Runoff: 3 GOP State Senators lose, 2 abortion abolitionists win, Bice tops Neese

The votes are in, and there were is some big news out of yesterday's runoff election. Let's get into the top stories.

Charlie Meadows and OCPAC on today's runoff elections

Conservative stalwart Charlie Meadows and the organization he presided over for many years (the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee) emailed out his oft-anticipated Charlie's Picks yesterday on today's runoff election. Here they are, along with a section with detail on the races in Tulsa:

CHARLIE'S PICKS

[Today,] Tuesday, August 25th is primary runoff election day for 2020.

The following picks are simply my opinions based on extensive research. Helping me with these were Don Spencer of Oklahoma Second Amendment Association (OK2A), Liza Greve of Oklahomans for Health & Parental Rights (OKHPR), and, to a lesser degree, the iVoter Guide.

Readers may have information I am unaware of and have a different opinion. That is fine.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5

YOUR CHOICE

My problem with Bice is that she has proven not to be a conservative. Her six-year average score is 56 on The Oklahoma Constitution Newspaper's Conservative Index. Find it here.

While she has voted properly on some OK2A bills, Don Spencer has indicated she has been unfriendly and uncooperative with OK2A. I believe Bice has a slightly better chance to beat Horn in November.

Republican Caleb Foshee announces candidacy for SD17

Businessman Caleb Foshee Announces Candidacy for State Senator Serving Eastern Oklahoma and Northern Pottawatomie Counties

[February 4th, 2020] Caleb Foshee announces his candidacy on the Republican ticket for the State Senate seat currently held by Sen. Ron Sharp.

“I am pleased and honored to announce my candidacy to serve Senate District 17. Eastern
Oklahoma and Northern Pottawatomie Counties deserve someone who will fight for them on all
fronts, including student centered solutions in education and less government regulations in
order to spur economic development.”

Caleb Foshee, the Chief Operating Officer at a commercial/industrial electrical contracting
company was previously a Command HR Director for the US Air Force and a Regional HR
Director for the Indian Health Service. “I’ve dealt with the clutter and bureaucracy of government
service and in my current job I feel the impact to businesses and their employees due to
government regulations and reporting. We need to take the handcuffs off of the largest job
creators in our state - small business owners.”

“If elected, my first priority will be to take a holistic approach in representing the district. I do not
intend to be a single-issue legislator who becomes known for being entangled in one issue, at
the expense of my constituents being served on all issues that personally and district-wide
affect them.”

“Another pillar of my campaign is that every life is precious, from conception to natural death.
This includes both babies and elders, but also includes people like single mothers, the poor, and
veterans who might be struggling with mental health issues. Every person’s dignity must be
protected.”

“We need a new generation of Patriots who will take a stand to protect our individual rights.
There is currently legislation in the Capitol that seeks to repeal Constitutional Carry and
otherwise limit our right to bear arms. This will only affect law abiding citizens - not those who
perpetrate gun violence.”

Caleb Foshee grew up in Eastern Oklahoma County, graduating from Jones High School in
1998 and from Oklahoma State University in 2003. He is also a proud member of the Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma. Caleb, his wife of 16 years, Britton, and their four children reside in
Choctaw.

For more information, visit his Facebook page or Foshee4OK.com.

New law allows use of school bus cameras to ticket reckless drivers

New Law Allows Use of School Bus Cameras to Ticket Reckless Drivers

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill allowing law enforcement to use cameras on school buses to track down drivers who illegally pass stopped buses went into effect Friday, Nov. 1.

House Bill 1926, by Rep. Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee) and Sen. Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) requires a minimum ticket of $100 for drivers who break this law. The law also requires 75% of tickets for this violation be deposited into the newly created Cameras for School Bus Stops Revolving Fund, a grant that schools without video surveillance on buses can apply for in order to purchase the equipment.

“Drivers passing stopped school buses endanger the lives of children loading onto or unloading the bus,” said Kerbs, a former school bus driver. “This is a very serious problem, but unfortunately it’s difficult for our officers to enforce this law. I’m glad school districts across the state will now have the means to install video cameras and hold these reckless drivers accountable. I hope this law will remind Oklahomans on the road to abide by our traffic laws or else face a tough fine.”

“I’m glad this bill has finally become law to help better protect our students. Hopefully, a majority of school districts have been able to install cameras on their buses or are in the process of getting them,” said Sharp. “Unfortunately, drivers don’t always think about the dangerous consequences of passing stopped buses, but this new law will help hold them accountable.”

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, nearly 84,000 drivers ignore a bus’ stop arm every day.

Charter School Funding, Oversight Focus of House Interim Studies

Charter School Funding, Oversight Focus of House Interim Studies

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Reps. Zack Taylor, Lundy Kiger and Randy Randleman are hosting two interim studies this week to look at several aspects of charter school funding. A third study, hosted by Kiger and Randleman, will focus on charter school sponsor oversight responsibilities.

All studies will take place Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Room 432-A in the State Capitol before the House Common Education Committee.

A study to look at brick-and-mortar charter school funding is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. A study examining the real cost per student for virtual charter schools vs. brick-and-mortar schools will be held at 9:30 a.m. The final study on charter school sponsor oversight responsibilities is set for 10:30 a.m.

State Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, will participate in the latter two studies.

“I feel strongly that charter schools – both brick-and-mortar and virtual – have a role in the learning process for some children in our state,” said Kiger, R-Poteau. “But we must have total transparency into how they receive funding per student and how that money is spent. I don’t believe they should be receiving the same amount of funding as traditional public school that have building and maintenance costs. We also must ensure the entities charged with oversight of these schools are performing due diligence and fulfilling all requirements both to the state and the students they serve.”

Kiger said he has long been concerned over issues brought forward about the operation of virtual charter schools, from unaccounted for equipment, to the high amounts received for midyear adjustments in enrollment, to the bonuses teachers and students receive for enrollment and recruitment efforts.

Taylor, R-Seminole, said he too is interested in looking at the funding formulas for both charters and traditional public schools.

“We need to closely examine how both traditional public schools and our charter schools receive funding for their pupils,” Taylor said. “There are some differences in how they count students. There also are costs that brick-and-mortar schools incur that virtual schools do not, but at the same time there are some revenues that charter schools do not receive that traditional schools do. We want to make sure at the end of the day, that the needs of all students are adequately met and that one school system is not receiving an unfair advantage over another.”

Randleman, R-Eufaula, is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist who serves on the House Common Education Committee. He said he signed on as a study author to ensure the public is better informed about how taxpayer money is spent on all public education options.

“The vast majority of Oklahoma parents choose to send their children to traditional public schools,” Randleman said. “I believe that all children and their parents deserve to have options that may serve the need of the child, such as online vs. brick-and-mortar charters. Still, we must ensure taxpayer dollars are being used in the most responsible way – to help all students.”

Sharp, a 39-year retired public school teacher and a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, was invited to participate in the latter two studies.

“Public education in Oklahoma and funding for our schools has been scrutinized over the years. While our schools have received historic funding the last two years, we’re now faced with new problems. There is an evident lack of transparency of state fund use, proper oversight and accountability within our virtual charter school system,” Sharp said. “As legislators, it’s our job to ensure that Oklahomans’ tax dollars are spent efficiently and not wasted. The rules for traditional brick-and-mortar public schools and virtual charters are different, and it’s causing confusion and problems. Given their astronomical growth and increasing state funding, it’s imperative that we improve oversight, accountability and fiscal transparency of our virtual charter schools. We need to hold all schools, regardless of what kind, to the same high standards.”

Sen. Sharp files bill to use local - not state - funding for superintendent pay

Bill filed to use district and local dedicated funds for superintendent pay 

Following public outcry about school funding and concern over high administrative salaries, Sen. Ron Sharp filed legislation Friday to make superintendent salaries a completely local decision. Senate Bill 60 would require superintendent salaries and fringe benefits to be paid with only district (ad valorem dollars) and dedicated local funds. The bill would stop any state appropriated dollars from being used for the salaries in order for them to be diverted to the classroom.

“Schools boards already decide how much their administrators make but this bill would ensure that not only will the decision be completely local but the funds for them will be as well,” said Sharp, R-Shawnee. “I think when school boards have to use their local funds for superintendent salaries they’ll be more fiscally conservative and we’ll see more state funds going into the classrooms where they should be.”

SB 60 would apply to those positions coded under the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS) as a superintendent or elementary superintendent. It would prohibit the board of education of an independent district or an elementary school district (a dependent district) from entering into a new contract or renewing a contract with a superintendent using state-appropriated dollars for salary or fringe benefits after July 1, 2019.

If a superintendent is also a principal, counselor or part-day teacher, the bill would only apply to the portion of his/her salary that is “coded” as superintendent. Any other job titles would still be paid with state dollars.

“This should also encourage administrative consolidation among districts if local dollars are insufficient to pay for superintendent salaries,” explained Sharp. “It will make these salaries and fringe benefits a 100% local decision as it should be.”

Sharp noted that the legislature does not set or control administrative salaries. It only sets the minimum teacher salary schedule. SB 60, however, would ensure that local districts would not only control the decision but the funds that pay for superintendent salaries.

OCPA president rebukes Senator’s attacks on students who attend private schools

OCPA president rebukes Senator’s continued attacks on students who attend private schools

After State Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, called an interim study to pressure the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to kick students who attend private school out of some athletic competitions, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), made the following statement:

“Sen. Sharp’s actions are misguided. Not only should state politicians stay out of these issues, but holding an interim study imposes financial costs and is yet another distraction from the real issues facing our state.

“Unfortunately, this is yet another example of Sen. Sharp’s personal vendetta against students who attend private school. During an education committee meeting in 2017, Sen. Sharp compared policies that give families choices in education to Nazi torture. He continues his attack on these students and families by trying to use his power to influence school sports.”