Governor Brad Henry vetoed the so-called “School District Empowerment Act” on Friday, May 8. In his signing statement he wrote “Senate Bill 834 would essentially turn back the clock on much of that important progress and weaken landmark reforms by allowing school administrators to create their own rules and ignore more rigorous state standards, including, but not limited to, the smaller class size mandates championed by former Gov. Henry Bellmon and Oklahoma voters in the historic passage of House Bill 1017 in 1990. SB 834 would also endanger such worthy programs as full-day kindergarten and alternative education in addition to making optional such critical personnel as school librarians and counselors.”
You can view the Governor’s statement as well as his press release reporting the veto here. You can send a message to the Governor here.
Read a response from the Oklahoma Education Association here.
Read articles about the veto in the Tulsa World and the Daily Oklahoman.