Choking back tears, Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director Howard Hendrick told the Human Services Commission today (Tuesday) that he will be ending his 13-year career at the helm of the agency next month.  Hendrick says with the lawsuit in federal court now about to be settled, he felt this was the perfect time to [...]Read More>>

DHS Director Howard Hendrick announced during today’s Human Services Commission meeting that he will retire at the end of February after 13-years as the head of the agency. Hendrick told the commissioners that if he doesn’t stop now, he never will.  When he started to choke back his tears, someone in the audience shouted “We [...]Read More>>

House Speaker Kris Steele created the first ever House Ethics Committee last November, but it will be awhile before it starts its first investigation.  ”This will be a lengthy, laborious process,” Chairman Gary Banz (R-Midwest City) told his fellow members. “We’re not under a time limit. There is no rush.”  The committee held its second [...]Read More>>

State Senator Gary Stanislawski (R-Tulsa) said Thursday that issuing bonds to pay for a $271-million backlog in endowed chairs at state colleges and universities doesn’t seem prudent (see full video below).  Stanislawski made the comments Thursday following a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education hearing that included a presentation by the Regents for Higher Education. Regents [...]Read More>>

Some newspapers around the state have taken the data from Oklahoma Watchdog’s Superintendent Salary Report and localized it, even getting input from some of the school boards that determine how much their superintendent makes.  Click on the links to read the stories: Enid News & Eagle Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise Muskogee Phoenix KRMG Radio in Tulsa also [...]Read More>>

Below are edited notes taken during the meeting of the House Ethics Committee on January 18, 2012. It is not a complete transcript of everything said at the meeting.  To help follow along, here are links to documents discussed during the meeting: Draft House Code of Conduct Draft House Ethics Committee Rules House Rules passed [...]Read More>>

Below are edited notes taken during the meeting of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education on Thursday, January 12, 2012.  They are not a transcript of everything that was said.  Those making presentations are in bold. Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson:  organized mission around three goals: increase access and improve quality of public [...]Read More>>

Below are edited notes taken during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education meeting held Wednesday, January 11, 2012.  It is not a verbatim transcript of everything that was said.  The meeting is a pre-session performance review and budget hearing.  Those making presentations are in bold type. State Superintendent Janet Barresi: budget reflects a desire to [...]Read More>>

Over the past few weeks, Oklahoma Watchdog has published a couple stories dealing with the salaries of school superintendents.  The Superintendent Salary Report included compensation figures covering the last four years and was then compared to the schools on the Needs Improvement List and then the enrollment data. Last week, I was interviewed as part [...]Read More>>

Below are edited notes taken during the first ever meeting of the House Ethics Committee on Monday, December 5, 2011.  It is not a complete transcript of everything that was said.  Some documents were also provided to the members and the press. I’ve uploaded some of them and provided links at the bottom of the [...]Read More>>