OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, has scheduled an interim study to discuss the potential benefits of moving the state to permanent Standard Time. He said his aim is to raise awareness among legislators about the history of Standard Time versus Daylight Saving Time. IS23-062 is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, in Room 450 at the State Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City. "There's been great confusion in the past about whether or not Oklahoma can lock the clock and move to either Daylight Saving Time permanently or Standard Time," West said. "There are strong beliefs on each side of this issue. My hope is to discuss Oklahoma's options under federal regulations and to determine the pros and cons of any move so we can decide if future legislation would be needed or successful." Study presenters include: Jay Pea, president and founder of Save Standard Time, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, donor-funded, volunteer-supported effort to preserve and extend the observation of longitudinally correct Standard Time. Jeffery Gentry, PhD, a professor of communication at Eastern New Mexico University, where he conducts research in political communication and the rhetoric of science. Robert Scott, a native Oklahoman and an aerospace engineer who holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Karin Johnson, a professor of neurology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate and medical director of the Baystate Health Regional Sleep Program. She is vice-president of Save Standard Time and creator and host of its educational video series, "The Science of Clock Change."
A bipartisan interim study to examine the value of A-F report cards when rating the quality of public schools across the state has been scheduled for Monday, October 2. The meeting is a joint study by Reps. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, John Waldron, D-Tulsa, and Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, and will overview the A-F report card program. Presenters will discuss how absenteeism affects the schools' grades, the pros and cons of the bell curve system, the current systems used for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) compliance and school evaluation, and explore alternatives to existing methodologies. "I believe the A-F report card is a useful tool that gives a good overall picture of what's going on in our schools and the great job our educators are doing," said Johns, a former middle school principal. "One area of particular concern is the bell curve system we currently have in place, which severely limits schools' ability to improve their grade score even if they show vast improvement. I hope this study provides valuable information that we can use to begin considering what system best serves students, parents and teachers." Speakers include Michael Tamborski, Program Manager over Data Quality and Research in the State Dept. of Education Office of Accountability, who will provide an overview of the A-F report cards; Dr. Jeanene Barnett, Education Policy and Research Analyst, Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA), who will detail what other states have done as alternatives to the A-F report card system; and Sandra Valentine, formerly with APlus, who will explain the A-F report card scoring process. “The study seeks to update and improve our system of school assessment by looking at alternative models that can add value to our understanding of school performance, and point the way to improving student learning,” said Waldron, a former public school teacher. Also speaking to the committee will be Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller, Stillwater Public Schools Superintendent Uwe Gordon, and Stillwater Public Schools Board Member Marshall Baker. The study, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Monday, October 2 at 1 p.m. in Room 206 at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The meeting will be held before the House Common Education Committee and will be live-streamed at www.okhouse.gov .
Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, today release a statement following the shooting at the Oklahoma State Fair and advocating to allow Oklahomans to protect themselves by open carry. "The tragic shooting this past weekend at the Oklahoma State Fair underscored the need for law-abiding citizens to be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights at the State Fair. The whole incident illustrates that, under the liberal gun control mindset, lawless criminals will continue to carry weapons and prove a threat while law-abiding Americans are prohibited from utilizing their God-given right to protect themselves and their families. Two bills, House Bill 1021 and Senate Bill 920, were filed this past session that would have recognized Second Amendment rights at the State Fair. In a public place where lawless thugs can be a threat, trustworthy Oklahomans should have the right to be armed if they so choose. The 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen U.S. Supreme Court Ruling held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home."