GOOD FOR OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS. RYAN WALTERS SAYS HOUSE BILL. 4156 IS NEEDED TO PROTECT STUDENTS SINCE PEOPLE WHO HAD A CHANCE TO TALK AT TODAY’S MEETING SAY THAT’S BLATANTLY WRONG. AND I’M VERY PROUD THAT OUR STATE HAS FOUGHT BACK ON THAT. THIS WEEK, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCED THEY’RE SUING OKLAHOMA OVER A NEW IMMIGRATION BILL THAT BILL ALLOWS LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO REMOVE UNDER DOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM OKLAHOMA, A TASK THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE HANDS OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS. THURSDAY, STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS SAID HE AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL FIGHT BACK ALONGSIDE THE STATE. WE HAVE SEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE IN FENTANYL IN OUR STATE. WE HAVE SEEN A DRASTIC POURING OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, ONE PUBLIC COMMENTER ARGUED. THIS BILL WON’T DECREASE FENTANYL IN SCHOOLS. THE DATA JUST DON’T SUPPORT THIS THING ABOUT NONCITIZENS TRAFFICKING FENTANYL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TAXPAYERS AND THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY, HERE IN OUR STATE ARE PROTECTED IN OUR SCHOOLS. RESOURCES ARE GOING TO THEM, AND WE’RE NOT ALLOWING FENTANYL TO POUR INTO SPITE. WHAT JOE BIDEN’S AGENDA MAY BE. TODAY’S MEETING WAS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHERS IN THE WALTERS ERA OF STATE EDUCATION. EVEN IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT CALLED, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE BOARDROOM DOOR TO WIN A RANDOM DRAWING FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING. FIRST, I FEEL LIKE I’VE WON THE LOTTERY AND WALTERS PUSHED BACK ON THIS, CITING PROBLEMS WITH PREVIOUS MEETINGS. BUT WE DON’T WANT TO ALLOW OUR BOARD MEETINGS TO BE HIJACKED BY A BUNCH OF OUT OF STATE ACTIVISTS. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT’S THAT’S THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALWAYS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE BEING VERY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ALSO SUSPENDED TEACHER CERTIFICATES
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Controversial immigration bill takes center stage during Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters says he and the Oklahoma State Department of Education will fight back alongside the state.
Oklahoma State Board of Education meetings are never short on heated topics, with immigration taking center stage for part of Thursday's meeting.State Superintendent Ryan Walters said the immigration bill that's now headed for the courts, House Bill 4156, would help Oklahoma schools and is needed to protect students. But some commentors who got a chance to talk said that's blatantly wrong."I'm very proud that our state has fought back on that," Walters said.Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against Oklahoma over the new immigration bill that would allow state and local officers to remove undocumented immigrants from Oklahoma, a task that has been done by federal officials. Walters said on Thursday that he and the Oklahoma State Department of Education will fight back alongside the state."We have seen a drastic rise in fentanyl in our state," Walters said. "We have seen a drastic pouring of illegal immigrants into our schools and to our communities."A public commentor argued the bill won't decrease fentanyl in schools, saying, "Data just doesn't support this thing about non-citizens trafficking fentanyl." "We want to make sure taxpayers and the citizens of our country in our state are protected in our schools. Resources are going to them, and we're not allowing fentanyl to pour in despite what Joe Biden's agenda may be," Walters said.Thursday's meeting was different than any others in the Walters Era of state education. Members of the public had to win a random drawing for a chance to speak."There are lots of kids that came to speak to the board. None of them were pulled for the lottery. For a board that claims to be there for kids, the lottery system hurts them," a public commentor named Preston said.Walters pushed back, citing problems during previous meetings."We don't want to allow our board meetings to be hijacked by a bunch of out-of-state activists," Walters said. "That's the reason for the change there, and we will always try to make sure we're accessible to the public."The board also suspended teaching certificates for nine people.Top Headlines TIMELINE: Oklahoma may see severe storms Thursday with big hail, tornado threat More than 380 Oklahoma County residents on daily eviction court docket OHP: Ponca City man killed after truck leaves road, strikes tree Strong winds topple stage at a campaign rally in northern Mexico, killing at least 9 people Some attending Oklahoma BOE meeting upset by change to public comment rules
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma State Board of Education meetings are never short on heated topics, with immigration taking center stage for part of Thursday's meeting.
Immigration law experts praise DOJ for filing lawsuit against Oklahoma
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State Superintendent Ryan Walters said the immigration bill that's now headed for the courts, House Bill 4156, would help Oklahoma schools and is needed to protect students. But some commentors who got a chance to talk said that's blatantly wrong.
"I'm very proud that our state has fought back on that," Walters said.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against Oklahoma over the new immigration bill that would allow state and local officers to remove undocumented immigrants from Oklahoma, a task that has been done by federal officials. Walters said on Thursday that he and the Oklahoma State Department of Education will fight back alongside the state.
"We have seen a drastic rise in fentanyl in our state," Walters said. "We have seen a drastic pouring of illegal immigrants into our schools and to our communities."
A public commentor argued the bill won't decrease fentanyl in schools, saying, "Data just doesn't support this thing about non-citizens trafficking fentanyl."
"We want to make sure taxpayers and the citizens of our country in our state are protected in our schools. Resources are going to them, and we're not allowing fentanyl to pour in despite what Joe Biden's agenda may be," Walters said.
DOJ files lawsuit against Oklahoma, challenging controversial immigration law
Thursday's meeting was different than any others in the Walters Era of state education. Members of the public had to win a random drawing for a chance to speak.
"There are lots of kids that came to speak to the board. None of them were pulled for the lottery. For a board that claims to be there for kids, the lottery system hurts them," a public commentor named Preston said.
Walters pushed back, citing problems during previous meetings.
"We don't want to allow our board meetings to be hijacked by a bunch of out-of-state activists," Walters said. "That's the reason for the change there, and we will always try to make sure we're accessible to the public."
The board also suspended teaching certificates for nine people.
Top Headlines
- TIMELINE: Oklahoma may see severe storms Thursday with big hail, tornado threat
- More than 380 Oklahoma County residents on daily eviction court docket
- OHP: Ponca City man killed after truck leaves road, strikes tree
- Strong winds topple stage at a campaign rally in northern Mexico, killing at least 9 people
- Some attending Oklahoma BOE meeting upset by change to public comment rules
