OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Virtual School Board approved a new taxpayer-funded virtual religious school in a 3-2 vote.
The almost three-hour-long meeting included open comments, application amendments by the Director of Catholic Education, Laura Schular, and advice from the board's legal counsel.
Previously, the board delayed a vote over issues with the proposal.
This vote allows taxpayer funds to be allocated to the proposed St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School.
In response to the vote, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said:
The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers. It’s extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the State to potential legal action that could be costly.
Governor Stitt applauded Monday's vote:
I applaud the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board’s courage to approve the authorization for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. This is a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state, and I am encouraged by these efforts to give parents more options when it comes to their child’s education.
Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice. Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination.
Comments were mixed during the meeting. During open comments, one person said, "Publicly funded religious education forces taxpayers to pay for religious instructions that may not align with their own beliefs."
Other citizens showed support for the charter saying, "I want to address the current U.S. Supreme Court and your Constitutional Duty, and that is not to deny public funds to a religious charter school simply because it's religious."
During the meeting, OSVCSB Chair Dr. Robert Franklin originally asked new member Brian Bobek to abstain from the vote. Bobek joined the board three days ago. Some speakers expressed concern about his role in this vote. Bobek was later the deciding vote which approved the charter application.
Nellie Tayloe Sanders, Brian Bobek, and Dr. Scott Strawn voted yes, while Dr. Robert Franklin and William Pearson voted no.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools wrote in a statement:
Today, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved an application for the nation’s first religious charter school. This decision runs afoul of state law and the U.S. Constitution. All charter schools are public schools, and as such must be non-sectarian. Charter schools were conceived as, and have always been, innovative public schools that provide an alternative for families who want a public school option other than the one dictated by their ZIP code.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s application to open St. Isidore, a Catholic virtual school, will undoubtedly be met with legal challenges because charter schools are defined as public, non-sectarian schools. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is trying to make charter schools into something they are not. We stand ready to support charter school advocates on the ground in Oklahoma as they fight to preserve the public nature of these unique schools and protect the religious and civil rights of the students and teachers who choose them.
Public schools cannot teach religion, require attendance at religious services, or condition enrollment or hiring based on religious beliefs. While a sectarian organization may be permitted to operate a charter school, that school must remain a nonsectarian, open enrollment non-discriminatory public school.
Watch the more than four-hour long Oklahoma State Virtual Charter School Board meeting here.
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