Oklahoma’s State Board of Education approved a plan by Democratic candidate for Governor Joy Hofmeister to give teachers a $5,000 raise.
Superintendent Hofmeister had made the pay hike a central plank in her campaign, so it was unclear what the Gov. Kevin Stitt-appointed board would do.
But there was support. Board member Estela Hernandez.
"I don’t think there’s anyone here that is against the teacher pay raise. We know that our teachers deserve that and more," said Hernandez.
Hofmeister says the potential raise still has a long way to go. The raise is part of a $3.5 billion proposal for Oklahoma education.
"It’s never spot on, but it’s always the starting point," said Hofmeister.
Next, the proposal goes to the state legislature, which will decide the budget next spring.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education is adding resources to improve student mental health.
The School Counselor Corps is adding more than 300 counselors and mental health professionals to Oklahoma public schools. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister launched the corps last year. She says it supports existing mental health resources and for some schools, is establishing them for the first time.
"So, this is an incredible initial effort to also work to support students and help them be all they can be and graduate," said Hofmeister.
The corps is a three-year initiative utilizing $35 million from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill testified earlier this week before the House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples hearing on how the Castro-Huerta ruling affects tribal sovereignty.
Hill highlighted the need for sufficient federal resources to support the public safety efforts of tribal nations after the historic McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling in 2020.
She also wants Congress to protect tribal sovereignty in light of the Castro-Huerta decision in June that narrowed the McGirt ruling.
"Castro Huerta did not overturn McGirt. But it did issue a strong signal that despite clear federal legislation that preempted state jurisdiction over crimes committed by non-Indians against Indians in Indian country as well as decades of prior court decisions...that we have not yet departed from an era where the rule of strong can prevail."
Hill also highlighted Cherokee Nation's historic budget that has made significant investments in its criminal justice system.
If you have an expired COVID-19 test you may not want to toss it just yet. The Food and Drug Administration recently extended the shelf life for many at-home COVID tests, so it may be OK to use it past the printed expiration date on the box.
This comes as test manufacturers have been able to gather more data over time about their tests’ stability. Many manufacturers have requested and have been granted shelf-life extensions from the FDA.
For example, one brand of tests that have printed expiration dates in July are now good until January of next year, according to the FDA.
To check if your COVID test is still good, visit the FDA’s website.
Seven Oklahoma counties will receive rural high-speed Internet assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More than $31 million in loans and grants will help develop broadband access for rural Oklahomans in Choctaw, McCurtain, Osage, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton and Grady counties.
Valliant Telephone Company, Southern Plains Cable and the Osage Nation received the federal funds to help connect more than 8,000 people, 260 businesses and 130 farms to high-speed internet.
The federal funding comes from the USDA’s ReConnect Program — which aims to help rural communities get access to broadband internet.
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