• Contact
Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Login
Oklahoma Business Voice
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    Preparations underway for 2028 Summer Olympics in OKC

    Preparations underway for 2028 Summer Olympics in OKC

    NEW YORK, USA, JUN 18, 2020: Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball club on the white screen. Silhouette of NBA trophy in foreground.

    Oklahoma City Council approves agreements to keep Thunder in OKC

    Downtown Tulsa Oklahoma Skyline Route 66

    Oklahoma Business Roundtable delves into Business Leaders Poll results

    Photo from Greater OKC Chamber

    InternOKC continues equipping young Oklahomans with skills to succeed

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    Preparations underway for 2028 Summer Olympics in OKC

    Preparations underway for 2028 Summer Olympics in OKC

    NEW YORK, USA, JUN 18, 2020: Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball club on the white screen. Silhouette of NBA trophy in foreground.

    Oklahoma City Council approves agreements to keep Thunder in OKC

    Downtown Tulsa Oklahoma Skyline Route 66

    Oklahoma Business Roundtable delves into Business Leaders Poll results

    Photo from Greater OKC Chamber

    InternOKC continues equipping young Oklahomans with skills to succeed

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
Oklahoma Business Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home News Education
Gov. Kevin Stitt

Gov. Kevin Stitt

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt talks nixing price markups, virtual days, criticizes Ryan Walters

Hicham Raache by Hicham Raache
February 13, 2025
in Education, News, Politics & Elections, Workforce Development
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Gov. Kevin Stitt touted two bills this week, one to eliminate markups on certain goods, and the other to eliminate virtual school days. He also emphasized the need for workforce education and criticized Superintendent Ryan Walters’ plan to check school children’s immigration status.

Stitt held his weekly news conference on Wednesday. He started off his comments with praise for House Bill 1024 and Senate Bill 758.

HB 1024, written by Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, amends the Unfair Sales Act by modifying the “cost to the retailer” definition in existing Oklahoma state law, and removes a mandatory 6 percent markup on certain goods to cover a retailer’s proportionate part of the cost of doing business, according to Stitt.

“I’m looking forward to getting that across the finish line,” Stitt said.

Eliminating the automatic markup allowance may affect how retailers price goods, according to the bill’s summary.

Senate Bill 758, written by Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, limits virtual classroom education to incidents of inclement weather, staff shortages, illness and building maintenance issues. Virtual learning can also occur when deemed necessary by school administrators and approved by the State Department of Education.

Stitt criticized virtual education during his State of the State address.

He said some Oklahoma school districts require that students be in the classroom only 148 days a year. He compared that number to Kansas, which requires students be in school 186 days a year.

“We all know that kids learn best when they’re in the classroom,” Stitt said. “It’s just common sense.”

Virtual learning became commonplace across Oklahoma and throughout the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools went virtual and many office employees worked remotely to minimize coronavirus’ spread.

Stitt said during the news conference that students need to be in the classroom so they can get the education they need to either prepare for college or entry into the workforce upon graduation.

“We all know that having kids in the classrooms with our wonderful teachers is a is a must,” he said.

Stitt was also asked about his removal of three board members from the State Board of Education on Tuesday, as well as Walters’ plan to check children’s immigration status when they are registered for school.

The governor removed Donald Burdick, Kendra Wesson and Katie Quebedeaux from the Board and nominated Ryan Deathredge, Michael Tinney and Chris VanDenhende to fill the seats. Walters responded by announcing a Trump advisory committee and naming two of the ousted board members to the committee.

Stitt removed the board members in response to controversy at the Oklahoma State Department of Education and disappointing scores on the annual National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), according to officials from his office.

“I felt like we needed a fresh set of eyes on that board. It’s really about outcomes. [We’re] here to make sure that our kids are equipped and have the best education possible. When I see our NAEP scores not improving, when I see things that are messed up, wrong or kids being used as political pawns for some political stunt, it’s frustrating,” Stitt said. “I want to make a change. I want to do what I can as governor, to make sure that we are focused on those outcomes regarding those kids, making those kids ready for the workforce and competing in a very competitive world.”

Stitt elaborated on his use of the term political stunt, criticizing Walters for his plan to check school children’s immigration status. Stitt maintained that he is strong on immigration enforcement, but emphasized that children should not be exploited.

“Collecting data on kids and using them as political pawns is not something that helps law enforcement,” Stitt said. “In Oklahoma, our Constitution says we’re going to educate all kids, and I’m going to make sure that every kid feels safe to be educated in the state of Oklahoma.”

Tags: Chris VanDenhendeCost MarkupsDonald BurdickGovernor Kevin StittHB 1024House Bill 1024ImmigrationKatie QuebedeauxKendra WessonMichael TinneyNAEPNational Assessment of Educational ProgressOklahomaRepresentative Steve BashoreRyan DeathredgeSB 758Senate Bill 758Senator Kristen ThompsonState Board of EducationState of the State AdressSuperintendent Ryan WaltersUnfair Sales ActVirtual Learning
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Oklahoma Legislature takes big steps toward banning in-school cell phone use

Next Post

Bill seeks to help Oklahoma inmates obtain driver’s licenses before release

Related Posts

Preparations underway for 2028 Summer Olympics in OKC
News

Preparations underway for 2028 Summer Olympics in OKC

June 20, 2025
NEW YORK, USA, JUN 18, 2020: Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball club on the white screen. Silhouette of NBA trophy in foreground.
News

Oklahoma City Council approves agreements to keep Thunder in OKC

June 18, 2025
Downtown Tulsa Oklahoma Skyline Route 66
News

Oklahoma Business Roundtable delves into Business Leaders Poll results

June 17, 2025
Photo from Greater OKC Chamber
News

InternOKC continues equipping young Oklahomans with skills to succeed

June 17, 2025
A rendering of what Kratos' facility in Bristow will look like. Image from Kratos
Aerospace

Kratos to build new jet engine production facility in Oklahoma

June 16, 2025
Image of Oklahoma City downtown skyline from drone
News

OESC: Bill signed by Gov. Stitt gives Oklahoma employers tax relief

June 16, 2025
Next Post
Juvenile Detention Center: A young inmate sits in a classroom, his back to the camera, focusing on the monitors ahead.

Bill seeks to help Oklahoma inmates obtain driver's licenses before release

Oklahoma Business Voice

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.