Public School Consolidation Bill - SB 920

   Senate Bill 920 by Senator Stephanie Bice (R-OKC) would require school districts with an ADM of less than 200 students to consolidate administrative services with a contiguous school district or districts by July 1, 2020. There are currently 95 school districts, mostly K-8, which would automatically lose autonomy and fall under the authority of the nearest K-8 or K-12 school district if Bice's Bill becomes Law. It is important to keep in mind that Bice's Senate District includes mostly large metro schools and private schools such as Heritage Hall and Bishop McGuinness, so has no interest in schools with less than 200 students existing. She has repeatedly stated that her "constituents" (voters) want to consolidate schools, so she has a duty to consolidate. It does not matter to Senator Bice
   Anyone reading this post may wonder why a public school official with a school which has over 2000 students, is concerned about a school consolidation bill which would not affect his district. My philosophy concerning our public schools is quoted in An Administrator's Guide - LEADING WITH INTEGRITY (Reflections on Legal, Moral, and Ethical Issues in School Administration) by Clarence G. Oliver, Jr., Ed.D. The oft-quoted message "Then They Came for Me" is credited to Martin Niemoller, a prominent Protestant pastor who spent 7 years in a German Concentration Camp before and during World War II. Here is that now famous message that causes us to think deeply about being concerned for the welfare of our fellowman:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
    Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
   Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -
   Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -
   and there was no one left to speak for me."

   For me, this message means that one must always do what is right, even though it may result in personal risk - and even though those who are wronged may not be known to me. I believe this message encourages us to speak out on behalf of others, even though the affected may not be us. For me, in this case, even though the bill is to consolidate smaller schools than which I work, I will still speak out for those that it will directly affect. As we saw on the news the other night, the El Reno superintendent also believes in speaking out about SB 920.
   Coincidentally, Senator Bice appeared at the OSSAA meeting on Wednesday to support the private schools in her district (BM and HH), and help prevent any "leveling of the playing field" for our public schools. She evidently has no constituents who support public schools either.