BA Superintendent Calls For 'No Confidence' Vote Against Janet Barresi

The superintendent of one of the largest school districts in Oklahoma is taking on State Superintendent Janet Barresi.

The superintendent of the Broken Arrow School District says she is incompetent and is calling for fellow leaders in districts across the state to join him in a vote of "no confidence."

Superintendents News 9 spoke with on Tuesday say their biggest issue is they feel they are not being consulted and their concerns are being ignored as the State Department of Education institutes a number of reforms.

Superintendent Janet Barresi led off Tuesday's state school board meeting by explaining why the release of school A-F grades is delayed again. It was that delay that set off Broken Arrow superintendent Jarod Mendenhall.

"Whether it's the teacher-leader effectiveness model, whether it's the A-F, all the reforms that have occurred have not happened in the right way," said Mendenhall Tuesday.

Last weekend Mendenhall sent out letter to several superintendents across the state saying: "This incompetence should not be tolerated. I am recommending that we move sooner rather than later on a "NO CONFIDENCE" statement".

Edmond Superintendent David Goin was one of those who received the e-mail.

"I share some frustrations, there's no doubt about that," Dr. Goin said.

Goin says he doesn't have a position at this point on the vote of no confidence but shares Dr. Mendenhall's concerns.

"We have not had in my opinion had much meaningful input and many times our input has been discontinued," Dr. Goin said.

"Certainly they know that's not true," countered Barresi.

Barresi argues she relies heavily on the input of educators across the board. She also points out Mendenall is a supporter of her opponent in next year's election.

"I guess it's time for political campaigning," she said.

Bu she says superintendents should focus on children not politics.

"We promised reform and that state is getting reform and we're absolutely focused that all of these reforms result in student academic achievement, not pleasing adults."

The Broken Arrow district has also put together a four part web series criticizing the implementation of the education reforms.

Mendenhall says he plans to call a meeting of superintendents to decide their next move.