Sexton to talk about schools
Norman School Board Member Linda Sexton will speak 7 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 601 24th Ave. SW, as part of the League of Women Voters of Norman's Know Your Schools talk.
Sexton will address funding, how it affects faculty, support staff and class size, and what the funding cuts to all state agencies for 2009-10 may mean for Norman Public Schools. She also will comment on other public education issues, with time at the end for questions from the audience.
Concern for the quality of education provided for Oklahoma's children has been a major issue of the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma for decades. The state League's current education positions reflect a strong interest for quality education that arose in the 1970s.
Much of what has been accomplished in the field of education in Oklahoma since 1970 has had the active backing of the League, including passage of HB 1017, the Education Reform and Funding Act of 1990. This bill mandated that all schools meet standards equal to or greater than those of the North Central Accrediting Association; it toughened the curriculum, provided better access to counselors, reduced class size and improved funding for public schools by adding sales and income tax hikes to fund mandates of the bill. Largely due to the impact of this bill, common education experienced a 97.8 percent increase in appropriations from 1990 to 1999.
To read more about the state League's positions on Common Education, go to http://www.norman.ok.lwvnet.org and click on In the Public Interest.
The Norman League is offering half-price for new membership through Oct. 31 to any citizen 18 years and over. Memberships can be downloaded from the League's home page.
Labor Day picnic set
Cleveland County Democrats will hold their annual Labor Day picnic 5 to 8 p.m. Monday in the stone shelter in Abe Andrews Park, between Acres and Daws streets on Webster Avenue, north of the Norman Public Library.
Speakers include longtime political writer and publisher Frosty Troy, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields, Sen. Kenneth Corn, Sen. John Sparks and Rep. Wallace Collins.
Mike Black will play '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll with a touch of country during the picnic.
A catered meal will be served.
O'Brian to speak at Cornbread and Beans
Former Norman Public Schools Superintendent Nancy O'Brian will be the featured speaker at Friday's Cornbread and Bean luncheon sponsored by the Cleveland County Democratic Party.
O'Brian will rely on her 40 years in public education to speak to the array of challenges for public education.
The location of the luncheon has changed. It will be at the Olive Garden Restaurant on Interstate 35. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. with the speaker beginning about noon. Guests can order from the Olive Garden lunch menu.
The meeting is open to the public.
O'Brian was the first woman to hold the position of superintendent of Norman Public Schools. She did her practice teaching under the direction of the OU School of Education at Norman High School. She moved with her husband, Tom, to San Antonio, then Kansas City and taught classes in both of those cities' school systems.
She returned to Norman as a classroom teacher and became interested in helping the struggling student population in Norman's Alternative Education Program. She soon was made director of the program. She went on to serve as assistant principal, curriculum director, administrative assistant to the superintendent, assistant to the superintendent, then superintendent. She earned a master's degree in secondary education, Administration Certificate, Superintendent Certificate, and doctor of education administration, all at the University of Oklahoma.
Benge will focus on Speaker's job
Despite speculation that House Speaker Chris Benge may enter the race for state treasurer, Benge said he does not intend to seek any other political office at this time.
"Though I am honored by the encouragement of my family, my friends and many others, I don't plan to be a candidate for state treasurer or any other office in 2010," said Benge, R-Tulsa. "I have plenty to focus on as Speaker of the House, and I look forward to leading the House in my last year as we work to position Oklahoma to prosper in the future."
Benge was elected House Speaker by unanimous consent in 2008.
Separation banquet Sept. 17
The annual meeting of the Oklahoma Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State will be 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Ryan's Buffet, 6500 SW 3rd in Oklahoma City.
Guests who want to eat should arrive by 6 p.m. The first 50 to RSVP for the meeting will eat free. Contact James Nimmo at 843-3651 to reserve a spot.
Mike Fuller, chapter president, said the battle for equal rights for all and true religious freedom is exspecially difficult in Oklahoma. "The anti separation forces and pandering politicians are relentless in their attempts to impose their brand of religion on everyone and destroy what is left of 'Jefferson's Wall,'" Fuller wrote in a letter to supporters and members.
-- Transcript Staff
