Lee Baxter: After Janet Barresi: Why It Matters What We Do

After Janet Barresi:  Why it Matters what we do 

by Lee Baxter

This election resembles a race to see who can put BIG distance between themselves and Janet Barresi. I understand that urge.  The crushing repudiation of Barresi by her own party suggested that scorched earth tactics are best left to Army units in combat.  I called for her resignation. I am a Republican.

Oklahomans deserve respect. Collaboration and negotiation are defining features of a democracy, and they are necessary to pursue reform.  Barresi’s “my way or the highway” strategy undermined a solid reform agenda. Her defeat was about her style and her lack of respect; not an indication that voters reject reform .Oklahomans want better. We want great, well paid teachers; schools as good as the ones across town, and kids who can read. When youngsters graduate, we want them to succeed. That’s education reform we are pursuing, and Oklahomans agree.

Surely we can elect someone who pursues reform while working to build trust and cooperation among our parents, teachers, legislators, administrators and the state board. Joy Hofmeister, a lifelong educator, who has shown time and again her skills at building consensus, is that person.

Her opponent is John Cox. His agenda seems one that preserves a failing status quo, is opposed to change, and sensible reform.  If Cox is elected, expect four more years of delays to improved education for Oklahoma children.

So what reforms are Hofmeister more equipped to deliver ?

She prioritizes more pay for teachers. To help, we must reduce overhead created by too many superintendents and staffs. Cox has been a textbook case.  School districts with hundreds of teachers should pay their superintendents handsomely.  But as the superintendent of a tiny, K-8 school district with 265 students and a dozen teachers, Cox’s $142,000 per year salary is absurd.  While Mr. Cox makes almost as much money as the governor of the state, his teachers are paid nearly $3,000 BELOW the average salary for Oklahoma teachers.  That imbalance is wrong. Mr Cox just talks the talk. He is promising teacher’s immediate salary increases and he cannot deliver.

Mrs. Hofmeister has been engaged in statewide education these last four years, Mr. Cox has not. On the State Board, it was Joy who recognized early that Barresi was leading the department astray. Joy voted no, and it was she who resigned from the Board to protest the stridency of Barresi.

Cox has never expressed interest, attended a Board meeting, made public comment or offered views on policy. Very shallow experience. He is unqualified to manage the large department; has no experience working with the executive branch, or the State Board. Cox’s antagonistic relationship with conservative lawmakers is disturbing. If elected, given his aggressive liberal rhetoric, it is unlikely he sees any success at the Capitol.

We will have a Superintendent who is NOT Janet Barresi. A fresh start to pursue reform and improvement? Or a delay in making the changes we need to support our children? One thing I know. Joy Hofmeister will again do the right thing.