State Superintendent Janet Barresi has hired and promoted employees in her final days at the Oklahoma Department of Education.
The Tulsa World reports that Barresi's new hires total about $653,000 in base salary costs. Salary increases that accompanied promotions, not counting one executive's unknown bump in pay, total $62,000.
Barresi defended her actions in a statement that says it is her right as superintendent of public instruction to make personnel decisions.
Republican Joy Hofmeister, who defeated Barresi in last June's primary election and Democrat John Cox in November's general election, is to be sworn in on Monday. Hofmeister described the hirings as "disappointing."
Hofmeister says future staff decisions will be made with careful consideration and respect for all involved. She says her focus remains on the schoolchildren of Oklahoma.
Hofmeister's term begins Monday, January 12, 2015, per the Oklahoma Constitution.
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