KC Sheperd talks educational issues impacting Oklahoma with State Secretary of Education Ryan Walters. Walters is also the GOP Nominee running for the State Superintendent of Education in the November General Election.

Walters tells Sheperd that “I believe in parents. I believe in our rural communities and our rural schools. I believe they are the backbone of the education system in the state of Oklahoma. I am going to do all that I can to continue to empower them and to make sure they are strong. The governor and I pushed and passed the Redbud Act which put over 38 million into stabilizing our most rural schools. That is something we thought was very important.”

In rural communities, Walters said, a concern from parents is access for their children to different programs such as FFA, for example, or work in an internship or externship. Rural schools are unique, Walters said, because of how involved the staff and community are.

There are many questions over whether or not money from medical marijuana and the lottery are being used for education in Oklahoma when so many schools are still underfunded throughout the state. Because of this reason, Walters said, he has already called for an audit.

“Taxpayers need to see where their money is going and we need to make sure it is being utilized,” Walters said.

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