So much for GOP unity
Will Rogers famously said he was “not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” Today that quip may better apply to the GOP given that several Senate Republicans recently voted against their own caucus agenda, and several others voted against helping homeless kids. One wonders: What, if anything, binds Oklahoma Republicans together?
Senate Bill 441 would mandate that most schools operate on a five-day school week with exceptions for schools that demonstrate cost savings and show education outcomes aren't harmed by a shortened workweek.
Ninety-two districts in Oklahoma use a four-day week, primarily as a tool to recruit teachers. But the widespread use of four-day weeks is viewed as a sign of poor educational quality, and state leaders say four-day school weeks are harming business recruitment.
This year, Senate Republicans announced that their agenda includes only four items but requiring five-day school weeks made the cut. Yet when SB 441 received a committee vote, four GOP senators voted against it: Sens. John Haste of Broken Arrow, Chris Kidd of Addington, Roland Pederson of Burlington and David Bullard of Durant.
Notably, one Senate Democrat voted for SB 441. It really says something that there are Democrats more supportive of the Senate GOP agenda than some Senate GOP members.
In the same meeting, lawmakers considered Senate Bill 901, which would allow some homeless students to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. The bill would provide funds to allow homeless students to enroll “in a school specifically designated for homeless students.”
Currently, only one school meets that criteria: Positive Tomorrows in Oklahoma City. That private school not only provides homeless students with standard educational services, but also provides clothes, shoes, hygiene products, afterschool programs and even individual birthday parties. Counselors are constantly available to work with children. The school survives on charitable donations but is reportedly “forced to turn away children constantly” because of financial limitations.
Thus, SB 901's reach is modest. It may benefit only a portion of the more than 3,000 Oklahoma City students identified as homeless, but it could still be lifealtering for the children who do benefit. Yet four Senate Republicans voted against the measure. Kidd had the dubious distinction of voting against both five-day school weeks and homeless children. Apparently, homeless kids don't need services tailored to their unique challenges, and they don't need what little services they can receive in a traditional school setting more than four out of every seven days.
To their credit, most Republicans supported both bills. But it's astounding that when faced with what should have been two nobrainer “yes” votes, some Republicans found a way to instead vote “no.”