Month: September 2022

Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules on Mask Mandates

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Breaking! The Oklahoma Supreme Court rules school districts, not the governor or legislature, should decide on mask mandate. They ALSO rule that mask mandates must be an opt-in option and therefore, parents who choose not to mask do not have to opt-out as demonstrated by districts like Oklahoma City Public Schools who made parents opt out if they did not want their child wearing a mask.

The greatest level of parental right is opt-in so this was a win!

Schools still have to meet all criteria set forth in SB 658  and the mask issue must be brought up at each meeting and take parent input.

Again, the only part of the original bill that the Oklahoma Supreme Court removed was that in order for schools to mandate masks the Governor must declare a state of emergency first. In case you missed it, Gov. Kevin Stitt said repeatedly he would not declare another state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic. The court said this meant the law acted as a “state wide prohibition for masks for public schools.”

Read the full ruling here One sided article from The Oklahoman

Now that SB658 has been clarified, Oklahoma schools should obey the entire law. We are still getting reports that schools are telling students, especially 7th graders, that they can’t return to school or play sports without taking another Dtap/Tdap.

SB 658 clearly states that all school MUST provide opt-out information on all vaccine “requirements”.

Action: Parents or their attorney may write a letter to the school district or have them also write a litigation threat letter.

OK Supt of Ed Candidate Jena Nelson: Endorsements and Involvement in DEI / CRT

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The Oklahoma Superintendent of Education race is being reported as a close race.  Republican candidate Ryan Walters has made his priorities known, but what do we know about Democrat candidate Jena Nelson besides her opposition to vouchers?

Neither candidate, if elected, would have the authority to enact or prevent a voucher program.  The legislature has the responsibility for making this decision.  But the person elected would have great influence over curriculum in public schools.
Below is a list of known endorsements for Ms. Nelson. Images for endorsements are attached.

Jena Nelson Involvement with CRT / DEI Policies

 

Per OCPA link below, Jena Nelson was a member of Deer Creek Public Schools Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  On Feb. 12, 2022, Nelson claimed that CRT is not part of Oklahoma schools and dismissed concerns that many CRT concepts are now being relabeled as “social emotional learning” (SEL).

The Deer Creek school district has hired the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice (OCCJ) to provide up to 13 workshops whose objectives include a focus on “diversity, inclusion, implicit bias, and inclusive leadership.”

The OCCJ blog states that several of the organization’s programs “address critical theories by seeking to interrupt the automatic consciousness that determines what is ‘right’ or the ‘truth.’ For example, both young people and adults who partake in OCCJ programs are encouraged to examine their identities, seeking examples of both privilege and lack of privilege.”

EXAMPLES of CRT in Tulsa and Edmond Public Schools are attached.
Full Language in HB1775, which prohibits the teaching of CRT:  HB1775 ENR.PDF (state.ok.us)
A-rated and endorsed Ryan Walters needs our support and vote. Last week, Sooner Poll released that Jena Nelson is currently leading Ryan Walters by five points in a baseline poll. Share this blog post and spread the word that you support Ryan Walters for State Superintendent of Public Education!