OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters says the House Speaker Charles McCall and Representative Mark McBride want to impeach him and he demands the proceedings begin on Monday.
This week State Representative Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston) announced the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency will be investigating spending concerns at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Wallace, who also serves as LOFT chair, says the investigation “isn’t about Superintendent Walters; this is about the transparency of a State Agency and getting answers for our constituents.”
“In my capacity as Chairman, I intend to have LOFT investigate funding disbursement concerns raised by both citizens and legislators in regard to funds earmarked to OSDE for specific purposes. This isn’t about Superintendent Walters; this is about the transparency of a State Agency and getting answers for our constituents. When the Legislature approves funding for a specific purpose, it is incumbent on the agency to which those funds are allocated to spend them properly and in a timely manner. If there are issues with disbursements being made, that information should be communicated to the Legislature well before schools are incumbered. I look forward to using the processes and procedures available within LOFT to address the concerns that have been raised with OSDE funding, and will conduct a thorough, transparent investigation to provide answers to my fellow legislators and the citizens of Oklahoma.”
Representative Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston
Also this week, Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Walters.
According to the lawsuit, Miller, who was hired as the Bixby Superintendent in 2018, asked Walters in July when Oklahoma school districts could expect to see estimates for how much they would receive in Title I funding.
The lawsuit says that prior to Walters taking office, estimates would be sent by the Oklahoma State Department of Education by early May, followed by a more exact allocation notice in July. Bixby Public Schools reportedly has still not been provided allocation figures.
Walters says there is no appropriation of funds and this is a fake narrative.
Walters has also been accused of not complying with Open Records requests.
This is a developing story.
