Supt. Walters upset after lawmakers reject several of OSDE's budget requests

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Superintendent Ryan Walters called the media late Thursday for a Friday morning press conference after lawmakers rejected several of his budget requests.

The agreed-upon budget from lawmakers this week had the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) realize they wouldn't get $3 million for "Bibles in every classroom" and $500,000 for concealed carry training, among other requests.

Walters' media gathering had him calling out the proposed income tax cut, but when asked how he would cut it, he didn't have much of an answer. He also called for cutting property taxes, but when asked how he would cut them, he didn't have a direct answer.

Walters also didn't answer News 4's questions regarding the status of Oklahoma Education rankings compared to the rest of the nation.

Why would people listen to you when, over the years, we've continued to be one of the lowest in the nation when it comes to education? You blame other people, but aren't you to blame?

"So let's take a look at that question, KFOR gets it fundamentally wrong. You are consistent at being wrong. So we are not at the bottom of education. We continue to see dramatic increases in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. I know y'all don't care to report facts," said Supt. Walters.

The latest numbers from the Nation's Report Card, which takes schools' results from around the nation and shows the statistics, show Walters is incorrect. While it isn't an exact metric on how Oklahoma schools are doing, it gives a relative basis to start from for educators.

| READ MORE HERE > Oklahoma ranks near bottom of Nation’s Report Card >

Tulsa World was the first to report the latest state-by-state comparison when it comes to per-pupil spending. Oklahoma was found to be dead last as of their recent data, and that comes as teacher compensation slips.

Supt. Walters, while voicing his concerns regarding lawmakers not coming out with a full state income tax cut, mentioned that he wanted a decrease in funding for education.

"I told the legislature, don't give all the money you gave me last time. And they said we're going to give it to you anyway," said Supt. Walters.

One of the items they agreed to "give" him was $250,000 for school inhalers. You might recall, last year, OSDE was given the money to purchase inhalers for all school districts, and that they were meant to work with the foundation to get them in schools.

Supt. Walters, according to lawmakers, is still sitting on that money, so they agreed to take it out of next year's OSDE appropriations.

"We wanted OSDE to administer them. For whatever reason, it was not accepted, or it wasn't a successful administration of it. So the money is still there. We are taking it from OSDE and putting it in a hospital trust," said Senate Appropriations Chair Chuck Hall (R-Perry) on Thursday.

According to the most recent budget portal numbers, it showed that the money would end up going to the University Hospitals Authority (UHA). Senator Hall said they would know what to do with it.

Why did you sit on $250,000 for school inhalers? The lawmakers are now taking it from you.

"KFOR, KFOR, thank you though," was all Supt. Walters answered.

At several points during Supt. Walters media gathering he boasted about his Teacher Signing Bonus initiative.

Essentially, OSDE offered thousands of dollars to get teachers to work in Oklahoma schools. However, as Oklahoma Watch first reported, OSDE had to claw back $290,000 because OSDE mistakenly sent it out to teachers who weren't meant to receive the money.

Why did it go out to begin with?

"KFOR, take your fake news somewhere else today. Thank you for your time. Any real questions from the media?" is what Supt. Walters said when asked why.

There were several other changes made to OSDE's original ask from lawmakers for next year's budget.

OSDE asked to remove millions from Imagine Math and Imagine Reading, but lawmakers rejected that. He also, according to the budget transparency portal, asked to reduce $750,000 in funding to the OK School Safety Initiative. That was rejected, too.