Oklahoma schools superintendent lashes out at board member

Board member Joy Hofmeister asked why a list of questions about the A-F system posed by superintendents in recent weeks hadn't been passed along to board members in a timely fashion.

Barresi said she thought the questions had been emailed to board members and then included in a previous meeting packet.

She said the omission was unintentional.

After the meeting, Barresi approached Hofmeister.

“You can say what you want to about me — not my people,” Barresi said, pointing in Hofmeister's face.

“I didn't say anything,” Hofmeister said.

“Yes, you did, and I don't appreciate it,” Barresi said before going into her office for a closed-door meeting with staff members.

After the meeting, Barresi said Hofmeister's implication that staff members were intentionally keeping information secret was inappropriate. Hofmeister could not immediately be reached for comment.

Gov. Mary Fallin appointed Hofmeister to the state Board of Education in January. Hofmeister is a former public schoolteacher who operates a math and reading program for children in south Tulsa.