Meeting Delayed Over Open Meeting Act Concerns
The Oklahoma State Board of Education unexpectedly postponed its scheduled monthly meeting on Thursday due to concerns about a potential violation of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. The issue arose after board member Sarah Lepak raised concerns about the late posting of the meeting agenda, which was required to be available at least 24 hours before the meeting. The agenda was posted at 1:20 p.m. the previous day, surpassing the legal deadline by 20 minutes. Despite the decision to delay the meeting, other board members expressed disappointment, arguing that the situation could have been avoided.
Reports indicate that Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who chairs the board, had previously denied requests from newly appointed board members Ryan Deatherage, Michael Tinney, and Chris VanDenhende to include items on the meeting agenda. The requested items included a reconsideration of recently approved social studies standards, a discussion on educational outcomes in Oklahoma State Board of Education, and a possible personnel action concerning board attorney Chad Kutmas. The February board meeting had already seen tensions between Walters and these new members over his control of the agenda.
Conflicting Accounts on the Late Agenda Posting
Board attorney Chad Kutmas acknowledged the agenda delay in an email sent at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, citing information that the posting may not have complied with Open Meeting Act regulations. He attributed the delay to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). However, OMES spokesperson Christina Helfrey disputed this claim, stating that the issue was caused by the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSDE) staff, who sent the agenda to a technology employee just six minutes before the deadline. She added that the employee posted the agenda within 30 minutes of receiving it, rejecting the notion that OMES was at fault.
Later that night, Kutmas informed board members that Lepak believed postponing the meeting was the most prudent course of action. Walters followed up with an email at 10:47 p.m., announcing that the meeting would be rescheduled. While Walters cited a “technical issue” as the reason for the delay, board members questioned the circumstances. The postponement marks the second time in five months that the board has failed to meet as required by law, with the last missed meeting occurring in November.
Lawmakers Push for Agenda Transparency
The postponement has fueled ongoing frustrations among board members. VanDenhende described the handling of the matter as “unprofessional,” while Deatherage criticized the situation as a failure to uphold the principles of the Open Meeting Act. Tinney expressed disappointment, calling for greater transparency and earlier agenda postings to prevent similar issues in the future.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert has introduced House Bill 1491 to ensure board members have a say in meeting agendas. The bill, which has the backing of Governor Kevin Stitt and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, proposes allowing at least two board members to request agenda items. The Oklahoma House passed the bill by a vote of 80-16, and it is now awaiting Senate consideration. Paxton has voiced support for the measure, aiming to expedite its approval and ensure greater accountability within the board.
