Episode 11 – 5th Sunday Policy Chat

Follow OklaSaid the #Oklaed Podcast on:

Podcast Hosts and where to find us on Twitter:

Erin Barnes: twitter.com/ebarnes73

Scott Haselwood: twitter.com/teachfromhere

Who hosted the #oklaed chat and where to find them on Twitter:

Hosted by Shawn Hime @shawnhime who is the executive director the OSSBA – The Oklahoma State School Board Association – and they are an advocate for boards of education.

Overview of chat topic

• Topic: Policy – With a focus on teacher shortage, legislation, and school funding.

Questions from the chat:

• 1 – Teacher shortage – Oklahoma continues to face a teacher shortage crisis.  What can we do legislatively and non-legislatively to solve the issue?

#oklaed A1: Determine why oil lobbyists hate education. https://t.co/8d6XAD1Z0W

— John Bennett (@jcbjr) May 1, 2017

A1 I don’t think that there is a simple and easy answer. Will require a large-scale shift in priorities. Funding is a start. #oklaed

— Allen Lehman (@allen_lehman) May 1, 2017

• 2 – How is the teacher shortage crisis impacting your school?

A2 – #OklaEd Teacher-Student Ratio Change pic.twitter.com/tGVMuxJJ8Z

— Shawn Hime (@shawnhime) May 1, 2017

A2) We have fewer offerings for our Ss and crowded classrooms. We lost 20 Ts this year and another 4 for next year. #oklaed

— Jack Reed (@jlreed2011) May 1, 2017

A2) class sizes too large and ts are doing more duties and it makes it more difficult to focus on improving classroom instruction. #oklaed

— Jay Rotert (@MyRotert) May 1, 2017

• 3 – What is the most important #Oklaed non-budget legislation being considered this year?

A3) anything attempting to manage the impact (damage) of the 3rd grade retention legislation.#oklaed https://t.co/dnteTbQxe6

— Dawn Collums (@collums_dawn) May 1, 2017

A3: RSA and A-F are both pretty big for #oklaed. https://t.co/JfIE2gNGLZ

— Tyler Bridges (@bridgestyler) May 1, 2017

• 4 – What legislation currently being considered would be the most detrimental to Oklahoma Schools?

A4) For the Record, I'd like to see the #OKleg put a 2 yr hiatus on #oklaed laws so they can see if their current laws are working

— Dr. Jason James (@James409Jason) May 1, 2017

The version of the budget that doesn't have any additional revenue, thus resulting in another round of major cuts for our schools. #OklaEd https://t.co/d5mCIgH2HZ

— Greg McCortney (@gmccortney) May 1, 2017

• 5 – RSA – How important is it that the legislature pass HB1760/SB84 to make the parent committee permanent and delay including LK students for a year?

A5 – Nothing is more important than Ts and Ps having a voice in the decision of retention. A test doesn't know the child. #oklaed https://t.co/lKDyxVPsK8

— Jeffery Corbett (@JefferyCorbett) May 1, 2017

A5 So #okleg is for parent voice when it comes to vouchers, but not when it comes to 3rd graders? Anyone else see a conflict? #oklaed

— Jason Bengs (@jasonbengs) May 1, 2017

• 6 – Budget – How have budget cuts impacted your school/students?

A6 $86.6Million 2017 #OklaEd Budget Cuts pic.twitter.com/chwMJ4Ko5t

— Shawn Hime (@shawnhime) May 1, 2017

Class sizes are up, class options are down, positions absorbed, science without labs! And it's GOING TO GET WORSE! #oklaed https://t.co/JTYIw0mCyV

— Jennifer Lea (@jennifer_lea_e) May 1, 2017

A6 #oklaed bigger classes, fewer electives, reduced funding for activities, teachers and principals leaving faster than ever https://t.co/KiYe1a4wwC

— Rick Cobb (@grendelrick) May 1, 2017

• 7 – Budget – How would you create a long term funding plan for education and teacher compensation?

A7 #OklaEd Investment Gap – Per Pupil Expenditure pic.twitter.com/1w33L4ZB6Q

— Shawn Hime (@shawnhime) May 1, 2017

A7) Diversify rather than only rely on oil and gas. Tax corps instead of the poor #oklaed

— Jennifer Cruz (@jenncruz3032) May 1, 2017

• 8 – Budget – How do we convey to legislators that #Oklaed funding is not a republican or democrat issue.  It is an Oklahoma Obligation?

.A8: Shouldn't we (all parties) be working toward schools that THRIVE not merely SURVIVE year to year? #rhetorical #leaveyourlegacy #oklaed

— Heather Ballou (@ballouberry) May 1, 2017

A8) we have to stop making it partisan ourselves and build relationships on both sides. #oklaed https://t.co/p261cZ7ovV

— Angela Clark Little (@angmlittle) May 1, 2017

• 9 – Advocacy – How are you sharing your district’s story with your legislators

A9: invite them 2 our school, meet w/them @OAESP1 Principal day @ the Capitol, @mikeasanders follows our school & myself on FB #oklaed https://t.co/YF1T2utq0N

— Kas Nelson (@kasnelson) May 1, 2017

A9) ❤️ #oklaed chats, as a P this forum helps me understand the issues so I can effectively communicate w my Legs!

— Lori Wathen (@Lsooner2) May 1, 2017

Favorite question and why?

Erin: Question 8 – Budget – How do we convey to legislators that #Oklaed funding is not a republican or democrat issue.  It is an Oklahoma Obligation?

Scott: Question 4 – What legislation currently being considered would be the most detrimental to Oklahoma Schools?

Boomsauce tweet(s) of the night:

Funny how legs want Ps to have "choice" w/vouchers but not when it comes to RSA. #oklaed https://t.co/xLMJ6fzwN0

— Kelly Husted (@HustedKelly) May 1, 2017

Next week on the #oklaed chat

@KimberBlodgett – Kim Blodgett – I graduated with a degree in EDU…now what?

@oueducation own @DeanGarn mod 2night! How communities can help keep Ts in #OklaEd @shawnhime and @KimberBlodgett to follow #OklaEd 8PM CST pic.twitter.com/YDsIgelCyv

— Anne Beck, M.Ed (@MrsBeck25) April 23, 2017

Join us at 8 PM CST Sunday for