OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR) – It is a uncommon and excessive measure by the Oklahoma State Division of Schooling to power change within the Western Heights College District.
The State Board of Schooling voted unanimously on Thursday to droop Superintendent Mannix Barnes’ superintendent certification.
“Issues are going to alter at Western Heights,” stated Pleasure Hofmeister, Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Meaning they want a brand new superintendent.”
The elimination of Barnes, one of many highest paid superintendents in Oklahoma, comes after a 90-day probation interval.
The district later sued the Oklahoma State Division of Schooling.
Neither Barnes nor every other district consultant attended Thursday’s state board assembly.
“Why would you not come to a gathering and not less than be current when the destiny of your faculty is actually on the road,” stated Amy Boone.
State board members stated the district enrollment dropped 30 % as lessons remained digital longer than every other. 1 / 4 of the district’s workers left and commencement charges are among the many lowest within the state.
“Perhaps I do not know what it takes to run a faculty, however I do know what a high quality schooling is,” stated Boone.
“It is not simply the group. It is the group, academics, the help workers and the scholars,” stated Brianna Dodd. “All of us have come out to protest in opposition to these individuals.”
State Board members laid out Barnes’ alleged habits patterns. Claims of harassment and retaliation had been made in opposition to Barnes when he was employed with the Oklahoma Division of Labor and Western Heights faculty workers are additionally making these claims.
“They want a brand new superintendent, and now their very own board might want to take motion,” Hofmeister. “If issues don’t flip round, then the State Board will intervene.”
The State Board of Schooling is giving the varsity district till July 12 to wash up its act, or its accreditation can be taken away. Meaning schools might not acknowledge a diploma or faculty credit. State board members counsel the district ought to name a particular board to stabilize the district.
