State lawmakers return to work

Stitt focuses on education in speech

By Ben Felder
Staff Writer bfelder@oklahoman.com

Gov. Kevin Stitt delivers his first State of the State address on Monday to a joint session of the Oklahoma Legislature. [PHOTO
BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Gov. Kevin Stitt asked lawmakers Monday to fund another teacher pay raise and outlined his plan to
create a more nimble and efficient state government focused on expanding the economy.

“The government does not create wealth, only the private sector can,” Stitt said in his first State of the
State speech, delivered in the House of Representatives chamber as the 57th Legislature officially began.

“In my administration, every policy decision will promote a healthy economy.”

One way to improve the economy is through a quality public school system and salaries that attract
teachers to Oklahoma schools, the Republican governor said.
Stitt’s budget includes $70 million for a $1,200 teacher pay raise, which would make Oklahoma
educators the highest paid in the six-state region.

His budget also includes more than $20 million in additional education funding.

“We will invest in the classroom,” Stitt said. “But we must first continue our investment in the teacher,
because it’s not programs, curriculum, or resources that students will remember. The magic happens
between the student and the teacher in the classroom.”

Last year, the Legislature gave teacher’s a $6,100 average pay raise just days before educators held a
two-week walkout to protest low classroom funding.

House Minority Leader Emily Virgin said House Democrats would rather see more money put into the
education funding formula this year rather than another teacher pay raise.

“I think a lot of teachers would say I don’t want a pay raise this year, I would rather you put money into
the formula,” said Virgin, D-Norman. “Because we gave a larger teacher pay raise last year … classroom
funding will be a much bigger priority for (our caucus) this year.”

R e p u b l i c a n l e a d e r s have also said they want more school funding.

“My number one goal is to put more money in the funding formula,” said Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-
Tulsa, who is entering his third year as the chair of the Senate Education Committee.

In his speech, Stitt praised current educators for working to improve public schools, including Oklahoma
Teacher of the Year Donna Gradel, who attended the speech.

“Donna reimagined the classroom,” Stitt said about the Broken Arrow environmental teacher. “She
moved beyond the textbook by taking her classroom outside to partner with the city of Broken Arrow to
clean public water and by taking the classroom to the world by developing a system to provide
sustainable food sources to orphans in Kenya.”

Stitt also praised Cecilia Robinson-Woods, the superintendent of the Millwood School District in
Oklahoma City, for finding innovative ways to recruit and retain teachers. Robinson-Woods was also in
the House gallery on Monday.

“Cecilia partnered with Teach for America, utilized opportunities offered under state law, and
implemented a new reading program,” Stitt said.

While his budget does not include a significant classroom funding boost, he is asking for $5 million to
fund a teacher recruitment bonus program, while also getting rid of the five-year teacher renewal fee.

Stitt’s budget includes additional funding for graduate medical school expenses and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program, to make up for lost federal Medicaid dollars.

Stitt used the programs as an example of why he is opposed to Medicaid expansion, which Democrats
and some Republicans have said it is worth considering.
“The estimated $150 million price tag today for Oklahoma to expand Medicaid could leave us down the
road fronting more than $1 billion when the federal government pulls back on its commitment,” Stitt
said. “They’ve done it before and they will do it again.”

Stitt also proposed additional funding for criminal justice reform programs, including those that help
Oklahomans dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.

Stitt cited an employee of his former company, Gateway Mortgage Group, as an example of how a person
battling addiction can turn their life around.

“Many years ago, I was introduced to Melinda who held the titles of daughter, mom, and fellow
Oklahoman – but to the prison system, she was a drug offender,” Stitt said. “Today, she has been an
employee at Gateway for more than 13 years. Her entry into the workforce was key to remaining sober
and to becoming a thriving individual in our society. Melinda’s story of redemption was possible because
of a community of people who stepped in, walked with her, and gave her opportunity.”

The employee was in the House gallery with the governor’s other guests.

Stitt also repeated his desire for control over state agency directors, which he views as a crucial step
towards reorienting state government around a customer-focused vision.

Democrats have raised concerns over the policy proposal, but Republican leaders say they will support
the effort.

“We support reforms that give the governor more control over the executive branch and that provide the
Legislature more resources to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used as intended and agency programs
are meeting the needs of our citizens,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

Leaning on his background of building a national business, Stitt said he would run government more like
a business, looking for ways to cut waste and audit the largest agencies, a process he wants to fund by
recalling the $30 million “given to the Health Department after the agency misrepresented their financial
standing to the Legislature.”