The state Board of Education needs a new lawyer.
Most of the items on the board’s monthly meeting agenda were tabled Thursday because Attorney General Gentner Drummond declined to allow the board to renew or extend a contract with attorney Cara Nicklas. Nicklas served as the board’s attorney, but her contract expired June 30.
In an Oct. 4 letter, Deputy Attorney General Kindanne Jones advised the Oklahoma Department of Education General Counsel Michael Beason that the AG’s office had not received a request to renew the contract.
“The contract we have on file and which was approved ended on June 30, 2024,” Jones wrote. “The Board will need to submit an application and receive approval to renew or extend this contract before it is appropriate to continue work with the firm or Ms. Nicklas.”
On Wednesday, Drummond rejected that application in a letter to the Department of Education. Drummond said the board’s options for legal representation were to use in-house counsel, present a new contract for outside counsel for consideration, or use the attorney general’s office.
Deputy Attorney General Bradley Clark served as the board’s attorney yesterday. Clark served as the attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Education and the Oklahoma Board of Education during Joy Hoffmeister’s tenure as superintendent.
The attorney general’s office represents 115 state agencies and boards, billing at $85 per hour. The state Board of Education was paying Nicklas $300 per hour.
More worth reading:
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Vinita Theme Park to be Delayed Years
The initially planned 2026 opening of a $2.5 billion Disney-like theme park in Vinita likely will be pushed back at least three years, but developers insist the massive project is still a go. [Tulsa World]
Graduation Rates Could Drop
Some Oklahoma schools might face a significant drop to their graduation rate because of a federal order affecting students on an alternate track to finish high school, state officials announced. [Oklahoma Voice]
Hobby Lobby Owner Funding Voting Groups
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Only 50 red-cockaded woodpeckers remain in Oklahoma, all in McCurtain County.
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
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