Scrutinizing Oklahoma education’s financial conduct
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is currently on the radar of the Oklahoma House and Senate Joint Committees on Appropriations and Budget, owing to alleged misuse of state finances for self-promotion.
Investigations revealed significant evidence against OSDE, suggesting possible improper expenditure on promotional activities that brought into question the department’s fiscal responsibility.
Disagreements with OSDE’s spending became conspicuous when tax-payers’ money, summing up to $22.5k, was used to design promotional videos by Texas-based video production company, Precision Outreach.
The video was part of a critical year-long campaign towards teachers’ unions and garnered a meager 3.8k views on YouTube, leading to public doubt on the necessity of such high-cost campaigns and effectiveness of resource utilization by the OSDE.
Apart from this expenditure, Precision Outreach received a further $50k contract from OSDE to create social media content, boosting concerns among lawmakers regarding the wasteful utilisation of state resources.
An additional $30k was paid to Washington D.C. based PR firm, Vought Strategies, by the OSDE for a range of services including media relationship building resulting in significant coverage for State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
Although these expenditures were legal, they sparked concern among lawmakers, vis-à-vis, Representative Forrest Bennett, who found them to be extravagant.
In response to these concerns, lawmakers are contemplating the introduction of a new clause in SB1122 to prohibit similar spending activities in future, taking effect from July 1, subject to the governor’s approval.
Emphasizing on the derived need for resources to focus on supporting teachers and students, House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee Chair, Mark McBride, condoned self-promotion.
The Senate’s subsequent approval of an OSDE budget over $3.8 billion further highlights a push towards better prioritization in the education sector.
This extensive funding reflects lawmakers’ dedication towards strengthening the backbone of our education system – the teachers and students, and ensuring access to quality education for every child, for a strong societal foundation.
