In July Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters issued a memo, followed by guidelines on how teachers should use the Bible to teach history, literature, music and art in public schools.
The Geary School Board took up the issue Thursday in its regular meeting. Superintendent Sean Buchanan told his board there are obvious legal concerns about Walters’ demands and they ran contrary to federal law.
Buchanan had been in contact with the district’s legal counsel and brought their suggestions to the meeting.
“Board action could protect teachers, the superintendent and principals,” Buchanan said. The legal opinion was that the board vote on the implementation of the directives rather that table the matter, essentially ignoring it in hopes it would go away.
“This is breaking federal law,” said board president Afton James. “And federal law supersedes state law,” added board member Jason Bernhardt. Buchanan pointed out that the directives from the OSDE were not even law, just mandates, and that not only did they appear to be in violation of the federal law.
“Actually it’s a violation of the Oklahoma Constitution, which correlates with federal law,” he said.
The board, while making clear they supported the Bible, also noted that if that text was used in instruction, all other religious texts had to be taught as well in public schools.
“It’s all or none,” said board member Kendra Houston.
When it came to a vote, the members were unanimous in their agreement to not approve implementation of the memorandum and guidelines.
Multiple other school boards across the state taken the same or similar stances on the directives, in essence refusing to implement them in what they believe is a violation of the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions.
A teacher, principal or superintendent that refused to follow the state superintendent’s directives could have faced repercussions, but that office has no bearing on school boards, who are elected in their own counties.
In other business, the board accepted the resignations of Micheal McCullough as band director and Mark Turner who worked in the cafeteria. In their stead, the board agreed to hire M.J. Mateo as the band director, Nicole Upchego as an office administrator and Michael Dangerfield in the cafeteria.