TULSA, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Department of Education voted unanimously to maintain Tulsa Public Schools' accreditation.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters said Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist "had to go" and called her performance abysmal. He thanked the TPS board for taking this step, which Walters said he required.
"I have been clear that I'm not interested in a 5-year plan or a 10-year plan," Walters said.
He said the district needs to see significant change this year.
"They now have a leader who ran their district into the ground out of the way," he said.
He said if change is not made this year, all options are on the table to fix the district.
"I say this to the local board; do not test me," he said.
When discussing the school's accreditation, the main focus was the alleged embezzlement and poor record keeping. TPS maintains that the embezzlement only involved one person, and the issue has been resolved.
The SBOE's lawyer said the issue goes deeper than just one person and claims the school has not maintained proper internal controls on spending.
Pastor and TPS board member Jennettie Marshall spoke to the board ahead of the vote in support of interim Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson. She said she believes in her and respects her for stepping in at such a difficult time for the district.
Marshall also said Johnson promised to maintain full transparency for the district to the state.
TPS board president Stacey Woolley also spoke before the vote.
She pleaded with the board to call off all of the attacks on the district. She brought up the two bomb threats at Union Public Schools in one week and said it stems from the rhetoric Walters is spreading.
She also asked the board to maintain truth and fact, calling out Walters' claim that 65% of TPS schools are failing.
"That's simply not true," Woolley said.
Walters approved the accreditation with deficiencies with a scathing warning to the TPS board, saying the issues with accountability and failing schools have to be fixed.
"If they don't fix their problems, I will," Walters said.
The board decided to require a monthly update from the district on their progress to meet those goals.
TPS released a statement happy with the decision:
Tulsa Public Schools is grateful for the decision of the State Board of Education. We appreciate the opportunity for members of Tulsa’s Board of Education to engage in meaningful discussion with the State Board of Education for the benefit of our students. We remain dedicated to our mission of providing high-quality education to our students. We will continue to foster an environment of excellence and growth, working hand-in-hand with our educators, staff, families, community, and the State Board of Education.
We understand the urgency to address challenges in our educational outcomes. Today, the State Board of Education committed to working with our locally-elected school board to accelerate progress for students and ensure transparency in district operations. This work is underway in earnest, and we are focused on strengthening our efforts and plans in service of our students' achievement.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the Tulsa community, our families, our students, and our remarkable educators and staff, who contribute tirelessly to our students’ success. Tulsa Public Schools is committed to rising above challenges, collaborating with our partners, and providing the best education for every student we serve.
Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum released this statement about the vote.
"I attended today’s meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education, and am grateful for their accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools for the coming academic year. I was impressed by the dialogue between State and Tulsa school board members, and believe both share the same aspirations for high achievement in Tulsa Public Schools," Bynum said.
"Good will result from today’s meeting for Tulsa students, their families, and our teachers. I want to thank all of the board members involved. The City of Tulsa stands ready to offer any assistance we can in support of this partnership," he said.
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