OKLAHOMA CITY — A repeated lack of communication from state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ administration caused delays in distributing school funds and frustration from districts, a legislative investigation found.
The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency investigated a variety of lawmakers’ worries over the Oklahoma State Department of Education, all relating to schools receiving funds and information in a timely manner. LOFT staff presented their findings to House lawmakers on Tuesday at the state Capitol.
Walters called the hearing “absolutely a waste of the people of Oklahoma’s time.” He called the LOFT investigation a “scheme” by House Speaker Charles McCall and Rep. Mark McBride to damage him politically.
After lawmakers raised multiple concerns over the Education Department properly distributing funds to schools, McBride, R-Moore, wrote a letter in August asking for an investigation into whether Walters had committed impeachable offenses. More than two dozen House Republicans signed the letter.
McCall, R-Atoka, shot down any chances of an impeachment hearing, but he permitted House budget leader Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, to initiate the LOFT investigation. LOFT makes budget recommendations to the Legislature and examines the state’s use of taxpayer funds.
McBride said he doesn’t think the issues raised in the LOFT report would justify impeachment. He said the hearing was still a valuable “educational moment” for Walters’ administration about the need to communicate.
“Any time the boss calls you into his office and wants to talk about how funds are being spent, that’s not a waste of time,” McBride said.
Wallace similarly disagreed with Walters’ comments.
“I know a comment was made that (it was) a waste of time here today,” Wallace said at the end of the hearing. “I do think good information came out of the presentation today. I think the public is more informed, better educated. I always like to be educated myself. Transparency’s always good.”
LOFT found the Education Department experienced legitimate challenges with opaque legislation and an unfunded mandate while implementing new programs, which brought about delays in distributing money for school pay raises, teacher maternity leave, asthma inhalers, and school resource officers.
Had the Education Department better communicated internally and with the Legislature, it could have shortened some of those delays and allayed concerns from lawmakers and districts, LOFT investigators said.
The Education Department too readily dismissed districts’ complaints that the agency hadn’t shared projections for their yearly federal funding, the LOFT report states. District leaders said the delay inhibited their budgeting.
The agency’s previous administration gave early notice in May of each year for annual federal allocations, but Walters’ staff “was unaware” this took place, LOFT reported. The Education Department has experienced significant staff turnover since Walters took office, succeeding former Superintendent Joy Hofmeister.
“The agency was overconfident that these communications never occurred, and consequently they dismissed legitimate complaints from districts,” the report states.
When the superintendent of Bixby Public Schools complained of the delay, Walters called him a “liar,” a “clown” and a “true embarrassment.” The superintendent, Rob Miller, filed a defamation lawsuit against Walters over the comments.
The Education Department implemented acceptable extra layers of review over how districts plan to spend federal funds, LOFT staff found. The added rounds of review almost doubled the length of time before districts could receive their federal allocations.
The agency never told districts the process would be slower, so school leaders were “understandably surprised” when they had to wait twice as long to access their federal funds last year, the report states.
It took the agency an average of 70 days to approve districts’ federal funding plans when in previous years it averaged no more than 29 days, LOFT reported.
District superintendents complained of poor communication from the Education Department and a frustratingly slow approval time. The agency’s spokesperson, Dan Isett, at the time called the criticism a “pathetic attempt” to shame Walters and his administration.
Walters on Tuesday disputed allegations that his administration failed to communicate. He said his agency sends out information to schools regularly but he “cannot make them open their emails.”
LOFT suggested the Legislature require the Education Department to submit an implementation plan for new programs within 90 days of the program’s starting date. Lawmakers could take steps to be more clear when creating new funding mandates, the report states.
Improving internal communications within the Education Department would help weather staff turnover and ensure schools receive accurate guidance, LOFT advised. LOFT urged the agency to resume sharing preliminary federal allocation numbers so districts can know whether to expect an increase or decrease.
When asked whether he saw any areas where his administration could improve, Walters said his staff is reviewing LOFT’s recommendations but called the hearing a “political stunt.”
“We will continue to hold school districts accountable for how they are spending our taxpayer dollars,” Walters told news reporters afterward. “I will not back down in doing what the voters of Oklahoma elected me to do. That is standing up for taxpayers, parents, the students of Oklahoma, and I won’t apologize for it.”
House Democrats on the LOFT committee criticized Walters for refusing to accept accountability for the issues raised in the report.
“If there is an inability for (the Education Department) to acknowledge they can do better, that is a serious issue,” said Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa.
The House speaker, who didn’t attend the LOFT meeting, said he hopes all involved parties will accept the report and use the recommendations “as a way to strengthen the lines of communication moving forward.”
“The people of Oklahoma deserve a state Department of Education and Legislature that can work together to tackle tough issues,” McCall said in a statement afterward. “It is my hope that the LOFT process has laid the foundation for cooperation both now and in the future.”