Oklahoma House backs school changes

A measure billed by supporters as giving school districts more control — but that has teachers wary it might cost them their rights — won House approval Wednesday on a mostly party-line vote.

Senate Bill 834 would let school districts choose which state mandates to implement, if any. Supporters of the GOP-backed bill said in a nearly two-hour debate that the measure would give school districts more flexibility.

Democrats argued the bill could bring mismanagement and would deteriorate teachers’ rights to negotiate with districts and appeal terminations to district court.

SB 834 passed 60-39. Rep. Ryan McMullen of Burns Flat was the only Democrat to vote for it, and Rep. Lisa Billy of Lindsay was the only Republican to vote against it.

The bill, approved earlier in the Senate, heads back to the Senate.

The bill has gone through several changes since originally filed, but the measure basically states that school administrators and teachers know what is best for their students, said Rep. Tad Jones, House author.

Many standards are kept in the bill, including the minimum salary schedule; participation in the teacher retirement system; use of the state health insurance plan; background checks; teacher evaluations; teacher certifications; payroll deductions; administrator certification and school board training; and graduation requirements.

Mandates that school districts would be allowed to ignore include class size limits, alternative education options, hiring of guidance counselors and public input on changes to school board policies.