OSSBA Executive Director Shawn Hime’s statement on Gov. Mary Fallin’s call for a special legislative session: “Oklahoma’s historic teacher shortage is evidence of the state’s failure to properly invest in public education. I’m grateful Gov. Mary Fallin is asking legislators to address this desperate situation and hope they will embrace the opportunity to create a […]
Don Tice, a longtime school board member from Oologah-Talala Public Schools, is the new president of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. He began his one-year term during the association’s annual conference Aug. 26. Tice has served on the Oologah-Talala board since 1994 and on the OSSBA Board of Directors since 2005. “I’m often asked […]
Five Oklahoma school board members have been honored as the Oklahoma State School Boards Association’s 2017 All-State School Board for their outstanding service on their local school boards and to the state. Combined, the winners have served more than five decades on their local school boards. The honorees are: Don Alsup, Choctaw-Nicoma Park; Gerry […]
Ponca City-based Lewis Associates Architects has been honored by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association for its outstanding architectural work at Pioneer Technology Center. “Excellent building design improves the learning experience, and it’s important to recognize that connection,” said Shawn Hime, OSSBA executive director. The company was presented with the annual architectural People’s Choice Award […]
District Leaders Describe Mixed Experiences with Emergency Certified Teachers Oklahoma’s schools are starting another school year with more than 500 teaching vacancies despite record numbers of emergency certified teachers and the elimination of more than 400 teaching positions since last school year, according to a new survey from the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. Nearly […]
Statement on the Oklahoma Supreme Court Decision from Shawn Hime, executive director, Oklahoma State School Boards Association: “I urge Gov. Mary Fallin to quickly call a special session and give legislators the opportunity to create a bipartisan budget that prioritizes Oklahoma’s children and public education. Starting the school year amid budget uncertainty is bad for children […]
Statement on FY18 state budget from Shawn Hime, executive director, Oklahoma State School Boards Association: “This legislative session began with hope and optimism that legislators were committed to delivering on a long-overdue teacher pay raise, structural budget reform that would provide a foundation for a long-term funding solution for public education and constructive education policy […]
Statement from Oklahoma State School Boards Association Executive Director Shawn Hime: “I’ve been optimistic this session that state leaders would live up to their public statements in support of public education and increased teacher pay. That optimism is quickly fading. We need bold leadership now. Legislators and state leaders need to quit having press conferences, […]
Climbing class sizes and shrinking educational opportunities will become more widespread for Oklahoma students next year if state funding for schools continues its unpredictable decline, according to a new survey. The survey from the associations representing school administrators and school board members asked school districts the effect of potential budget cuts for next school year. […]
Statement from Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, regarding the state board of education’s approval of a Norman charter school: “I am extremely disappointed that the state Board of Education blatantly ignored state law and the valid concerns of state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister in approving the LeMonde International Charter […]