Special TPS Board Meeting – Two Weak Decisions

By Susan Phillips, Education Editor

The results of the special TPS board meeting of November 14, 2023, were underwhelming. First, the Board decided to put off determining the process for searching for a new TPS Superintendent until sometime before January 31, 2024.

Second, the board only produced a resolution signifying confidence in and support of Interim School Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson rather than offering her contract beyond the current school year.

In contrast the agenda and accompanying rumors for the special meeting held great promise. The seven-member board was planning to establish a search process for a new superintendent. One Board Member, Dr. Jerry Griffin, was lobbying the Board to offer a contract to Interim Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson fearing that she would be “snatched up” by another school district before the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Dr. Jerry Griffin boycotted the executive session during which the remainder of the board discussed Interim Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson’s employment. He chose instead to remain in the public room which resulted in an unplanned interview with News Channel 8’s Burt Mummolo, who regularly attends the board meetings.

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Will the next mayor force lockdowns?

By David Arnett

Analysis: Lockdown advocates now say they were wrong, But not Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.

The Epoch Times reported Monday, Nov. 27 on several experts admitting they were wrong for supporting COVID lockdowns. Unfortunately, that doesn’t include officials in Oklahoma like Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum. As this editor wrote in September, we are still waiting for Mayor Bynum to correct his mistake. Dear mainstream media, in now proven fact, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was right, Tulsa Mayor Bynum was wrong.

Today the question is still on the table: When will the City of Tulsa make right with small businesses, churches and citizens harmed by the unscientific and, now proven unjustified lockdown during the COVID Panic?

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Sara E. Hill: Cherokee Embarrassment

By David Arnett

Editorial Analysis: President Joe Biden’s nominee for the vacant federal judgeship in the Northern District of Oklahoma endorsed by OK Senators James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin has managed to humiliate Oklahoma supporters, the Cherokee tribe, and her profession during her testimony to Congress.

As she was interviewed by Sen. John Kennedy, (R-La.) during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, Sara E. Hill appeared ignorant of basic legal and Constitutional terms.

According to FoxNews.com, When Kennedy asked Hill the difference between a “stay” order and an “injunction” order — two orders frequently issued by federal courts — Hill stumbled through her answers.

“A stay order would prohibit, um, sorry. An injunction would restrain the parties from taking action. A stay order … I’m not sure I can, actually can, can give you that,” she said.

An injunction is an order from the court that prohibits a party in a case from performing or ordering a specified act as the case continues, either temporarily or permanently, sometimes referred to as a temporary restraining order.

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Oklahoma Teams Place 3rd & 4th in the National Homeschool Football Championship

Staff Report

This past week the top homeschool football teams from across the country descended on Florida to compete to take home the trophy.  Hosted by the National Homeschool Football Association (NHFA), qualifying teams from Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri made their way out to Panama City Beach to compete for the win.  

Tulsa NOAH Jaguars line up against the Oklahoma City Patriots
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Positive Changes at TPS Board Meeting

By Susan Phillips, Education Reporter

Editor’s Note: This group of stories on public education in Tulsa feature curated material from CityNewsTulsa.com and City Sentinel Tulsa, the conservative print publication of the city.

Analysis: In this meeting, Interim Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson assumed her new role. She got off to a great start. I observed seven positive changes at the Tulsa Public School Board meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023. 

The first change appeared on the consent agenda. Perusing the online agenda before the meeting I discovered a link to the full encumbrance report and read a clear explanation of “encumbrances”. I clicked on it and to my surprise and delight, up popped the encumbrance report. Someone made a decision FOR transparency, good choice!

Later, during a staff report given by Chief Financial and Operations Officer Robles, the public learned that he will be adding information to the encumbrance report. A huge win better governance and further transparency with clarity.

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