Hello, Walters? Controversial Waurika school assignment was from State-approved curriculum

This is a follow-up to my article from Wednesday, Perverted assignment given to students at Waurika High School, which covered a very detailed high school class assignment on sexual activities, including illegal and unnatural acts.

Parents in the community were rightfully upset, as pictures of the assignment quickly disseminated among even elementary students at the school. 

Jenni White at Reclaim Oklahoma Parent Empowerment (ROPE) interviewed the mother who first went public with the perverted assignment (you should read the whole thing):

A truly unfortunate event happened in the classroom of Ashlyn Jade’s niece at Waurika Public Schools Monday afternoon.

According to an interview with Ashlyn this afternoon, Coach Roger Jesse, a teacher/coach with 40+ years in Oklahoma education – and someone with many years of service and an excellent reputation in Waurika Public Schools – gave his 11th grade psychology class an assignment that has now made internet viral status.

Coach Jesse was asked to teach a new extra curricular psychology class at Waurika High School this semester. Ashlyn believes that, in a hurry and under duress from a strenuous teaching/coaching schedule, he downloaded a STATE APPROVED psychology curriculum to use during his class on Monday afternoon, copied it and handed it out without really reviewing it.

Perverted assignment given to students at Waurika High School

UPDATE: Hello, Walters? Controversial Waurika school assignment
was from State-approved curriculum

Heads up, content warning. This sexually perverted assignment was given to students Monday in a psychology class at Waurika High School with no apparent prior notice to parents.

It was part of the class curriculum, and school officials are claiming they had no idea it was in there (why they don't know what's in what they teach is a good question). I'd also ask what else is in this curriculum. 

Waurika, Oklahoma. Population 1,837. High school with approximately 125 students. 

Certifiably insane, morally destructive, culturally suicidal stuff like this is being taught to children in rural and small town public schools in even red-state Bible-belt Oklahoma.

If you value virtue, biblical morality, a decent societal future, and common sense, speak up.

I might also recommend homeschooling your kids. If you have questions about how to homeschool, send me an email (JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com) and I can either communicate with you directly or connect you with helpful resources.

Attorney Stephen Jones joins Supreme Court effort against Corp. Commish Hiett

Attorney Stephen Jones Joins Supreme Court Effort Against OCC’s Todd Hiett

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 28th) – Three Oklahoma lawmakers say that legal legend Stephen Jones will argue on behalf of their petition against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett, according to a notice filed at the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday. 

Legislators respond to Supreme Court request in Hiett case

Legislators Respond to Supreme Court Request in Hiett Case

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 15th) – Reps. Tom Gann, R-Inola, Kevin West, R-Moore, and Rick West, R-Heavener, today issued statements regarding an Oklahoma Supreme Court request for oral arguments in their case against Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett.

"On Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court changed its position and took the extraordinary step of asking for oral arguments about our Petition for a Writ of Prohibition against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett. We filed our case after allegations of sexual misconduct and public drunkenness were published, but Hiett refused to disqualify himself from Oklahoma Corporation Commission cases involving the victims and/or witnesses of his alleged criminal conduct. These utility cases are worth billions of dollars and affect millions of Oklahoma customers of Oklahoma Natural Gas, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, and Public Service Company of Oklahoma.

Legislators consider taking action after Corp. Commissioner Hiett’s assault, harassment accusations

L-R: State Rep. Kevin West and State. Rep Tom Gann

Legislators Consider Writ of Prohibition over Concerns about Hiett’s Impartiality

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 5th) – Reps. Kevin West, R-Moore, and Tom Gann, R-Inola, today issued statements regarding Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett, who has been accused of sexual molestation and public drunkenness. The two said they are considering filing a writ of prohibition against Hiett, asking the courts to intervene to protect the public interest.

Drummond comments on audit findings, calls for Zumwalt resignation

Drummond comments on audit findings, calls for Zumwalt resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 23, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement today in response to the latest audit findings of State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd:

“The audit findings released today show troubling and all too familiar patterns of mismanagement, costing taxpayers millions as a result. Today’s report confirms my previous order of an investigative audit of OMES, which is sorely needed and long overdue.

State Auditor finds systemic lack of oversight at critical state agency

Oklahoma's official government watchdog, State Auditor Cindy Byrd, is out with an absolutely scorching audit of OMES, finding all sorts of improprieties:

FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT UNCOVERS OMES LACK OF OVERSIGHT

“I believe Oklahoma is rapidly becoming a no-bid state. This is a grave disservice to the taxpayers.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 23, 2024) -- Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (SAI) Cindy Byrd today released the Federal Single Audit of expenditures made during FY 2022. This annual audit is a federally-mandated examination of whether the State of Oklahoma spent federal grant money in compliance with federal regulations.

The audit report covers more than $13 Billion of expenditures which are audited through a formula provided by the federal government. A majority of the $13 Billion came from COVID relief funds.

The most compelling information revealed in this audit is that COVID allowed the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to establish a new set of rules for vendor contracts. SAI has determined these new rules are not in the best interest of Oklahoma taxpayers.

Lankford: IRS destruction of 30M unprocessed returns(!!!) harmed taxpayers

They did what?? Thirty million unprocessed returns... the magnitude of incompetence in the IRS is simply incredible. Read Sen. Lankford's press release below:

Lankford: IRS Document Destruction Harmed Taxpayers

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Sept. 22nd) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined a letter with Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and all Senate Finance Committee Republican members, demanding information from the IRS on new and previously unanswered questions. The letter comes after reports that provided troubling evidence of taxpayers who were directly harmed by the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) destruction of 30 million unprocessed tax returns.

AG Drummond dismisses ClassWallet lawsuit, vows accountability for responsible parties

Back in 2020, Oklahoma officials hired ClassWallet to distribute $17.3M in a federal COVID-19 relief program, intending for these funds to be used for private school tuition and materials. This could be considered one of Gov. Stitt's and now-State Superintendent Ryan Walters' first "school choice" programs.

It ended in abject failure and scandal, with a lot of taxpayer money being misspent. After a lot of frankly pathetic passing-the-buck by several individuals, Walters among them, former Attorney General John O'Connor filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against ClassWallet for mishandling the funds. I felt that was oddly misplaced at the time, as emails later showed that blanket approval was given by Walters and others in government.

Now, Attorney General Gentner Drummond has dropped that particular suit and intends to go after individuals who are more directly responsible for the lack of oversight. 

First, some additional background, then Drummond's press release. Here's some detail from TheFrontier and OklahomaWatch:

State Auditor Byrd optimistic about Drummond prosecution of Epic Charter founders

CINDY BYRD OPTIMISTIC AS A.G. DRUMMOND TAKES ON PROSECUTION OF EPIC FOUNDERS

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (January 11, 2023) Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd today announced her support of Oklahoma Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, as he moves forward in the prosecutions against the former management at Epic Charter Schools. Based on the results of the SAI’s 2020 audit, Epic founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, and their CFO Josh Brock, now face felony charges of embezzlement and racketeering.

Attorney General Drummond outlines priorities, takes on prosecution of Epic Charter officials

New Attorney General Gentner Drummond outlines priorities upon taking office

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 11, 2023) – Sworn into office Monday, new State Attorney General Gentner Drummond said he is getting to work immediately as Oklahoma’s chief legal and law enforcement officer. His top priorities include working to improve relations with Oklahoma’s Native American tribes, eliminating illegal marijuana growing operations in the state, prosecuting fraud and corruption, and ensuring governmental transparency.

Stitt: did Hofmeister use scandal-ridden Epic Charter School donors to repay her personal campaign loans?

This release from the Stitt campaign came directly after the gubernatorial debate Wednesday night:

State Sup Hofmeister trading Epic donations for??

Oklahoma City, October 19th   |  Governor Kevin Stitt tonight questioned State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister why she has not given back more than $50,000 in donations from Epic Charter School administrators to her campaigns.

The reason is clear. From 2016-2018, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister was taking donations from Epic Charter Schools to pay down her debt simultaneously while Superintendent Hofmeister was considering an application by Epic Charter’s administrators to expand their operations in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma government funds controversial sex-ed curriculum

Oklahoma government funds controversial sex-ed curriculum

by Ray Carter -- Director, Center for Independent Journalism

(August 28, 2020)  Many “age-appropriate” and “abstinence-based” sexual education courses in public schools are far more graphic than parents realize, and often stretch the meaning of the word “abstinence” to include a wide range of sexual activity, according to experts.

One sex-ed program criticized by officials is allowed in Oklahoma schools and funded by a state agency.

“The best-kept secret in every state is what’s actually being taught to the children,” said Sharen Slater, president of Family Watch International. “Because they know if parents find out, they’re going to go crazy and they’re going to try to stop it.”

Slater was among several officials who spoke at the 2020 Protecting Children in Education Summit, a recent virtual event hosted by The Heritage Foundation. The forum focused on how citizens can oppose “the sexualization of children through laws and policies that impose medically unsound comprehensive sexuality education and sexual orientation and gender identity curriculum on schools.”

Slater pointed to the “Making a Difference!” curriculum as one that many parents would find troubling. She said one activity sheet for the program asks students to define abstinence and states that students’ possible answers may include “all sorts of sexual acts, promoting them as abstinence.”

“The best-kept secret in every state is what’s actually being taught to the children.”

OUTRAGE: Senate Approps Chair amends bill to allow campaign funds for use as personal slush fund

READ THE LATEST UPDATE: Sen. Thompson withdraws campaign "personal slush fund" bill after heat from the press

This is a long post, longer than most, but it's very important. Please read it in full so you can find out what the some members of legislative leadership are trying to slip through!

It's the fading moments of the Oklahoma legislative session, prime time for the traditional slipping in of woolyboogers, legislation that would otherwise attract great outrage but are passed swiftly in order to avoid the public eye.

House Bill 3996 is now one such measure.

I'm going to borrow some from a great article at The Frontier:

As the Oklahoma Legislature enters the final days of its 2020 regular legislative session, a last-minute proposed amendment to a bill in the Senate has emerged that would allow politicians to use campaign money to pay for personal expenses including country club dues, mortgage payments, vacations and a other personal items.

The proposed amendment to House Bill 3996 authored by Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, would remove the state’s prohibition against candidates for office and office holders spending money donated to their political campaign committees for personal use. The amendment, which would replace all language in the original bill that was approved in March by the House, has yet to be voted on by the Senate.

You can read the amendment filed by Sen. Thompson. It's shocking.

Gene Stipe would be weeping in pride and envy at the brazenness of this move.

Here's the timeline of the measure:

AG Hunter Releases Multicounty Grand Jury Report, Auditor’s Special Investigative Audit into Department of Health

Attorney General Mike Hunter gives remarks during a news conference releasing the multicounty grand jury report after the investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Health.

Attorney General Hunter Releases Multicounty Grand Jury Report, Auditor’s Special Investigative Audit into Department of Health 

Reports: No money missing, no indictments, comprehensive mismanagement to blame

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today released the multicounty grand jury report and the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s investigative performance audit, closing the state’s investigation into the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

The overarching conclusions of both the grand jury report and the audit are widespread mismanagement, archaic practices and fiscal irresponsibility led to the issues facing the agency.

The seven month long review included dozens of interviews and testimony from current and former OSDH employees and a thorough review of agency records and accounting practices spanning the course of several years.

Both grand jurors, as well as auditors with State Auditor Gary Jones’ office determined the agency was never insolvent, there was ample cash to pay expenses, the $30 million emergency supplemental appropriation wasn’t needed and the reduction in force that eliminated the jobs of 198 individuals was unnecessary.

Although the grand jurors found the inept practices and processes at the department ‘reprehensible’, no state or federal money was embezzled or stolen and no evidence of anyone in management positions personally benefitted from the activities.

“While financial mismanagement, fictitious fiscal reporting and reckless overspending abounded at the department, no criminally prosecutable conduct provable by proof beyond a reasonable doubt was identified,” the report reads.

Attorney General Hunter said adopting the auditor’s and grand jurors’ recommendations are necessary for the department moving forward.

“The report from the multicounty grand jury and the audit from Auditor Jones’ office reveal a system of deceit, abuse, mismanagement and utter incompetence that are so egregious it is hard, if not impossible, to comprehend the rationale behind some of the decisions that were made,” Attorney General Hunter said. “The consequences were unnecessary layoffs and a disruption of essential services in communities across the state. Quite simply, this can never happen again.

“The recommendations by the grand jurors and Auditor Jones’ office should be acted upon immediately by the department of health, to avoid the same kind of abuse in the future and to ensure the public we are serious about earning their trust back.

“I am optimistic that the new leadership team at the Department of Health will be successful in affecting a complete systematic change that addresses the recommendations.

“I appreciate the work and diligence of Auditor Jones, his audit team, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, investigators, prosecutors and agents in the Attorney General’s Office and members of the multicounty grand jury for dedicating many hours to this investigation.”

Read the report form the multicounty grand jury and the special investigative audit, here: https://bit.ly/2rPu8Tz.

Fallin comments on Doerflinger's resignation

Following a major story by investigative journalists at TheFrontier that uncovered a 2012 domestic violence incident and interrupted 911 call that had been covered up, Preston Doerflinger (Gov. Fallin's "jack of all trades" appointee) has now resigned as interim commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health and as Cabinet secretary of finance, administration and information technology.

Doerflinger's wife called he choked her during an argument, after which she called 911. Doerflinger took the phone from her, ended the call, and choked her again before police arrived. His wife did not press charges because she "she did not want him to lose his job [as interim Department of Human Services commissioner]."

The Frontier articles are must-reads as they are full of additional details:

• Prior spousal assault allegations surface against Gov. Fallin cabinet member
• Following accusations of domestic violence, interim OSDH director resigns

Governor Mary Fallin Statement on Resignation of Preston Doerflinger

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today issued the following statement following the resignation of Preston Doerflinger as interim commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health and as Cabinet secretary of finance, administration and information technology.


“The board of the Oklahoma State Department of Health has accepted the resignation of Preston Doerflinger as interim commissioner. He has also resigned as secretary of finance, administration and information technology.

“Preston has played a critical role in state government, serving as director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, and Cabinet secretary of finance, administration and information technology. During the past seven years, his efforts saved tax dollars by implementing cost-saving reforms and consolidating state agencies. He also helped guide the Department of Human Services during a critical time when key reforms, such as the Pinnacle Plan, were implemented. I appreciate his service to the state.

“I was unaware of the personal situation involving Preston and his ex-wife almost six years ago. Mrs. Doerflinger did not contact my office about this matter. I take domestic violence very seriously, but I will take Mrs. Doerflinger at her word that this matter was not a case of domestic violence. I respect Preston’s decision to move on from his government service, and wish him and his family the best.”

Lawmakers Comment on OSDH CFO's Resignation

Lawmakers Comment on Health Department CFO’s Resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Special Investigative Committee members Kevin Calvey (R-Oklahoma City), Bobby Cleveland (R-Slaughterville), and Tom Gann (R-Inola) reacted with concern to the resignation of Mike Romero, chief financial officer of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).  Romero resigned today in protest of illegal OSDH “compromising activity” regarding the FBI/Oklahoma Attorney General grand jury investigation into the OSDH.  Romero was one of the OSDH whistleblowers who alerted state officials to illegal financial practices that led to at least a $30 million agency shortfall and hundreds of layoffs.

In his resignation memo to state Secretary of Finance and OSDH Interim Commissioner Preston Doerflinger, Romero made the shocking allegation that Doerflinger “is using others, including his General Counsel, to stay abreast of the [grand jury] proceedings and to analyze the financial communications provided by me with this compromising activity.”  Romero alleged the OSDH General Counsel divulged his confidential grand jury testimony to Doerflinger and others.

“We appreciate Mike Romero for his integrity and courage in blowing the whistle on illegal acts and wasteful spending at OSDH,” Calvey said.

 “We are concerned about what appears to be an attempt to influence grand jury proceedings with a bureaucratic cover-up of wasteful OSDH spending, including spending on Information Technology (IT) services,” Cleveland added.

Noting that OSDH IT services were often paid to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), and that the former director of OMES, Preston Doerflinger, currently heads the OSDH, the three committee members further expressed concern for the integrity of oversight at all state agencies.

“How many other agencies have had wasteful spending covered up by putting pressure on potential whistleblowers?  How many OMES audits were ineffective at uncovering what Doerflinger himself called agency ‘bloat’ and ‘mission creep’ because bureaucrats wanted to suppress the truth?”  Gann asked. “Mr. Romero’s resignation opens up an entire new perspective about the lack of oversight in our state budget.”

Cleveland slams State Board of Health over Doerflinger's $189K salary

Cleveland Comments on New Interim Health Director Salary

OKLAHOMA CITY –State Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville, issued the following statement today after the Oklahoma State Board of Health approved a salary of $189,000 for Interim Commissioner Preston Doerflinger. He was appointed to the role in October after officials at the Oklahoma State Health Department (OSDH) mismanaged at least $30 million. Prior to taking this position at OSDH, Doerflinger served as director of the Office of Management & Enterprise Services (OMES). He currently serves as the Secretary of Finance and Revenue as well.

“I am absolutely outraged by the news that Preston Doerflinger will now be making nearly $200,000 as the interim head of the OSDH. This salary agreement gives Doerflinger a substantial raise over what he was earning at OMES.

“Taxpayers are now footing an enormous bill for an interim director who meets not a single qualification for the commissioner of health outlined in statute. Oklahomans are paying Doerflinger to ‘fix’ the Health Department’s financial crisis, yet Doerflinger failed to catch this multimillion dollar mismanagement when he was at OMES, supposedly overseeing the whole thing.

“The salary announcement comes while the Health Department continues plans to lay off over 200 hardworking folks in this state. Oklahomans deserve better. The board’s decision to fork over $189,000 annually to Doerflinger makes one thing perfectly clear: mismanagement and ineptitude pay in Oklahoma.”

          ~          ~          ~          ~          ~

Doerflinger's salary is an interesting topic to discuss. According to Oklahoma Watch, he was getting paid $172,458 as OMES director (up from $108k a few years ago). Back in 2012, when Doerflinger was appointed interim head of DHS, the Tulsa World wrote 'The commission approved a salary for Doerflinger of $155,000, but he will accept only the $109,000 he now makes as state finance director. "I appreciate it, but I feel that it is appropriate to stay at my current pay level," [Doerflinger] said.' 

AG Hunter: FBI and HHS joining Dept. of Health investigation

Attorney General Hunter Announces FBI and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Investigate Oklahoma Health Department

OKLAHOMA CITY - Attorney General Mike Hunter today announced that the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will partner with his office to investigate issues relating to the use of federal funds at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

Attorney General Hunter said attorneys and investigators with his office will work with federal authorities and the state auditor’s office to scrutinize movement and management of both state and federal monies at the OSDH.

“I appreciate the collaboration of the FBI and HHS in insuring that we can conduct a thorough and exacting review of the situation at OSDH,” Attorney General Hunter said. “We will get to the bottom of what happened there.”

OCPA's Small: Learning from the Health Department

Learning from the Health Department

By OCPA President Jonathan Small

Tens of millions of dollars are missing; criminal investigations are underway. Officials at the State Department of Health, it seems, misspent funds and misled the public about it for at least six years. Some of the money came from the federal government meaning those involved could face federal charges, and state taxpayers might have to pay that money back.

What happened? Only by answering that question can we make such scandals less likely in the future. The multiple investigations are in their initial stages, but three lessons already stand out.

First, executive leadership matters in state government. Even in positions of power, the easy path is often “go along to get along” or “keep your head down.” Self-serving politicians want to protect their political capital, but leaders know such capital is only worth having – and only grows – if you use it.

The governor and her top advisers claim they knew nothing about problems at the Department of Health until six years of mismanagement put the agency on the brink of collapse. This may be true, but then where were they? No doubt it was easier to let agency leaders do their thing, and no feathers got ruffled by taking their word for it year after year.

The problem isn’t just weak leadership. The second lesson is that Oklahoma’s executive branch structure actually produces weakness and confusion. The governor and her staff point to the nine-member Board of Health as the department’s direct governing authority. None of them are elected, and almost none of them are even known to the public. This structure makes it easy to pass the buck.

Oklahoma needs constitutional reform that makes the buck stop with the governor. The state’s top elected official should appoint agency directors who report to her and can be fired by her. That way, management (or mismanagement) would be unambiguously the governor’s responsibility.

The final lesson relates to the danger of federal funds flowing through state agencies and the need for greater transparency. The money looks deceptively free, inviting abuses. After all, the Legislature doesn’t have to raise it through taxes. For that matter, about a quarter of all federal funds are borrowed (something that would be illegal for state government to do on its own). The Legislature passed a bill to increase transparency for these funds, but it was vetoed by Gov. Fallin.

When these scandals come to light, it damages the people’s trust in government. It’s time to restructure our state government for more accountability instead of passing the buck.

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org).