Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is facing questioning from the State Board of Education over a series of contentious educational initiatives, including a plan for mandated free school lunches statewide and a partnership with an out-of-state online school under investigation for performance issues, according to reports from local news agencies.
At a recent Board meeting, Walters, whose lunch plan is at odds with the Board's financial estimations, claimed that it would cost around $40 million to cover free lunches, however, board member Chris VanDenhende argued, "If you do the math, that’s a hundred and eighty-one million dollars that would be required to fund free lunches," News 9 reported; despite tensions, Walters insists the funds exist in school's carryover budgets, to which board member Ryan Deatherage has demanded, "Where is the documentation – where can I point people to see these dollars that you’re talking about that are carryover dollars?"
Further complicating matters, Walters is championing a partnership with American Virtual Academy, a private online school based in Arizona with a history of underperformance, prompting skepticism from the board members; during the monthly meeting, as The Oklahoman reports, Walters praised the collaboration as means to "promoting patriotism and American values," but he has not been able to allay fears regarding the school's track record.
Walters' push for the American Virtual Academy admittedly ties into a broader ideological battle, asserting in a statement that "Left-wing indoctrination in schools poses a serious threat to our students, and all parents deserve more options for their kids," as reported by KFOR, however Walters' claims that the external entity is eligible for Oklahoma's Private School Tax Credit despite not having applied through the proper state channels has further inflamed the board's concerns prompting board member Michael Tinney to ask, "But isn’t that only for schools that are in Oklahoma?" Walters' response was vague, and a Secretary of State’s office inquiry found the school lacked an Oklahoma address, contrary to the Superintendent's claims.
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