By Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY — Measures to dramatically change the selection of Oklahoma’s state superintendent and top school board have advanced past the state House.
House Joint Resolution 1055, which passed 63-33, would call a vote of the people to amend the state Constitution to make the superintendent an appointed, rather than elected, position. Legislative leaders said they support having the governor choose a state superintendent, but they, in turn, want the power to appoint members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
House Bill 3327, approved in a 75-16 vote, would expand the state Board of Education to nine members, including four gubernatorial appointees, two appointees from the House speaker and two appointed by the Senate president pro tem. The state superintendent would continue as the board chair.
Currently, the governor appoints all members of the seven-seat board except for the elected superintendent, who leads the board and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Former state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ resignation in September put Gov. Kevin Stitt in the uncommon position of appointing a replacement to that office, as well. Stitt, whose relationship soured with Walters and his superintendent predecessor, called for the position to become permanently appointed.
HJR 1055 would have the state Board of Education receive applications, interview candidates and give a list of three to five options to the governor to choose an appointee.
The state Senate would have to confirm whomever the governor appoints as superintendent. The Oklahoma Legislature would be able to set qualifications for the role. The officeholder still would be term-limited at eight years, despite no longer being elected.
Removing the appointed superintendent would take a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate or an order of the governor and a two-thirds vote of one legislative chamber. State law currently requires impeachment proceedings to do so.
The constitutional amendment would take effect Nov. 1, 2034, if Oklahoma voters approve it.
House lawmakers voted late Wednesday night to advance both measures to the state Senate.
HJR 1055, if approved in the Senate, would return to the House because of a legislative procedure known as striking title, which is used when lawmakers haven’t decided a bill’s final language.
Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, who wrote both measures, said the constitutional amendment is “a work in progress.”
Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, questioned whether the changes would give the governor unintended extra influence in state government.
Certain boards, like the State Board of Equalization and the Commissioners of the Land Office, have both the governor and the state superintendent as officeholders. Fugate asked whether the governor would effectively control two votes on those boards when voting alongside his or her superintendent appointee.
The Legislature having a greater role in the state Board of Education, who would create the shortlist of superintendent candidates, would hopefully balance that out, Osburn said.
The governor, though, also would have the most influence on the makeup of the state Board of Education by choosing nearly half of its members, should HB 3327 pass.
Osburn said he is open to the possibility of the state Board of Education seats being regionally elected. Doing that, though, “adds a lot of elections” at a time when lawmakers are trying to reduce elected positions, he said.
