Transparency has been an issue at the Oklahoma State Department of Education since Superintendent Ryan Walters took the helm. More recently, the lack of unfulfilled open records has gotten the attention of Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
Questions over lack of transparency led to a legislative subpoena in December of 2023.
“We have seen time and time again that Superintendent Walters uses taxpayer dollars to promote and elevate his status and his posturing on the national level,” said Representative Mickey Dollens in 2023.
2 News had already been hearing of travel and spending concerns from parents at board meetings prior to the subpoena.
Here is an example of the difficulty of even a minute request:
In July of 2023, 2 News Anchor Erin Christy emailed Senior Policy Advisor Matt Langston for a schedule of August speaking engagements in order to stay on top of any pending travel.
The request was denied, forcing a more formal, Open Records Request. In the ORR, the request expanded to August and September, asking for any scheduled press or non-press events, town halls or conferences, in- or out-of-state.