Western Heights school district rejects Oklahoma authority, appoints own superintendent Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoman
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A struggle for control of Western Heights Public Schools has ensued, as both the local school board and the Oklahoma State Department of Education have chosen leaders to run the district.
The Western Heights Board of Education spurned the state s choice for an interim superintendent and appointed its own on Thursday.
This was the school board s first action acknowledging its former superintendent, Mannix Barnes, isn t able to continue as the district s head. The Oklahoma State Board of Education suspended Barnes superintendent certification last month.
Western Heights spurns Oklahoma authority, appoints own superintendent oklahoman.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from oklahoman.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Two virtual education officials disqualified from voting on Epic Charter Schools have been reinstated.
The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board agreed on Tuesday to restore board members Mathew Hamrick and Phyllis Shepherd to discussions and votes on Epic.
Hamrick and Shepherd had been barred from voting on Epic since December because of their ties to the virtual system s co-founder David Chaney.
The remaining non-recused board members Chairperson Robert Franklin and members Barry Beauchamp and Brandon Tatum agreed to reinstate Hamrick and Shepherd now that Epic has severed its relationship with Chaney and co-founder Ben Harris.
Hamrick filed a lawsuit in April to challenge his disqualification, alleging violations of administrative procedure and the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act. He is expected to drop the lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court.