Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Tulsa World Reporter
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The Oklahoma State Department of Education announced Wednesday that it is launching investigations into complaints against 11 districts and one charter school for not participating in an additional moment of silence Tuesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, OSDE spokeswoman Madison Cercy said the agency is investigating complaints lodged against Broken Arrow, Claremore, Edmond Deer Creek, Edmond, Glenpool, Lawton, Moore, Norman, Owasso, Tulsa and Harding Fine Arts Academy, an Oklahoma City charter school, for not following a request from state Superintendent Ryan Walters to have a moment of silence at noon Tuesday in honor of slain activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, the co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, died Sept. 10 after he was shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
Multiple districts and charter schools across the state notified parents and staff Monday that they would not change their routine Tuesday to have an additional organized moment of silence as requested by Walters.
State law already mandates that public schools have a minute of silence each instructional day and several of them acknowledged in their community notifications Monday that students and staff had the option to utilize that statutorily required minute to reflect on Kirk’s life or death if they wanted to.
Representatives from all five Tulsa-area districts said Wednesday afternoon that they were not contacted by OSDE about the matter prior to the announcement. Broken Arrow, Owasso and Tulsa each issued statements.
“Our district has not been contacted by the State Department of Education regarding these alleged reports,” Broken Arrow spokeswoman Tara Thompson said. “Our focus will remain on serving and educating the students of Broken Arrow.”
“OPS has not been contacted by the State Department of Education about any reports filed against the District or District employees,” Owasso Public Schools said in a statement. “We remain fully committed to working together with Owasso families and staff to provide the very best education and support to our students.”
“We are aware of this afternoon’s statement from the State Department of Education,” TPS’ Caroline Crouch said. “While we are working to understand more, Tulsa Public Schools welcomes the input and perspectives of all members of our community. Our focus remains on serving our students and families.”
In an email, Cercy said that the list of districts and charters under investigation was not exhaustive and that OSDE is “actively receiving and reviewing more information.”
When asked to provide the statutory authority for investigating the complaints against those 12 districts, Cercy cited a section of state law that provides the definitions for OSDE, the Oklahoma State Board of Education and state Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Cercy also cited a state statute and a portion of the Oklahoma Administrative Code that deal with the authority of the Oklahoma State Board of Education with respect to teacher certifications, including due process rights for individuals facing potential suspension or revocation of their teaching certificate.
OSDE’s Wednesday announcement also included that based off complaints lodged with its Awareity platform, it has identified 70 teachers from 44 districts across the state for possible disciplinary action due to comments made about Kirk’s death.
Walters has previously threatened to ban from the classroom any teacher who “attempts to glorify” Kirk’s death. However, revoking a teacher’s certificate requires a majority vote by the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
A records request is pending for the Awareity complaints.
lenzy.krehbiel-burton@tulsaworld.com
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Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Tulsa World Reporter
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