Superintendent Walters Discusses Changing School Accreditation Standards

The State Board of Education met Thursday and discussed school accreditation. This, as the accreditation of two Oklahoma schools are being investigated.

“I’m going to start a conversation with you all today about changing our accreditation process,” State Superintendent Ryan Walters said to open Thursday’s meeting. “What I would like is in the next board meeting, for us to make a change to our accreditation system where we put in place academic outcomes as part of our accreditation process. If schools continue to fail, if they fail our kids, we take action against.”

Since Thursday’s meeting, News 9 has learned that Superintendent Walters does not have the power to change the accreditation system, which is part of the state statute.

When we reached out to the communications director for OSDE, asking if Walters was planning to change state statute, we were told, “Not at this time. The point is to focus accreditation on outcomes, as is already required and current law.”

“Folks, there has been nothing in our accreditation that takes into account academic success, academic results,” Walters said. “I believe this is completely unacceptable.”

Walters shared data showing 42 most rigorous intervention (MRI) schools in the state, including 12 in Oklahoma County and 18 in Tulsa County. Walters says those schools have been “F” rated for at least three years.

Those schools are provided additional funding, support and resources and Walters says it’s unacceptable for the schools to continue to be ranked as failing.

“We have to use all powers necessary by this board to move kids form the “F” list to high achieving schools,” Walters said.

Walters is also threatening the accreditation of a district that is not on the MRI list, Western Heights. He says it’s because the district hired a principal, Dr. Shane Murnan, who works as a drag queen outside of school.

“Western Heights, what we’re looking at is, first of all, what did the district do in their hiring process to allow an individual with this many issues to be hired as a principal,” Walters said.

Western Heights told us that Dr. Shane Murnan, the John Glenn Elementary School Principal, went through a rigorous background check as their other hires have. The superintendent, Brayden Savage, also noted that Walters had signed Dr. Murnan’s teaching certificate just three months before he was hired. 

News 9 asked Walters Thursday if he did in fact renew the certification, and if he was aware at the time of Murnan’s work as a drag queen. I did not get a direct answer and was told the department was reviewing the background check policies and procedures. 

“As soon as we found out about the allegation, we moved quickly to say this person should be removed from the district,” Walters said when asked about signing the teaching certificate.