Letter to State Board Members

Career and technology education has come under attack, most recently through the formation of a grand jury to investigate activities at Kiamichi Technology Center and through a 1999 audit conducted at Western Technology Center released October 1 by the Custer County District Attorney. These reports raise legitimate and serious questions concerning the operations of our system.

Whether or not any wrongdoing can be substantiated, CareerTech shares this concern and believes it is time for the CareerTech Board and administration to take a critical look at the way our system operates. We recognize we have responsibility to the citizens of Oklahoma, the legislature, the CareerTech board, as well as our students, business/industry clients, local boards, educational partners and all of our employees to operate our system with utmost professionalism and integrity. We can assure you that the staff of the department will work with the proper authorities and take immediate corrective action where and when needed.

We also believe it is time to implement strategies for oversight in areas of travel, purchasing and ethical conduct. Therefore, we are recommending the following:

1) A Code of Ethics be developed, adopted by the State CareerTech Board and adopted by each Technology Center board.

2) Assign Oklahoma Department of CareerTech staff to Kiamichi Technology Center and Western Technology Center to investigate and develop policies and procedures that correct questionable actions.

3) Institute random audits/reviews of Technology Centers that may involve student enrollments, personnel, equipment, performance measures, travel policies, purchasing policies, procedures and finances.

4) Adopt rules that restructure the use and billing of “live work projects”, which may include barring Technology Center Superintendents and Board members from utilizing “live work projects”.

5) Examine options for the State Board/State Director to have the authority to call investigative audits of school districts.

We must reexamine our business practices and ensure they are legal, wise and provide the greatest benefit to the people we serve. We must regain the public’s trust as good stewards of taxpayer resources and do it with integrity. There is no room for complacency and indifference. There is a need for greater accountability and we will implement measures to address this critical issue. As a system, we can no longer sidestep the fact CareerTech faces serious challenges to our credibility resulting from the recent developments.

We are proud of the exceptional educational opportunities that career and technology education provides and has provided for many years. We are indeed a national model and play a vital role in enhancing the lives of thousands of Oklahomans. The controversies of the past and present have diverted our attention from our work and our mission. We must move forward. We will move forward and we will continue to make a difference throughout this state in recruiting new industry and retaining existing ones. We will help Oklahomans succeed in the workplace, in education and in life.