By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
A list of directives from state school Superintendent Ryan Walters has been released to school districts statewide less than a month away from the first day of fall classes.
As school districts react to developments, Okarche Schools Superintendent Josh Sumrall says it will be discussed at the next school board meeting.
On Wednesday, July 24, Walters released directives to districts. “This memorandum and the included standards must be provided to every teacher as well as providing a physical copy of the Bible, the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Ten Commandments as resources in every classroom in the school district. These documents are mandatory for the holistic education of students in Oklahoma.”
Sumrall said the school board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5 at the high school.
Sumrall said people of the community support the Bible and Christianity, but the district will move forward under guidance of legal counsel.
The school board members are Robert Anderson, president; Jarrod Mueggenborg, vice president; Heather Nance, clerk; Joe Alig, deputy clerk; and John Pinkerton, parliamentarian.
The board meets at Okarche High School, 632 W Oklahoma Ave.
Also, last week, Piedmont School Superintendent Drew Eichelberger reacted to the issues in a letter to the district patrons on Tuesday.
The issue of teaching Bible class in schools was addressed this week in a letter to Piedmont Public School patrons from Superintendent Drew Eichelberger. The letter stated that Piedmont follows the state-approved curriculum that Piedmont Schools adopted adheres to the current Oklahoma State Academic Standards but joined districts including Deer Creek, Yukon and Bixby in declining to adhere to Walters’ directives.
