonderful essay on hope, trust and equality, lives on. Forty years later, King’s evangelical call still rings in our ears:
“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together...”
Our country has come a long way since Dr. King spoke in Washington, D.C. We have, in some ways, become better stewards of the good doctor’s legacy. Yet, King’s dream remains, still, a dream.
The truth is in America, not all men are seen as equal.
In our country, hatred and bigotry remain.
And, in many places, thousands still struggle for simple equality.
But King’s dream lives on.
And for those who choose to hear and live those famous words, they desire to make their country a better place burns deep.
Perhaps this year, our leaders will remember Dr. King’s dream and, once again, fight to make it a reality.
The directions are there.
The road lies before us.
We simply need to continue the journey.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wesselhoft wants to expand DNA database
OKLAHOMA CITY — Any person arrested for a felony would be required to provide a DNA sample, under a bill filed this week by a Cleveland County lawmaker.
State Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore, said his proposal — House Bill 2603 — could help police solve “many unresolved crimes.”
In a media statement sent to The Transcript, Wesselhoft said the measure, “would require all individuals arrested on felony charges to provide a DNA sample for a state database.”
Should it pass, Wesselhoft said the bill would be known as “Katie’s Law,” in honor of a New Mexico crime victim.
“In August 2003, 22-year-old Katie Sepich was brutally attacked outside her home in New Mexico. She was raped and strangled, and her body was set on fire and abandoned at an old dump site. No suspects were immediately identified, but skin and blood samples were found under her fingernails, leaving the attacker’s DNA sample. The DNA samples were sent to the national DNA database system,” he said.
Wesselhoft said most states do not currently allow law enforcement to take DNA samples for felony arrests, making it more difficult to identify suspects through the national database.
“If there was a swab of the person who killed Katie, they would now be in prison and unable to harm someone else,” he said. “By expanding the DNA database, we can catch more bad guys who would otherwise remain free.”
Officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation say they support the idea.
“We have a statewide DNA database and the more people and samples we have in it the more crimes we can solve,” said Jessica Brown, OSBI public information officer. “Many states have already done this — it’s a good situation for everyone. It will help us solve more crimes and prevent other crimes from happening, and it will help victims’ families find closure.”
However, some defense attorneys disagree.
Norman attorney David Smith, who serves as Cleveland County’s public defender, said Wesselhoft’s bill “was a terrible idea.”
“Beyond the obvious privacy issues, people who are arrested for a felony haven’t been convicted of anything,” Smith said. “And each year thousands of people are arrested on a felony charge.”
It’s that huge amount, he said, that could cause errors in processing and handling the DNA samples.
“The thing that bothers me most is this: There’s gonna’ be an awful lot of felony arrests, and everyone one is going to have to provide a sample,” he said. “In some places, in the smaller counties, consider the idea you’re going to have people who may not be very well trained or who may very well have no training at all. With that many samples, the potential for error is huge.”
Statistics support Smith’s claim.
Data included in Norman’s 2006 Community Report Card show the Norman Police Department made 3,635 arrests for the “eight most serious crimes” for 2006.
“When you look at the number of felony arrests on a county level, well the numbers would be huge,” Smith said.
In addition, Smith said he has “real concerns” about residents being forced to turn over personal information — such as DNA — to the government.
“People think DNA profiling is very routine, they see it all the time,” he said. “But when you are talking about giving the government the power to take a piece of your body, the potential for abuse is real. I’m sure at some we’re going to be able to look at person’s DNA profile. I know insurance companies want that type of information now, because it lets them hedge their bets on who they would provide coverage for.”
Wesselhoft’s bill, he said, would give government “too much” information about a person who hasn’t been convicted of a crime.
“It’s terrible, and the potential problems with it are enormous,” he said.
Wesselhoft downplayed the bill’s controversy.
“DNA profiles generated by crime labs contain no private medical or genetic information. This protects privacy,” he said. “There has been no instance of misuse of the DNA database. But there is evidence of its success—already the data has been used to solve nearly 50,000 crimes nationwide, according to the FBI.”
Wesselhoft said all states require DNA for felony convictions, and 26 of those states have considered bills to require DNA samples from individuals arrested on felony charges.
“This should be an easy measure to pass,” he said. “It is a measure that could prevent what happened to Katie from happening again by identifying criminals based on DNA before they are able to strike again.”
No so, Smith said.
“You are always going to be able to find anecdotal evidence like that. A single situation is not a good enough reason to give the government that authority,” he said. “A mistake could have horrible consequences.”
State lawmakers will have the chance to review Wesselhoft’s proposal in two weeks, when the Legislature reconvenes in Oklahoma City.
State Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore, said his proposal — House Bill 2603 — could help police solve “many unresolved crimes.”
In a media statement sent to The Transcript, Wesselhoft said the measure, “would require all individuals arrested on felony charges to provide a DNA sample for a state database.”
Should it pass, Wesselhoft said the bill would be known as “Katie’s Law,” in honor of a New Mexico crime victim.
“In August 2003, 22-year-old Katie Sepich was brutally attacked outside her home in New Mexico. She was raped and strangled, and her body was set on fire and abandoned at an old dump site. No suspects were immediately identified, but skin and blood samples were found under her fingernails, leaving the attacker’s DNA sample. The DNA samples were sent to the national DNA database system,” he said.
Wesselhoft said most states do not currently allow law enforcement to take DNA samples for felony arrests, making it more difficult to identify suspects through the national database.
“If there was a swab of the person who killed Katie, they would now be in prison and unable to harm someone else,” he said. “By expanding the DNA database, we can catch more bad guys who would otherwise remain free.”
Officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation say they support the idea.
“We have a statewide DNA database and the more people and samples we have in it the more crimes we can solve,” said Jessica Brown, OSBI public information officer. “Many states have already done this — it’s a good situation for everyone. It will help us solve more crimes and prevent other crimes from happening, and it will help victims’ families find closure.”
However, some defense attorneys disagree.
Norman attorney David Smith, who serves as Cleveland County’s public defender, said Wesselhoft’s bill “was a terrible idea.”
“Beyond the obvious privacy issues, people who are arrested for a felony haven’t been convicted of anything,” Smith said. “And each year thousands of people are arrested on a felony charge.”
It’s that huge amount, he said, that could cause errors in processing and handling the DNA samples.
“The thing that bothers me most is this: There’s gonna’ be an awful lot of felony arrests, and everyone one is going to have to provide a sample,” he said. “In some places, in the smaller counties, consider the idea you’re going to have people who may not be very well trained or who may very well have no training at all. With that many samples, the potential for error is huge.”
Statistics support Smith’s claim.
Data included in Norman’s 2006 Community Report Card show the Norman Police Department made 3,635 arrests for the “eight most serious crimes” for 2006.
“When you look at the number of felony arrests on a county level, well the numbers would be huge,” Smith said.
In addition, Smith said he has “real concerns” about residents being forced to turn over personal information — such as DNA — to the government.
“People think DNA profiling is very routine, they see it all the time,” he said. “But when you are talking about giving the government the power to take a piece of your body, the potential for abuse is real. I’m sure at some we’re going to be able to look at person’s DNA profile. I know insurance companies want that type of information now, because it lets them hedge their bets on who they would provide coverage for.”
Wesselhoft’s bill, he said, would give government “too much” information about a person who hasn’t been convicted of a crime.
“It’s terrible, and the potential problems with it are enormous,” he said.
Wesselhoft downplayed the bill’s controversy.
“DNA profiles generated by crime labs contain no private medical or genetic information. This protects privacy,” he said. “There has been no instance of misuse of the DNA database. But there is evidence of its success—already the data has been used to solve nearly 50,000 crimes nationwide, according to the FBI.”
Wesselhoft said all states require DNA for felony convictions, and 26 of those states have considered bills to require DNA samples from individuals arrested on felony charges.
“This should be an easy measure to pass,” he said. “It is a measure that could prevent what happened to Katie from happening again by identifying criminals based on DNA before they are able to strike again.”
No so, Smith said.
“You are always going to be able to find anecdotal evidence like that. A single situation is not a good enough reason to give the government that authority,” he said. “A mistake could have horrible consequences.”
State lawmakers will have the chance to review Wesselhoft’s proposal in two weeks, when the Legislature reconvenes in Oklahoma City.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Students, Independents changing County's voter registration profile
The University of Oklahoma’s student population and an increasing number of voters with no political party affiliation, have conspired to change the profile of Cleveland County’s registered voters.
Documents provided by state and local election board officials show major changes in the county’s voter registration — trending away from the two main political parties and, instead, toward Independent and Republican registration over the past eight years.
And though county officials have registered more than 13,000 new voters since 2000, fewer of those voters are choosing to affiliate themselves with the Democratic party and, instead, are choosing to register Independent or Republican.
The change began several years ago.
In 2000, 124,616 voters were registered to vote in Cleveland County, with a majority of those voters squarely in the Democratic column.
Records indicate that registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 5,569 voters — with Democrats claiming 58,656 voters to the GOP’s 53,087 in 2000.
A total of 12,826 residents listed themselves as Independent; 26 voters registered Libertarian and seven with the Reform Party.
Then, in 2002, Democrat’s numbers began to fall.
That year, both parties registration numbers were within 225 of each other. Democratic registration fell by 3,908 to 54,748 while GOP numbers rose by 1,436 to 54,523.
Independents, too, showed large increases, rising from 12,286 in 2000 to 14,930 in 2002 — a difference of 2,104.
Libertarians remained at 26.
“It’s been the trend for sometime,” said Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Paula Roberts. “I think it’s because people say they don’t want to be associated with either party. They see something on the news and it causes them to change their registration. Plus, many of them don’t understand our voter laws.”
Two years later, in 2004, Republican numbers would overtake Democrat’s.
In January 2004, Democratic registration fell by another 1,871 voters to 52,877 while county Republicans increased to 55,208 — 685 more than in 2002.
Independent and Libertarian registration climbed to 15,354 — an increase of 464 from 2002 for Independents, and 48 for Libertarians.
Only one county voter remained registered with the Reform Party.
Roberts said she believes those numbers reflect county voter’s emotions.
“To me it shows some frustration with the parties,” she said. “And it shows confusion about how Oklahoma classifies Independent voters.”
By 2006 the frustration had increased to new levels.
With Democrats and Republicans waging a scorched Earth battle for control of the Oklahoma State Senate, and the United States continuing its emotional struggle with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, voter registration numbers increased.
But most of those new voters chose the Republican Party.
According to election board data, the heaviest voter registration was in the Republican’s favor.
And though Democrats regained some lost ground, adding 1,735 new voters for a total of 54,612, that increase was still 136 voters short of their 2002 mark, and more than 4,000 below their high water mark of 58,656 in 2000.
Republicans numbers jumped by 6,507 — for a total of 61,715. Independent registration increased by 1,467 to 16,821.
That year, a total of 133,157 county residents were listed a registered voters.
In 2007, records show Independents and Republicans continue to reach new heights, while Democrats struggled to catch up.
During that year, Independent registration stood at 18,002 — 1,181 more than 2006 and 5,176 more than the year 2000.
Republican registrations climbed from 61,715 in 2006 to 63,785 in 2007, a difference of 2,070.
And though Democrats came close to registering almost as many voters as their GOP counterparts — Democrats added 1,907 new names to their rolls, for a total of 56,619 — they still have not reached their original 2000 registration level of 58,656.
“It’s definitely a change,” Roberts said. “But I believe some of those numbers are inflated because of the OU student population. Students move around a lot and then they leave. I think some of those precincts by campus are overstated because of the student population being so transient.”
But a shifting student population isn’t the only reason for the county’s increasing number of Independent voters.
Independent voters, Roberts said, are quick to voice their opinion and to change their party registration.
“Independents are the most vocal,” Roberts said. “And part of it is frustration. Many times they were previously a Republican or Democrat and they will come in and change because the party did something they didn’t like.”
State election board officials agree.
Mike Kilngman, secretary of the state election board, said Independent registration jumped in 2001 “during the state’s right-to-work election.”
“That election had a fairly high bump in independents,” he said. “And it’s kinda’ continued since then.”
Additionally, Klingman said he believes more younger voters are registering to vote and they “are more likely to register Independent than in the past.”
“Party affiliation seems to matter less,” he said, “Being independent sounds like a good thing. For many, political parties mean very little any more.”
Plus, many voters are taking advantage of new laws which expanded the number of cites where voters could register.
“Many of those places are online or in a facility like a tag agency,” he said. “And there’s not the same level of awareness of election laws. Back in the old days, when we had registrars, they could answer questions. We don’t have as much of that now.”
Because fewer voters are aware of the law, Klingman said new voters register Independent thinking they can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary elections.
“That’s not the case. In Oklahoma we have a closed primary system. Republicans vote in the Republican primary and Democrats vote in the Democratic primary. Many younger voters don’t realize that. I don’t think they really understand that you can’t vote in a primary election with an Independent registration.”
And while Klingman says he does agree the state’s ballot laws are “fairly restrictive” he also said he believes voters who would choose a third party candidate are “probably going to vote for someone in either main party who better represents their views.”
“People who are interested are always going to be active,” he said. “If you are in-tune enough to know about the minor parties, I wonder whether or not you would vote anyway.”
Either way, he said, the move away from party affiliation will continue.
“I don’t have any solid data, but I believe it will probably continue,” he said. “I believe the parties, themselves, will continue to be less visible.”
Documents provided by state and local election board officials show major changes in the county’s voter registration — trending away from the two main political parties and, instead, toward Independent and Republican registration over the past eight years.
And though county officials have registered more than 13,000 new voters since 2000, fewer of those voters are choosing to affiliate themselves with the Democratic party and, instead, are choosing to register Independent or Republican.
The change began several years ago.
In 2000, 124,616 voters were registered to vote in Cleveland County, with a majority of those voters squarely in the Democratic column.
Records indicate that registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 5,569 voters — with Democrats claiming 58,656 voters to the GOP’s 53,087 in 2000.
A total of 12,826 residents listed themselves as Independent; 26 voters registered Libertarian and seven with the Reform Party.
Then, in 2002, Democrat’s numbers began to fall.
That year, both parties registration numbers were within 225 of each other. Democratic registration fell by 3,908 to 54,748 while GOP numbers rose by 1,436 to 54,523.
Independents, too, showed large increases, rising from 12,286 in 2000 to 14,930 in 2002 — a difference of 2,104.
Libertarians remained at 26.
“It’s been the trend for sometime,” said Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Paula Roberts. “I think it’s because people say they don’t want to be associated with either party. They see something on the news and it causes them to change their registration. Plus, many of them don’t understand our voter laws.”
Two years later, in 2004, Republican numbers would overtake Democrat’s.
In January 2004, Democratic registration fell by another 1,871 voters to 52,877 while county Republicans increased to 55,208 — 685 more than in 2002.
Independent and Libertarian registration climbed to 15,354 — an increase of 464 from 2002 for Independents, and 48 for Libertarians.
Only one county voter remained registered with the Reform Party.
Roberts said she believes those numbers reflect county voter’s emotions.
“To me it shows some frustration with the parties,” she said. “And it shows confusion about how Oklahoma classifies Independent voters.”
By 2006 the frustration had increased to new levels.
With Democrats and Republicans waging a scorched Earth battle for control of the Oklahoma State Senate, and the United States continuing its emotional struggle with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, voter registration numbers increased.
But most of those new voters chose the Republican Party.
According to election board data, the heaviest voter registration was in the Republican’s favor.
And though Democrats regained some lost ground, adding 1,735 new voters for a total of 54,612, that increase was still 136 voters short of their 2002 mark, and more than 4,000 below their high water mark of 58,656 in 2000.
Republicans numbers jumped by 6,507 — for a total of 61,715. Independent registration increased by 1,467 to 16,821.
That year, a total of 133,157 county residents were listed a registered voters.
In 2007, records show Independents and Republicans continue to reach new heights, while Democrats struggled to catch up.
During that year, Independent registration stood at 18,002 — 1,181 more than 2006 and 5,176 more than the year 2000.
Republican registrations climbed from 61,715 in 2006 to 63,785 in 2007, a difference of 2,070.
And though Democrats came close to registering almost as many voters as their GOP counterparts — Democrats added 1,907 new names to their rolls, for a total of 56,619 — they still have not reached their original 2000 registration level of 58,656.
“It’s definitely a change,” Roberts said. “But I believe some of those numbers are inflated because of the OU student population. Students move around a lot and then they leave. I think some of those precincts by campus are overstated because of the student population being so transient.”
But a shifting student population isn’t the only reason for the county’s increasing number of Independent voters.
Independent voters, Roberts said, are quick to voice their opinion and to change their party registration.
“Independents are the most vocal,” Roberts said. “And part of it is frustration. Many times they were previously a Republican or Democrat and they will come in and change because the party did something they didn’t like.”
State election board officials agree.
Mike Kilngman, secretary of the state election board, said Independent registration jumped in 2001 “during the state’s right-to-work election.”
“That election had a fairly high bump in independents,” he said. “And it’s kinda’ continued since then.”
Additionally, Klingman said he believes more younger voters are registering to vote and they “are more likely to register Independent than in the past.”
“Party affiliation seems to matter less,” he said, “Being independent sounds like a good thing. For many, political parties mean very little any more.”
Plus, many voters are taking advantage of new laws which expanded the number of cites where voters could register.
“Many of those places are online or in a facility like a tag agency,” he said. “And there’s not the same level of awareness of election laws. Back in the old days, when we had registrars, they could answer questions. We don’t have as much of that now.”
Because fewer voters are aware of the law, Klingman said new voters register Independent thinking they can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary elections.
“That’s not the case. In Oklahoma we have a closed primary system. Republicans vote in the Republican primary and Democrats vote in the Democratic primary. Many younger voters don’t realize that. I don’t think they really understand that you can’t vote in a primary election with an Independent registration.”
And while Klingman says he does agree the state’s ballot laws are “fairly restrictive” he also said he believes voters who would choose a third party candidate are “probably going to vote for someone in either main party who better represents their views.”
“People who are interested are always going to be active,” he said. “If you are in-tune enough to know about the minor parties, I wonder whether or not you would vote anyway.”
Either way, he said, the move away from party affiliation will continue.
“I don’t have any solid data, but I believe it will probably continue,” he said. “I believe the parties, themselves, will continue to be less visible.”
Moore, Norman Schools earn API awards
OKLAHOMA CITY — Three Moore schools — one of them making a repeat performance — and Norman’s McKinley Elementary are among the 63 state schools to receive bonus checks for their academic performance, state education officials announced this week.
Moore’s Wayland Bonds Elementary School, Fisher Elementary School and Earlywine Elementary School all received API awards, state school superintendent Sandy Garrett said Thursday.
The award is the first for the Wayland Bonds and Earlywine schools and the second year in a row for Fisher Elementary School.
“This is the kind of merit program that enjoys much support among school leaders across the state because it rewards teams of teachers whose instructional efforts result in both top-caliber academic performance and significant academic gains in one year,” Garrett said.
Moore school officials said they, too, were pleased by the awards.
“I am so proud of what they have accomplished,” said Moore superintend Deborah Arato. “They are just absolutely working so hard to make sure every student succeeds. It’s very difficult to achieve a perfect API score.”
Designed to reward and encourage academic excellence, the awards are based on a school’s Academic Performance Index (API) score. An API score — ranked on a scale from 0 to 1,500 — is based on the school’s student success on state achievement tests, and its attendance rates. For secondary sites, dropout and graduation rates also are factored in, as well as ACT scores and participation, Advanced Placement credit and college remediation rates in reading and mathematics.
“I often share that teachers don’t become teachers with any expectation of making a big salary,” Garrett said. “However, they, like all professionals, definitely should be recognized and rewarded when they go the extra mile for their students.”
Garrrett said teachers and administrators at Fisher and Earlywine will each receive a $3,000 bonus while administrators and teachers at Wayland Bonds will each see $2,000.
Arato said the awards are proof the district’s schools “are all doing well.”
“The only reason Wayland Bonds didn’t have a perfect API score was because of attendance,” Arato said. “They just missed it. We’re very, very proud. We had several other schools who just missed getting awards because of the attendance standard.”
Part of that success, she said, is because the district continually assesses students to make sure those students are learning.
“We’ve done a lot of really good work on our standards and making sure that we are well aligned. We do assessments every six weeks,” she said. “We’re constantly working to find out where kids are behind. When we get those indications, we can do what needs to be done quickly, before it becomes a large skill deficiency.”
At Wayland Bonds, principal Robert Romines praised his staff, saying they were primarily responsible for the school’s success.
“My staff is phenomenal,” he said. “They are very child centered. And our community has embraced many different concepts — before and after school tutoring, remediation. Everything we do is centered around kids.”
Romines said teachers and officials at the school, which opened three years ago, work hard to “create a family environment.”
“The teachers and staff are one big family,” he said. “And the parents realized that quickly. We have wonderful parents who are in and out (of here) day long. They are here to work. Their goal is to help the kids.”
And that atmosphere, he said, helps make the school successful. “Everything is centered toward the child,” Romines said.
McKinley elementary in Norman was one of 23 schools statewide that earned a perfect API score of 1,500.
Principal Terry Hopper said everyone who was a certified employee for the 2006-2007 school year will receive a $3,000 bonus check.
“It’s nice to be rewarded for our efforts,” he said.
Hopper said parents and the PTA deserve credit for their continued support through school-sponsored activities and programs.
“It’s really just a group effort,” he said.
Norman Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said all schools within the district have done an outstanding job of educating children.
The superintendent said he is proud of the McKinley Elementary staff for their hard work and recognition.
“We also appreciate and congratulate the parents and students for their part in working together to provide quality educational environment for all students,” Siano said.
In 2006, Purcell Elementary School score 843 on the API index. A year later, the number jumped 41 percent to 1,192, according to the State Department of Education. That increase also came along with $1,000 checks for school employees.
Principal Tammy Dillard said she and her 40 co-workers learned about their gift Friday morning.
“We’ve been celebrating all morning long,” Dillard said. “We were thrilled.”
Dillard was named principal eight years ago. At the same time, the school implemented a site improvement process working with the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and Literacy First.
“We also are able to tap into resources through a Reading First grant and using those models we’ve learned about the latest research on education and instructional processes,” she said.
Dillard said Purcell Elementary educators are focused on academic progress of each child. Each year, Dillard and faculty members expect the API to increase. She believes several factors contribute to the steady rise including improved performances from English Language Learner, special education and regular education students.
The principal said student success would not be possible if it wasn’t for the educators who teach at the school.
“It would be impossible to overstate the degree to which they’ve invested in to make sure each child makes education progress each year. They have invested personal time and energy. It really is paying off,” she said.
Moore’s Wayland Bonds Elementary School, Fisher Elementary School and Earlywine Elementary School all received API awards, state school superintendent Sandy Garrett said Thursday.
The award is the first for the Wayland Bonds and Earlywine schools and the second year in a row for Fisher Elementary School.
“This is the kind of merit program that enjoys much support among school leaders across the state because it rewards teams of teachers whose instructional efforts result in both top-caliber academic performance and significant academic gains in one year,” Garrett said.
Moore school officials said they, too, were pleased by the awards.
“I am so proud of what they have accomplished,” said Moore superintend Deborah Arato. “They are just absolutely working so hard to make sure every student succeeds. It’s very difficult to achieve a perfect API score.”
Designed to reward and encourage academic excellence, the awards are based on a school’s Academic Performance Index (API) score. An API score — ranked on a scale from 0 to 1,500 — is based on the school’s student success on state achievement tests, and its attendance rates. For secondary sites, dropout and graduation rates also are factored in, as well as ACT scores and participation, Advanced Placement credit and college remediation rates in reading and mathematics.
“I often share that teachers don’t become teachers with any expectation of making a big salary,” Garrett said. “However, they, like all professionals, definitely should be recognized and rewarded when they go the extra mile for their students.”
Garrrett said teachers and administrators at Fisher and Earlywine will each receive a $3,000 bonus while administrators and teachers at Wayland Bonds will each see $2,000.
Arato said the awards are proof the district’s schools “are all doing well.”
“The only reason Wayland Bonds didn’t have a perfect API score was because of attendance,” Arato said. “They just missed it. We’re very, very proud. We had several other schools who just missed getting awards because of the attendance standard.”
Part of that success, she said, is because the district continually assesses students to make sure those students are learning.
“We’ve done a lot of really good work on our standards and making sure that we are well aligned. We do assessments every six weeks,” she said. “We’re constantly working to find out where kids are behind. When we get those indications, we can do what needs to be done quickly, before it becomes a large skill deficiency.”
At Wayland Bonds, principal Robert Romines praised his staff, saying they were primarily responsible for the school’s success.
“My staff is phenomenal,” he said. “They are very child centered. And our community has embraced many different concepts — before and after school tutoring, remediation. Everything we do is centered around kids.”
Romines said teachers and officials at the school, which opened three years ago, work hard to “create a family environment.”
“The teachers and staff are one big family,” he said. “And the parents realized that quickly. We have wonderful parents who are in and out (of here) day long. They are here to work. Their goal is to help the kids.”
And that atmosphere, he said, helps make the school successful. “Everything is centered toward the child,” Romines said.
McKinley elementary in Norman was one of 23 schools statewide that earned a perfect API score of 1,500.
Principal Terry Hopper said everyone who was a certified employee for the 2006-2007 school year will receive a $3,000 bonus check.
“It’s nice to be rewarded for our efforts,” he said.
Hopper said parents and the PTA deserve credit for their continued support through school-sponsored activities and programs.
“It’s really just a group effort,” he said.
Norman Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said all schools within the district have done an outstanding job of educating children.
The superintendent said he is proud of the McKinley Elementary staff for their hard work and recognition.
“We also appreciate and congratulate the parents and students for their part in working together to provide quality educational environment for all students,” Siano said.
In 2006, Purcell Elementary School score 843 on the API index. A year later, the number jumped 41 percent to 1,192, according to the State Department of Education. That increase also came along with $1,000 checks for school employees.
Principal Tammy Dillard said she and her 40 co-workers learned about their gift Friday morning.
“We’ve been celebrating all morning long,” Dillard said. “We were thrilled.”
Dillard was named principal eight years ago. At the same time, the school implemented a site improvement process working with the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and Literacy First.
“We also are able to tap into resources through a Reading First grant and using those models we’ve learned about the latest research on education and instructional processes,” she said.
Dillard said Purcell Elementary educators are focused on academic progress of each child. Each year, Dillard and faculty members expect the API to increase. She believes several factors contribute to the steady rise including improved performances from English Language Learner, special education and regular education students.
The principal said student success would not be possible if it wasn’t for the educators who teach at the school.
“It would be impossible to overstate the degree to which they’ve invested in to make sure each child makes education progress each year. They have invested personal time and energy. It really is paying off,” she said.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Moore mayor to face ex-Marine in March election
MOORE — While most state voters are focused on February’s upcoming presidential primary election, voters in Moore will have more than just presidential candidates to deal with over the next two months.
Following February’s primary election, Moore residents will choose their next mayor and decide whether or not to fund $69.9 million in proposed school construction and improvements.
Both those issues will be on the March 4 ballot.
In addition, some voters — those who live in south Oklahoma City — will be asked whether or not to approve an extension of the MAPS sales tax to fund renovations to the Ford Center. That election, too, is set for March 4.
“There are several issues up between now and March,” said Paula Roberts, Cleveland County’s election board secretary.
And while Roberts said the school bond issue and the MAPS proposal have generated some voter interest, for Moore, the main event will be the mayor’s race.
A race which pits a popular, long-serving incumbent against a 70-year-old ex-Marine.
A race that incumbent mayor Glenn Lewis says will probably be his last.
“I still have a few things I want to finish,” Lewis said this week. “I want to be there when our new theater opens and I want to make some improvements for kids. I’d like to do a Little League stadium and accomplish some more things like that. But this will probably be my last term.”
Lewis, who has served as Moore’s mayor for the past 14 years, said if he’s re-elected, he wants to continue to push the community forward.
“I want to focus on where we are going,” he said. “I want to focus on what other people want us to do. We all work hard and if there’s something wrong I want to correct it.”
During the past decade, he’s has been busy.
Inheriting what he called a community with “issues,” Lewis described his first term in office as “a shocker.”
“When I first started, we couldn’t make city payroll,” he said. “We didn’t have enough money. The police officers were buying their own flashlights. We hadn’t budgeted to fix roads in neighborhoods, not in 15 years. So my message was we were gonna have to make government smaller or get smarter on taxes.”
The city, he said, got smart quickly.
“We worked hard at it. We chose to go the sales tax route because of our location. The visitors and retail traffic to our community — those who shop here but live somewhere else — help pay for our services. That’s why I’m unapologetic about using a sales tax.”
Since then, Lewis said Moore has grown and prospered.
“I think we’ve done a good job. About 75 percent of the commercial buildings which have been built went up while I was mayor.”
And though Lewis says he’s proud of his accomplishments, he’s also just as quick to praise Moore’s municipal staff and his fellow commissioners.
“We have a really good staff and a really good council,” he said. “None of this could have been accomplished without them.”
But economic development hasn’t been Moore’s sole accomplishment. The city, he noted, has had its share of disasters.
“I have probably had more disasters than any other mayor,” he said. “Tornadoes, storms, ice. Myself, the council, and our staff have more disaster experience than the FEMA guys. We know how to work a disaster and what to do.”
And it’s that experience, Lewis said, that has allowed Moore to recover from problems quickly.
“Knowing what needs to be done is a good thing,” he said. “I just don’t like having disasters. We’ve had more than our share.”
Still, for Lewis the job of mayor isn’t about the salary. Instead, he said, it’s about trying to make things better.
“Moore’s prosperity is not all my accomplishment,” he said. “I had a lot of help. I just simply want to try and make things better for the city and the people that live here.”
•
It’s not that Paul Jaynes is unhappy.
In fact, Jaynes said he’s very pleased with the growth and development of his hometown.
He acknowledges the city’s hard work and the progress made. “Moore is improving,” he said Monday. “And I want to keep that going.”
Jaynes is running for mayor, he said, “to see if people would vote for me or not.”
“I’m not running against the mayor. I’m running for the office of mayor. I’m doing it because a lot of people have asked me to.”
Before moving to Moore, Jaynes said he lived in Phoenix, Ariz. “Phoenix got too big, that’s why we came here. This city is going good. It’s wonderful.”
A veteran of the U.S. Marines, Jaynes, while pleased with Moore’s commercial development, said if he’s elected mayor, he would like to see more “light industry” locate in the community.
“I’d like to help put more people to work,” he said. “That would make more customers for merchants.”
Moore, Jaynes said, should create a “golden alley” from Moore to Norman and Oklahoma City. “I’d like to see us take advantage of our location. I’ve been watching Moore for a long time and it has the most wonderful people. It’s a great place.”
Jaynes — who donated a flagpole to Moore Chamber of Commerce last year — said he would use a low-key approach in his campaign.
“I’m not going to have a big campaign,” he said. “I might be passing out some literature, flyers and the like, but that will probably be about it. I don’t plan on spending a lot of money.”
Instead he said he wants to give voters a choice.
“I’d like to be the mayor. If people have different opinions or different ideas I like to help.”
And he wants voters to know he has “no mean intentions.”
“I’m just running for the office. There is nothing bad. I’m easygoing and I don’t have any ill feelings anywhere. This is my most favorite part of the world.”
A place, he said, where he plans to stay.
“I’m not leaving,” Jaynes said.
“The people here are great. This is where I want to die.”
A nonpartisan position, Moore’s mayor serves as a voting member of the city council and presides at council meetings. The mayor serves a four-year term and is paid $3,000 annually.
Following February’s primary election, Moore residents will choose their next mayor and decide whether or not to fund $69.9 million in proposed school construction and improvements.
Both those issues will be on the March 4 ballot.
In addition, some voters — those who live in south Oklahoma City — will be asked whether or not to approve an extension of the MAPS sales tax to fund renovations to the Ford Center. That election, too, is set for March 4.
“There are several issues up between now and March,” said Paula Roberts, Cleveland County’s election board secretary.
And while Roberts said the school bond issue and the MAPS proposal have generated some voter interest, for Moore, the main event will be the mayor’s race.
A race which pits a popular, long-serving incumbent against a 70-year-old ex-Marine.
A race that incumbent mayor Glenn Lewis says will probably be his last.
“I still have a few things I want to finish,” Lewis said this week. “I want to be there when our new theater opens and I want to make some improvements for kids. I’d like to do a Little League stadium and accomplish some more things like that. But this will probably be my last term.”
Lewis, who has served as Moore’s mayor for the past 14 years, said if he’s re-elected, he wants to continue to push the community forward.
“I want to focus on where we are going,” he said. “I want to focus on what other people want us to do. We all work hard and if there’s something wrong I want to correct it.”
During the past decade, he’s has been busy.
Inheriting what he called a community with “issues,” Lewis described his first term in office as “a shocker.”
“When I first started, we couldn’t make city payroll,” he said. “We didn’t have enough money. The police officers were buying their own flashlights. We hadn’t budgeted to fix roads in neighborhoods, not in 15 years. So my message was we were gonna have to make government smaller or get smarter on taxes.”
The city, he said, got smart quickly.
“We worked hard at it. We chose to go the sales tax route because of our location. The visitors and retail traffic to our community — those who shop here but live somewhere else — help pay for our services. That’s why I’m unapologetic about using a sales tax.”
Since then, Lewis said Moore has grown and prospered.
“I think we’ve done a good job. About 75 percent of the commercial buildings which have been built went up while I was mayor.”
And though Lewis says he’s proud of his accomplishments, he’s also just as quick to praise Moore’s municipal staff and his fellow commissioners.
“We have a really good staff and a really good council,” he said. “None of this could have been accomplished without them.”
But economic development hasn’t been Moore’s sole accomplishment. The city, he noted, has had its share of disasters.
“I have probably had more disasters than any other mayor,” he said. “Tornadoes, storms, ice. Myself, the council, and our staff have more disaster experience than the FEMA guys. We know how to work a disaster and what to do.”
And it’s that experience, Lewis said, that has allowed Moore to recover from problems quickly.
“Knowing what needs to be done is a good thing,” he said. “I just don’t like having disasters. We’ve had more than our share.”
Still, for Lewis the job of mayor isn’t about the salary. Instead, he said, it’s about trying to make things better.
“Moore’s prosperity is not all my accomplishment,” he said. “I had a lot of help. I just simply want to try and make things better for the city and the people that live here.”
•
It’s not that Paul Jaynes is unhappy.
In fact, Jaynes said he’s very pleased with the growth and development of his hometown.
He acknowledges the city’s hard work and the progress made. “Moore is improving,” he said Monday. “And I want to keep that going.”
Jaynes is running for mayor, he said, “to see if people would vote for me or not.”
“I’m not running against the mayor. I’m running for the office of mayor. I’m doing it because a lot of people have asked me to.”
Before moving to Moore, Jaynes said he lived in Phoenix, Ariz. “Phoenix got too big, that’s why we came here. This city is going good. It’s wonderful.”
A veteran of the U.S. Marines, Jaynes, while pleased with Moore’s commercial development, said if he’s elected mayor, he would like to see more “light industry” locate in the community.
“I’d like to help put more people to work,” he said. “That would make more customers for merchants.”
Moore, Jaynes said, should create a “golden alley” from Moore to Norman and Oklahoma City. “I’d like to see us take advantage of our location. I’ve been watching Moore for a long time and it has the most wonderful people. It’s a great place.”
Jaynes — who donated a flagpole to Moore Chamber of Commerce last year — said he would use a low-key approach in his campaign.
“I’m not going to have a big campaign,” he said. “I might be passing out some literature, flyers and the like, but that will probably be about it. I don’t plan on spending a lot of money.”
Instead he said he wants to give voters a choice.
“I’d like to be the mayor. If people have different opinions or different ideas I like to help.”
And he wants voters to know he has “no mean intentions.”
“I’m just running for the office. There is nothing bad. I’m easygoing and I don’t have any ill feelings anywhere. This is my most favorite part of the world.”
A place, he said, where he plans to stay.
“I’m not leaving,” Jaynes said.
“The people here are great. This is where I want to die.”
A nonpartisan position, Moore’s mayor serves as a voting member of the city council and presides at council meetings. The mayor serves a four-year term and is paid $3,000 annually.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
COLE: 2008 won't be very productive for Congress
The U.S. House and Senate probably won’t get much accomplished this year, 4th District Congressman Tom Cole predicted Wednesday.
Speaking at a breakfast meeting of the Cleveland County Business and Industry Council, Cole, R-Moore, said the problem was due to the 2008 presidential election.
“The conventional wisdom is that we won’t get a lot done in a presidential year,” he said.
Cole said House Democrats will want to delay major initiatives until after the fall elections and added the GOP is in a defensive mode.
“That will probably be what happens,” he said. “The focus will be on the normal, governmental appropriations process.”
Still, he said, voters shouldn’t write off initiatives by President George Bush.
“Even as a lame duck president, Bush holds a strong hand,” he said. “He wants to leave a legacy.”
Cole said he would be “interested” to see if President Bush offers a stimulus package to keep the economy from slipping into a recession.
“You business people are worried about your business, and the economy,” he said, “while we politicians are in survival mode. We have to demonstrate to the American people that we can govern. It would be a marvelous way for us to end the year.”
Speaking at a breakfast meeting of the Cleveland County Business and Industry Council, Cole, R-Moore, said the problem was due to the 2008 presidential election.
“The conventional wisdom is that we won’t get a lot done in a presidential year,” he said.
Cole said House Democrats will want to delay major initiatives until after the fall elections and added the GOP is in a defensive mode.
“That will probably be what happens,” he said. “The focus will be on the normal, governmental appropriations process.”
Still, he said, voters shouldn’t write off initiatives by President George Bush.
“Even as a lame duck president, Bush holds a strong hand,” he said. “He wants to leave a legacy.”
Cole said he would be “interested” to see if President Bush offers a stimulus package to keep the economy from slipping into a recession.
“You business people are worried about your business, and the economy,” he said, “while we politicians are in survival mode. We have to demonstrate to the American people that we can govern. It would be a marvelous way for us to end the year.”
Lawmakers predict "titanic" fight for State Senate
While most members of Cleveland County’s legislative delegation agreed state lawmakers would work in a “bipartisan fashion” during the upcoming 2008 Legislative session, they also predicted a major political fight this year for control of the Oklahoma State Senate.
“When you don’t have much money, you don’t have many arguments,” state Rep. Bill Nations said Wednesday.
But once the election season rolls around, Nations said, “there will be a titanic struggle for control of the Senate.”
Nations, D-Norman, made the prediction Wednesday morning during a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Cleveland County Business and Industry Council.
Nations, along with state Representatives Scott Martin, Wallace Collins, Randy Terrill, state Senator Jonahan Nichols and U.S. Congressman Tom Cole spoke at the event.
“When things are tough, everyone on both sides of the aisle makes tough decisions,” he said. “When there is a lot of money available, there are a lot of arguments going on.”
And the past three years, he said, have been “the best years for revenue in the history of the state of Oklahoma.”
Though most of the group acknowledged the potential fight in the Senate, all five men agreed the session will have its share of big issues.
“I’m working on legislation to try and help reduce school violence,” Collins said. “I’m still searching for “magic wand,” to solve it. I don’t know if we’re ever completely prevent it, but we’ve got to keep working.”
Collins said violence at school happens “far too often.”
“It happens all around the world and it hits home more personally here in the U.S.”
Along with violence prevention, the Norman Democrat said lawmakers should work to expand the state’s light rail system to help reduce pollution and increase economic development.
“We have to talk about it,” he said. “We have to raise the bar of public awareness and expand the use of light rail.”
Collins said lawmakers should take advantage of a strong budget cycle to explore alternatives to traditional transportation.
“If we won’t do this kind of thing in good budget year, we surely won’t do it in a shortfall. It’s past time for us to look into transportation alternatives, instead of just adding more lanes on the highway.”
While Martin, a Norman Republican said he, too, believed transportation issues would be a top priority this year, the focus, he said, would be on infrastructure and funding.
“You’re going to see legislation to remove the 3 percent trigger on Oklahoma Department of Transportation funding,” he said.
Martin said he also was “anxious to hear” what both sides had to say about extending the length of the public school and potential plans for a performance based pay system for public school teachers. “There will probably be a lot of discussion about those issues,” he said.
Like Martin, Nichols predicted education, transportation and public safety would be issues which occupied a majority of the legislative session.
“I’m looking forward to finally stopping the supplemental funding to the Department of Corrections,” he said. “It’s disingenuous to the taxpayers that we balance the budget knowing we owe bills. What has historically been done to fund DOC is circumventing the State Constitution.”
Hopefully, he said, lawmakers will “fully fund” the department of corrections.
Nichols also said he was pleased by the fact lawmakers had less money to spend in 2008.
“State government has less money to spend this year,” he said, “because we’ve returned more to the taxpayer.”
Nichols said he meant “that less money is less growth money.”
“We’re returning more money to the taxpayer. And there is no better way to insulate the economy than through tax cuts. There is no better way to keep the economy alive and vibrant than to place it in the hands of the private sector.”
Bragging that Republicans in the state house were “driving the train,” Terrill said the House GOP members were framing their legislation against five standards.
“Everything we try to move through the House falls along four lines,” he said. “Whether or not it advances the cause of Constitutionally limited government; whether or not it is advancing the rule of law; whether or not it supports the free enterprise, free market system; and whether or not it promotes traditional family values.”
The House, Terrill said, was pushing a sound, conservative fiscal policy.
“We will continue to fund core essential programs of state government,” he said. “And we will demand performance, accountability and modernization.”
Terrill said lawmakers would continue to focus on performance audits for state agencies and predicted the Department of Human Services “would be next in line” for such an audit.
“DHS is next in line because of their foster care and daycare programs,” he said. “The death of one child because of DHS’ bureaucratic black hole is one too many.”
In addition, Terrill said House Republicans would continue to try to reduce the state’s income tax rate to “ultimately get it below” 5 percent, which, he said, is the GOP’s short-term goal.
Known for his immigration reform bill, Terrill said the measure is being modeled by 25 to 30 other states.
“I’m very pleased we’ve gotten Oklahoman to the forefront in the immigration reform movement,” he said.
Terrill said he would file legislation in 2008 to add to the measure, including provisions which would make English the state’s official language and to allow local law enforcement officials to seize an undocumented alien’s property.
“It would be much like seizing certain drug assets,” he said.
Terrill said he also would push for “transparency in education” to show taxpayers how much education for undocumented aliens is costing.
State lawmakers will return to the capitol for the 2008 Legislative session in February.
“When you don’t have much money, you don’t have many arguments,” state Rep. Bill Nations said Wednesday.
But once the election season rolls around, Nations said, “there will be a titanic struggle for control of the Senate.”
Nations, D-Norman, made the prediction Wednesday morning during a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Cleveland County Business and Industry Council.
Nations, along with state Representatives Scott Martin, Wallace Collins, Randy Terrill, state Senator Jonahan Nichols and U.S. Congressman Tom Cole spoke at the event.
“When things are tough, everyone on both sides of the aisle makes tough decisions,” he said. “When there is a lot of money available, there are a lot of arguments going on.”
And the past three years, he said, have been “the best years for revenue in the history of the state of Oklahoma.”
Though most of the group acknowledged the potential fight in the Senate, all five men agreed the session will have its share of big issues.
“I’m working on legislation to try and help reduce school violence,” Collins said. “I’m still searching for “magic wand,” to solve it. I don’t know if we’re ever completely prevent it, but we’ve got to keep working.”
Collins said violence at school happens “far too often.”
“It happens all around the world and it hits home more personally here in the U.S.”
Along with violence prevention, the Norman Democrat said lawmakers should work to expand the state’s light rail system to help reduce pollution and increase economic development.
“We have to talk about it,” he said. “We have to raise the bar of public awareness and expand the use of light rail.”
Collins said lawmakers should take advantage of a strong budget cycle to explore alternatives to traditional transportation.
“If we won’t do this kind of thing in good budget year, we surely won’t do it in a shortfall. It’s past time for us to look into transportation alternatives, instead of just adding more lanes on the highway.”
While Martin, a Norman Republican said he, too, believed transportation issues would be a top priority this year, the focus, he said, would be on infrastructure and funding.
“You’re going to see legislation to remove the 3 percent trigger on Oklahoma Department of Transportation funding,” he said.
Martin said he also was “anxious to hear” what both sides had to say about extending the length of the public school and potential plans for a performance based pay system for public school teachers. “There will probably be a lot of discussion about those issues,” he said.
Like Martin, Nichols predicted education, transportation and public safety would be issues which occupied a majority of the legislative session.
“I’m looking forward to finally stopping the supplemental funding to the Department of Corrections,” he said. “It’s disingenuous to the taxpayers that we balance the budget knowing we owe bills. What has historically been done to fund DOC is circumventing the State Constitution.”
Hopefully, he said, lawmakers will “fully fund” the department of corrections.
Nichols also said he was pleased by the fact lawmakers had less money to spend in 2008.
“State government has less money to spend this year,” he said, “because we’ve returned more to the taxpayer.”
Nichols said he meant “that less money is less growth money.”
“We’re returning more money to the taxpayer. And there is no better way to insulate the economy than through tax cuts. There is no better way to keep the economy alive and vibrant than to place it in the hands of the private sector.”
Bragging that Republicans in the state house were “driving the train,” Terrill said the House GOP members were framing their legislation against five standards.
“Everything we try to move through the House falls along four lines,” he said. “Whether or not it advances the cause of Constitutionally limited government; whether or not it is advancing the rule of law; whether or not it supports the free enterprise, free market system; and whether or not it promotes traditional family values.”
The House, Terrill said, was pushing a sound, conservative fiscal policy.
“We will continue to fund core essential programs of state government,” he said. “And we will demand performance, accountability and modernization.”
Terrill said lawmakers would continue to focus on performance audits for state agencies and predicted the Department of Human Services “would be next in line” for such an audit.
“DHS is next in line because of their foster care and daycare programs,” he said. “The death of one child because of DHS’ bureaucratic black hole is one too many.”
In addition, Terrill said House Republicans would continue to try to reduce the state’s income tax rate to “ultimately get it below” 5 percent, which, he said, is the GOP’s short-term goal.
Known for his immigration reform bill, Terrill said the measure is being modeled by 25 to 30 other states.
“I’m very pleased we’ve gotten Oklahoman to the forefront in the immigration reform movement,” he said.
Terrill said he would file legislation in 2008 to add to the measure, including provisions which would make English the state’s official language and to allow local law enforcement officials to seize an undocumented alien’s property.
“It would be much like seizing certain drug assets,” he said.
Terrill said he also would push for “transparency in education” to show taxpayers how much education for undocumented aliens is costing.
State lawmakers will return to the capitol for the 2008 Legislative session in February.
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