— Editor’s note: One in a series of election stories.



Two candidates competing for the Democratic nomination in the House District 14 race touted public education as an important governmental function. They split, however, about how to strengthen the state’s educational system.

Oklahoma’s public schools have come under attack by the Republican-controlled Legislature, which has slashed education funding the past three years.

Figures provided by the Oklahoma Policy Institute show funding through the state aid formula has been reduced by $222 million, and enrollment has grown by 22,000 students.

Jerry Rains, a local rancher and former business owner, cited statistics showing public education in Oklahoma “has historically ranked near the bottom in funding.” But he said not all the changes needed to improve educational quality “are financial.”

Bobby Jefferson, a longtime coach for the Muskogee High School’s wrestling program, said recent cuts in education funding must be restored. Jefferson said of the $218 million cut this year from the state budget, $167.4 million, or 52 percent, came from reductions in education spending.

“You can’t question the cost of education and at the same time be willing to pay $35,000 a year to incarcerate a young adult,” Jefferson said. “Research indicates education, or the lack thereof, correlates directly to criminal behavior.”

Jefferson said Gov. Mary Fallin’s plan to cut personal income tax rates while protecting public education is “impossible.” Citing Oklahoma’s poor educational rankings, Jefferson criticized the Legislature for cutting funds to the state’s successful programs like early childhood development.

“We must hold education harmless and build the rest of the budget around this most important line item,” Jefferson said. “How can school districts, educators and students be accountable for something that does not merit funding?”

Rains said, if elected, he would look at areas where savings might be made in order to make more efficient use of the funds available for public education. Rains said he would eliminate unfunded mandates and unnecessary testing.

“This is an expensive practice and not very productive,” Rains said about mandatory testing. “All students who complete the senior year with passing marks and required credits should graduate.”

Rains also said he would restructure textbook purchasing procedures, “cut the fat and put more teachers in the classroom.”

In addition to funding education, both candidates offered suggestions they believe would improve the state’s public schools system. The candidates approached the topic from different angles.

Rains said the state should “implement a no-frills curriculum” and emphasize, reading, math, science, technology and classroom discipline. Rains also said “competent educators, not politicians,” should be making the “critical decisions about what is required in the classroom and how it is taught.”

“There is no perfect solution to this long-standing problem, but to do nothing is just not acceptable,” Rains said. “The longest journey begins with small steps.”

Jefferson said improvements should include fixing “the failure and broken promises of No Child Left Behind while holding to the goal of providing every child access to a world-class education.”

“We must raise standards and ensure accountability to close the achievement gap,” Jefferson said. “The practice of labeling schools and its students as failures and throwing up our hands and walking away from them without providing the resources and support must end.”

Jefferson and Rains will square off Aug. 28 in the Democratic runoff election. The winner will face Republican Arthur Hulbert, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination, in the general election. In-person absentee voting begins Friday for the runoff election.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot @muskogeephoenix.com.