Oklahoma Education Board meeting turns contentious

Under Garrett's administration, the board meetings were jovial occasions with award ceremonies for employees, boxed lunches and seldom disagreements. The board never pulled Garrett's hires from the consent agenda for discussion before approving them.

Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, who has served on several education committees since being elected in 2004 said the board in past years has been a “rubber stamp.”

That was not the case Thursday.

Gilpin began questioning Jennifer Carter, Barresi's campaign manager who was recommended for the vacant position of chief of staff.

“I will not support political patronage in this department. ... Here we sit today with you trying to put your political friend in a $96,000-a-year position,” Gilpin said.

He read the job description which required that the chief of staff have a master's degree in education.

Barresi responded that Carter's juris doctorate should suffice.

The board voted unanimously not to hire Carter.

Barresi told the board that for the past two weeks her transition team has been working at the state Education Department but were paid with private funds held by the nonprofit organization Communities Foundation of Oklahoma.

Gilpin moved to have the attorney general investigate that “improper” and “possibly illegal” action.

The board voted unanimously for the investigation, but it may not stand because it wasn't an item on the agenda.

Board member Betsy Mabry supported Barresi's hire of Damon Gardenhire for executive director of communications, but she was the only one.

Gilpin noted that there were already three people in the department serving under that title.

The board also rejected Barresi's hire of Jill Geiger as the new assistant superintendent of finance and in an extremely awkward sharing of the podium, had the current assistant superintendent in the position, Jack Herron, give his qualifications.

“I like Jack,” Gilpin said. “Maybe Ms. Gieger could be an assistant to him.”

The board did approve two of Barresi's hires: Jan Smith as an executive assistant and Jessica Russell as the legislative liaison.

But the tense meeting broke for a recess after Board member Herb Rozell's comment that Russell had better not have her baby in May or else she'd be “worthless” to the board.

Barresi stated after the meeting that her three rejected hires would continue to work in the department using private funds for salaries.