FIRM, BUILDING INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS THROUGH RIGOROUS INTERNAL ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS INFORMATION.

T JIM SUPPORTS PROGRAMING THAT FOSTERS KNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESSES INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY.

WHAT'S CAUSING THE SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS KILLED OR INJURED ON THE JOB?

WE'RE CALLING IT DIGITALLY DRUNK, AND WE ARE SEEING JUST AN INCREASE IN INCIDENCE OF PEOPLE.

THEY JUST CANNOT STAY OFF OF THOSE DEVICES.

NEARING COMPLETION ON A STATE OF THE ART MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY FOR YOUNG OKLAHOMANS.

KEEP THAT CARE IN OUR STATE, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, FOR THE CHILDREN WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

HUNDREDS OF COACHES GATHERED TO DISCUSS ANOTHER YEAR OF K THROUGH 12 ATHLETICS IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS.

OUR CERTIFIED COACHES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE TO THE SCHOOLS AND TO THE TEAMS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LIVE IN.

THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT.

BIG CHANGES COMING TO READING REQUIREMENTS FOR OKLAHOMA STUDENTS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

KEY TO THE WHOLE SUCCESS OF THIS WILL BE THAT PARENTAL INPUT, IN CONJUNCTION AND COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL AND THEIR TEACHER, AND WHO WILL REPLACE LINDEL FIELDS AS OKLAHOMA'S NEXT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

I'M TRYING TO EARN YOUR VOTE, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHO YOU'RE VOTING FOR.

IF YOU VOTE FOR ME.

PEOPLE BEGAN TO SHOW ME HOW I COULD STAND AND STAND TALL FOR OUR TEACHERS.

THOSE STORIES, PLUS PROTECTING AN ENDANGERED SPECIES AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M TAYLOR JACKSON.

OKLAHOMA IS SEEING A SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS KILLED OR INJURED ON OKLAHOMA HIGHWAYS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BLAMES EXCESSIVE SPEED AND DISTRACTED DRIVERS FOR THE INCREASE.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW ON WHAT'S BEING DONE TO SAVE LIVES.

STEVE TAELYR, JUST IN THE PAST YEAR, ONE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEE AND ONE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE EMPLOYEE DIED WHILE BEING HIT WHILE WORKING IN A WORK ZONE.

DISTRACTED DRIVING HAS BECOME, MANY WOULD AGREE, AN EPIDEMIC.

THIS PAST SUNDAY, CONTRACTORS ADDED A 76TH NAME TO THIS HALLOWED MONUMENT THAT STANDS IN FRONT OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ODOT WORKER ERNESTO VASQUEZ DIED ON JUNE 30TH AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A PASSING CAR NEAR SNYDER.

ANYTIME A TRAGEDY STRIKES LIKE THAT, IT AFFECTS ALL OF US AND IT RIPPLES.

AND I DON'T WANT THE RIPPLE TO BE SMALL.

IF IT'S GOING TO RIPPLE, LET'S MAKE IT BIG AND LET'S MAKE AN IMPACT TO HELP CHANGE THE NARRATIVE, TO BRING ATTENTION AND AWARENESS TO IT.

IF THERE ARE SITUATIONS OUT THERE THAT I NEED TO BE LOOKING AT AS THE CHIEF ENGINEER TO MAKE OUR PLANS OR TO MAKE THE PROJECT SAFER, I'M ALL IN FOR THAT.

ODOT CHIEF ENGINEER T.J.

DILLE SAYS PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY HE'S IN HIS CAR ON THE ROAD.

HE SEES BLATANT EXAMPLES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING.

THIS IS A SITUATION THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING WORSE.

IT SEEMS TO BE THAT WAY.

AND YOU KIND OF START TO ASK OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF THAT?

AND THERE ARE VARIOUS REASONS FOR A LOT OF THE CRASHES THAT WE SEE ACROSS OKLAHOMA.

BUT YOU LOOK AT IMPAIRED DRIVING AND YOU LOOK AT LOOK AT DISTRACTED DRIVING, AND I DO FEEL LIKE DPS AND OHP, THEY PUT OUT VERY GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT IMPAIRED DRIVING.

AND DISTRACTED DRIVING IS ALWAYS IN THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

STATISTICS SHOW LAST YEAR THERE WERE 2500 WORK ZONE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ODOT AND THE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY.

THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 900 SO FAR THIS YEAR ALONE.

FROM WHAT WE PULLED OUT OF FROM FROM JANUARY TO THE END OF JULY, WE'VE HAD 880 WORK ZONE CRASHES JUST ON THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S BETWEEN US AND OTA.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE WORK ZONES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

1347 AND THAT NUMBER IS CHANGING DAILY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IT IS ALARMING TO THINK HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE HAPPENING IN TWO WEEKS.

IT WILL BE ONE YEAR SINCE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY MAINTENANCE WORKER ZACHERY RINEHART WAS STRUCK AND KILLED ON THE SIDE OF THE WILL ROGERS TURNPIKE BY A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER, WHOSE DRIVER, THE OTA SAYS WAS STARING AT HIS CELL PHONE.

WE'RE CALLING IT DIGITALLY DRUNK, AND WE ARE SEEING JUST AN INCREASE IN INCIDENCE OF PEOPLE.

THEY JUST CANNOT STAY OFF OF THOSE DEVICES.

IN ADDITION, THEIR VEHICLES ARE SO MUCH MORE CONNECTED.

NOW EVERYONE'S GOT A SCREEN WITH THEIR MAPS, THEIR RADIO, THEIR PODCAST.

IN THIS INSTANCE, WITH ZACH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT DRIVER WAS ACTUALLY WATCHING VIDEOS WHILE HE DROVE.

TOBY SUNDQUIST IS A 2002 GUTHRIE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO'S AN ODOT CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR.

HE HAD A CLOSE CALL NOT TOO LONG AGO.

I WAS SITTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, HALF IN THE GRASS, HALF ON THE ASPHALT, AND WE HAD A LADY COME THROUGH OUR CONSTRUCTION ZONE.

SHE RAN OVER A BUNCH OF CONES, THREE SIGNS, AND THEN TOOK OUT THE SIDE OF MY TRUCK THAT WAS SITTING IN THE GRASS AND ENDED UP TOTALING OUT THE TRUCK.

WE HAD A 10 TO 15 WORKERS, PROBABLY 200FT IN FRONT OF WHERE I WAS.

LUCKILY, I WAS SITTING THERE, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY.

HE SAYS THE NUMBER ONE CULPRIT IS CELL PHONES, BUT YOU'D BE AMAZED.

I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN SOMEBODY READING A NEWSPAPER GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THESE VEHICLES THAT ARE ON THE ROAD, THE LIGHTEST ONES, PROBABLY 4 OR 5000 POUNDS, AND YOU'RE RUNNING 70 MILES AN HOUR.

THAT'S THAT'S A BASICALLY A MISSILE ENDANGERING A HIGHWAY WORKER IS A STATE LAW THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A FEW YEARS BACK.

AND THAT DOES INCLUDE A FINE UP TO $10,000, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEE WORKERS GET KILLED.

IT SEEMS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IT'S BEEN A YEARLY THING AND IT'S AN UNNECESSARY, TOTALLY AVOIDABLE SITUATION.

THESE WORKERS ARE OUT HERE TRYING TO DO THEIR BEST THEY CAN TO IMPROVE OKLAHOMA ROADWAYS, AND THEY'RE REALLY PROVIDING A SERVICE FOR THE STATE, NOT JUST THE STATE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

AND THEY WANT TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.

GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE WORKERS WITH FAMILIES AND SLOWING DOWN THROUGH THE WORK ZONE, OR REALLY JUST SLOWING DOWN IN GENERAL, BUT ESPECIALLY THROUGH WORK ZONES, WE DO HAVE REDUCED SPEED LIMITS FOR A REASON.

BART CHOCTAW INVESTIGATES ACCIDENTS FOR ODOT.

I'VE SEEN IT ALL.

I'VE.

I STARTED IN MAINTENANCE, WORKING ON THE MAINTENANCE SIDE.

AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WORKING OUT HERE BEHIND THESE WALLS.

WE'RE BEHIND CONES.

AND THOSE CONES AREN'T GOING TO STOP A VEHICLE.

WHAT'S THE WORST YOU'VE SEEN?

CHILDREN NOT BUCKLED IN?

HE SEES ENTIRELY TOO MANY ACCIDENTS IN WORK ZONES, CONTINUALLY FRUSTRATED.

IT'S IT'S IT'S GETTING WORSE.

EVERYBODY'S IN A HURRY.

EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMEPLACE TO BE.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE SLOWING THEM DOWN AND THEY GET FRUSTRATED WITH US.

AND EVERYBODY'S GOT AN EXCUSE.

EVERYBODY'S GOT AN EXCUSE.

IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE.

I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY BE INJURED.

YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL.

YOU MAY BE TRYING TO GET THE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUST DOING OUR JOB, OKAY?

AND I KNOW, I KNOW YOU GOT TO GET THERE.

MY ADVICE LEAVE A LITTLE EARLY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN SUCH A BIG HURRY.

YOU LIKE TO HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE AT EVERY WORK ZONE.

BUT THAT'S WE KNOW WITH THE BUDGETS AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE.

THIS IS RESPONSIBILITY.

THIS IS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING THROUGH THESE WORK ZONES.

YES, WE DO OUR BEST TO WORK WITH OHP AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERY PROJECT STAFFED THAT WE CAN.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY DO HAVE LIMITATIONS WITH EMPLOYEE STAFFING, AND I CAN'T CHANGE THAT TODAY, AND NEITHER CAN THEY.

AND THERE'S ONLY SO MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AT THE DOT TO IMPROVE OUR WORK ZONES.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, ODOT CREWS DO A LOT OF WORK ON AND AROUND I-35 AND MOORE AND NORMAN AT NIGHT.

FOLKS, THOSE ORANGE BARRELS ARE THERE FOR A REASON.

TAELYR.

STEVE.

THANKS.

GOT TO STAY VIGILANT.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST WAS THE WORLD LUNG CANCER AWARENESS DAY HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE OU STEPHENSON CANCER CENTER, THROUGH THE HOPE INITIATIVE, IS TRYING TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT GETTING SCREENED TO SHRINK THE CHANCES OF CANCER BECOMING DEADLY.

OKLAHOMA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST LUNG CANCER RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

OKLAHOMA HAS A BIT OF A FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH LUNG CANCER.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE THE FOURTH HIGHEST LUNG CANCER MORTALITY RATE AMONGST ALL THE STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

OUR LUNG CANCER MORTALITY RATE IS ABOUT 30 TO 40% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WE HAVE AN EVIDENCE BASED CANCER SCREENING TEST THAT HAS A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN LUNG CANCER SURVIVAL, BUT IT IS NOT BEING USED ENOUGH IN OKLAHOMA.

CURRENTLY, ONLY ABOUT 1 IN 10 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR LUNG CANCER SCREENING ARE CURRENTLY GETTING SCREENED.

OU HEALTH HAS A MOBILE LUNG CANCER SCREENING UNIT THAT VISITS RURAL AREAS TO PROVIDE SCREENINGS, T SAID.

ALSO HELPS FUND THE HOPE INITIATIVE TO PUT MORE LUNG CANCER ASSETS IN HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE.

OKLAHOMA CURRENTLY RANKS 33RD IN THE NATION IN ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, BUT THIS WINTER, OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S OU BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER WILL OPEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY, GIVING YOUNG OKLAHOMANS IN NEED ACCESS TO STATE OF THE ART MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

ONE, TWO.

THREE.

ON TUESDAY, THE JAMES M COX FOUNDATION PRESENTED OU HEALTH WITH A $750,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT ITS CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL CENTER CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ENSURING THAT OKLAHOMA FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THE CARE AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.

MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GROW.

FAMILIES ACROSS OKLAHOMA ARE SEARCHING FOR RESOURCES, TREATMENT OPTIONS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT CAN HELP THEIR CHILDREN THRIVE.

SET TO OPEN THIS DECEMBER, THE 172,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS PLANNED TO INCLUDE 72 BEDS, CLASSROOMS AND A BRIDGE TO CONNECT TO THE OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THE NEW FACILITY WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, CRISIS STABILIZATION THERAPY, SPECIALIZED PSYCHIATRIST CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

MANY TIMES, WHENEVER YOU'RE FACING A MENTAL HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEED AND YOU HAVE A CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION, CHILDREN OFTEN HAVE TO SEEK CARE OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE, AND THAT PLACES AN ENORMOUS BURDEN ON THE FAMILY, THE COMMUNITY LEVEL OF ACCESS TO CARE.

OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S OU HEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS DOCTOR AMBER NEELY SAYS THE NEW FACILITY WILL HELP PREVENT SOME PATIENTS SEEKING OUT OF STATE RESOURCES.

SO WITH US BEING HERE ON THE CAMPUS OF OU HEALTH, US HAVING THE ENTIRE COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM DESIGN WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT STATE, ENTER AND KEEP THAT CARE IN OUR STATE, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, FOR THE CHILDREN WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

THE CENTER WILL ALSO PROVIDE MORE THAN 400 CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL JOBS TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY MARKET.

METRO TECHNOLOGY IS PARTNERING WITH OU HEALTH TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH REQUIRED CLINICAL TRAINING UNDER SUPERVISION OF EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS.

METRO TECH, ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR CASEY RAINBOLT SAYS THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR METRO TECH STUDENTS.

OU HEALTH APPROACHED US HERE AT METRO TECHNOLOGY CENTERS ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH US ABOUT THEIR NEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER THAT THEY WERE INVESTING IN.

AND SO THINKING ABOUT THE WORKFORCE AND THE PIPELINE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE IN NEED OF ONCE THEY OPEN THAT FACILITY, THEN THAT IS HOW CONVERSATIONS STARTED WITH US ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP.

THE EIGHT WEEK PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE TWO WEEKS OF CLINICAL HOURS GIVING THEM PRACTICAL, HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WHILE UNDER SUPERVISION.

STUDENTS WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A CPR CERTIFICATION, AND THEN ONCE THEY GO THROUGH A SKILLS CHECKOFF, THEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT FOR THEIR TESTING.

THE REALLY GREAT THING FOR THAT IS, AGAIN, IT PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH PATHWAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CAREER FIELD, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH OU ALLOWS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THEIR INTERNSHIP AT OU HEALTH.

IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CERTIFICATION OR REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE, BUT THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVE ACCESS TO A JOB AFTER GRADUATION.

COX COMMUNICATION MARKET VICE PRESIDENT KATY BOURNE SUBMITTED A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION TO THE JAMES COX FOUNDATION FOR THE BEHAVIORAL CENTER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE GRANT.

THEN, IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, I ATTENDED AN EVENT THAT INTRODUCED SOME OF THE EXPERTS WHO WILL RUN AND LEAD THE CENTER.

THEY WENT EVEN DEEPER INTO THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES CURRENTLY FACING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, ON A SCALE I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY UNDERSTOOD.

IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

IT MADE ME WISH I COULD RETRIEVE MY SUPPORT LETTER AND ADD SEVERAL MORE PAGES, MAKING THE CASE AS TO WHY THIS PROJECT IS THE WONDERFUL FIT IT IS, NEELY SAYS.

THE GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE COX FOUNDATION GOES BEYOND INVESTING IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDING ITSELF.

IT'S REALLY INVESTING IN THE FUTURE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN OF OKLAHOMA, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS LEVEL OF CARE FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO OFTEN WE'LL HAVE A LEVEL OF ACCESS OR A LEVEL OF CARE, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT LEVEL OF CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE OF THE GENEROUS DONATIONS, 1 IN 5 CHILDREN IN THE STATE FACE A MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND ABOUT 40 TO 60% OF THOSE CHILDREN GO WITHOUT ACCESS TO CARE.

SO OUR ABILITY TO CREATE THIS LEVEL OF ACCESS, TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO HERE IN THIS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR WITHIN THIS ONE FACILITY OR THIS ONE BUILDING.

IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO RESOURCE THE COMMUNITY AND THE FAMILY AND THE WAY THAT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL AND IMPACTS THEIR LIVES FOR YEARS TO COME.

ON WEDNESDAY, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCED THAT SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION LINDEL FIELDS IS THE NEW SECRETARY OF EDUCATION FOR HIS CABINET.

HE REPLACES DAN HAMLIN AND WILL CONTINUE IN HIS CURRENT ROLE AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

FILLED SHORT TERM WILL END IN JANUARY 2027, WHEN THE NEWLY ELECTED STATE SUPERINTENDENT IS SWORN IN.

WHEN OKLAHOMA CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL IN THE COMING WEEKS, THEY'LL BE GREETED WITH TWO MAJOR CHANGES.

LITERACY REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REVAMPED, AND DAILY RECESS HAS BEEN DOUBLED FROM 20 TO 40 MINUTES.

WHAT IMPACTS WILL THESE CHANGES HAVE ON LEARNING?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR INCOMING IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR JASON DOYLE AND HIS PANEL OF GUESTS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST A QUICK TURNAROUND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A JOURNEY OF HAVING KIDS PREPARED, PARTICULARLY IN READING, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR GRADES AND GRADES ONE THROUGH FIVE, I BELIEVE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS FOR THE LONG TERM.

AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US WILL BE THAT THERE IS SUSTAINED SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR CONTINUING THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, BEYOND JUST THE THREE YEAR IMPLEMENTATIONS.

WHAT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS LEADS TO A REAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OKLAHOMA PUBLIC EDUCATION.

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED, BUT WE'VE NEVER REALLY HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PRE-K TO 12 EDUCATION AND STAYED WITH THAT AND CONTINUITY.

SO OUR STUDENTS, FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT GIVES US MEASURABLE GOALS THAT WE MEET.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS A REAL START TO HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OKLAHOMA.

THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THE NEWSCAST.

WELL, IT WON'T BE LONG UNTIL THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ARE BURNING BRIGHT IN OKLAHOMA, COACHES AND PLAYERS ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL AND OTHER FALL SPORTS AS WELL.

AND THAT INCLUDES AN ANNUAL GATHERING OF COACHES THAT TOOK PLACE IN OKLAHOMA CITY RECENTLY.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

NOAH.

YES, TAELYR THESE COACHES ARE DEALING WITH MORE THAN JUST X'S AND O'S.

THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE AN EVOLVING SPORTS LANDSCAPE, INCLUDING N, I, L AND OPEN TRANSFER.

HIGH SCHOOL COACHES FROM AROUND THE STATE AND OF ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF SPORTS, GOT TOGETHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

IT'S A NEAT JOB WITH A NEAT COMMUNITY.

I'VE.

I'VE BEEN ANYWHERE FROM BIGSBY TO BLUE JACKET.

I'VE BEEN PRIVATE TO PUBLIC.

I WENT BEEN AT CACHET HALL AND TULSA PUBLIC.

SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT CAREER.

DOUG WINTERS HERE COACHES MEN'S FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

HE'S BEEN TO THE OKLAHOMA COACHES ASSOCIATION ABOUT EVERY YEAR FOR 36 YEARS.

I DON'T THINK I'VE MISSED ONE.

I USED TO KNOW ABOUT 80% OF THE PEOPLE.

NOW I KNOW MAYBE 10%.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IN ABOUT 20 YEARS SINCE THE OCA HAS BEEN HELD IN THE OKC METRO.

WE'VE BEEN IN TULSA SINCE 2006, I THINK ABOUT 18 YEARS.

AND THIS YEAR WE'VE COME TO EDWARD NGUYEN.

WE HAVE A THREE YEAR CONTRACT TO BE HERE IN EDMOND TO DO OUR GAMES HERE AND HAVE OUR CLINIC HERE.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS THAT THAT WE PUT ON.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS MOVING FROM TULSA TO CENTRAL OKLAHOMA IS EASE OF TRAVEL.

FOR MANY OCA MEMBERS.

COACHES WEAR A LOT OF HATS AND SUPPORTING THE KIDS THEY COACH IS THEIR JOB.

DIRECTOR WAYNE DOZIER SAYS SUPPORTING THESE COACHES IS THE OCA JOB.

OUR CERTIFIED COACHES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE TO THE SCHOOLS AND TO THE TEAMS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LIVE IN.

THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT.

TWO STORIES OF ELBOW TO ELBOW CROWDS FILLED WITH THE CHATTER OF NETWORKING VENDORS, LINED THE HALLWAYS WITH BOWLS OF CANDY AND SALES PITCHES.

WE'VE BEEN COMING TO THE OKLAHOMA COACHES ASSOCIATION FOR OVER TEN YEARS, AND WE JUST LIKE TO BE HERE WITH THE COACHES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR RELATIONSHIPS START.

WHEN WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS AND ENTITIES, THE COACHES ASSOCIATION IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OLD PROS TO MINGLE WITH THE NEWBIES.

I KNOW SOME OF THESE GUYS, SOME OF THESE GUYS I'VE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME.

EVERYBODY'S SUPER FRIENDLY, SUPER KIND.

EVERYBODY'S WILLING TO HELP EACH OTHER.

THIS IS ELIJAH WOOD'S SECOND TIME ATTENDING AT BROKEN BOW HIGH SCHOOL.

HE'S THE COACH HERE.

HE'S THE PUPIL.

THAT'S A BIG FOR SOMEBODY JUST STARTING OUT.

YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ON THIS SIDE OF IT, LIKE BEING THE GUY WHO ORGANIZES EVERYTHING.

SO IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO COME TO A SPACE AND BE ABLE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND HELP YOU GROW AS AN UPCOMING COACH.

THE OCA HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1934, CLOSE TO 100 YEARS.

IN DOUG'S 30 PLUS YEAR ATTENDANCE, HE HAS WITNESSED MANY CHANGES AND IS DELIGHTED TO SEE THE BOOM IN MEMBERSHIP OVER THE YEARS.

WITH THE STATE GROWING IN POPULATION GROWING AND A LOT MORE SCHOOLS IN THE OSSAA, YOU JUST SEE A LOT NEW, A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE AND NEW BLOOD COMING IN.

AND A LOT OF THE OLD GUYS THAT I CAME IN WITH, THEY'RE EITHER ADMIN NOW OR RETIRED OR OR DOING OTHER THINGS.

NUMBERS AT THE OCA HAVE CHANGED AND SO HAS THE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCENE.

THE OKLAHOMA SECONDARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION, OR OSSAA, HAS COME UNDER HEAT RECENTLY AFTER CONTENDING SEVERAL STUDENT TRANSFERS, ARGUING COACHES WERE RECRUITING AND TAKING STUDENTS WITH THEM FOR COMPETITIVE REASONS.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT CALLING FOR ITS DISSOLUTION IN HIS MOST RECENT STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

IT'S TIME TO ELIMINATE THE O, S A, A AND SECURE OUR PROGRESS WITH OPEN TRANSFER.

DOUG BELIEVES THIS WOULD BE A MISTAKE.

I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE THE STATE STEPPING IN AND TRYING TO DO IT THROUGH A STATE AGENCY OR STATE GOVERNMENT.

I JUST I'M I'M NOT ABOUT THAT NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS OR NIL IS THE RIGHT FOR ATHLETES TO HAVE AUTONOMY OVER THEIR IMAGE, LIKE COMMERCIALIZATION IN 2022, THE OSSAA GREENLIT GUIDELINES TO GIVE HIGH SCHOOLERS THAT FREEDOM.

YET ONE OF THEIR RULES SEEKS TO HALT STUDENT SWAPPING SCHOOLS WITH THEIR COACHES.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR COACHES.

IT'S HARD NOT TO KNOW WHO YOUR PLAYERS MAY BE AS YOU GO INTO YOUR SEASON.

AS PLAYERS MOVE A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS, OR JUST AS AS THE SEASON STARTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WAYNE MEETS WITH OTHER COACH ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS ACROSS THE U. S AND NIL IS A MIXED BAG.

THAT'S PART OF A THAT'S PART OF THE JOB THAT I'M IN, IS SEEING BOTH SIDES AND TRYING TO BALANCE THAT OUT FOR OUR COACHES.

WILL IT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT?

IT WILL FOR SOME AND ON SOME IT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT.

AND SO I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT IN OTHER STATES, AS I'VE TALKED TO OTHER STATE DIRECTORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, DOUG IS NOT ON BOARD.

I HATE IT PERSONALLY.

I LIKE THE SCHOOL LOYALTY ASPECT OF A COMMUNITY AND A SCHOOL.

ELIJAH IS NOT SOLD EITHER, I WOULD SAY I REALLY DON'T AGREE, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.

I REALLY I REALLY DON'T AGREE WITH IT TOO MUCH.

NO, THIS IS A NEW CHALLENGE WITH ALL THAT STUFF KIND OF STARTED HAPPENING WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE, SO IT DIDN'T REALLY HIT, ESPECIALLY NOT HIGH SCHOOL.

IT DIDN'T REALLY HIT AS HARD AS IT IS NOW.

IT'S DEFINITELY A LEARNING CURVE WE'RE GOING TO SEE, I GUESS, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS HOW MUCH IT REALLY AFFECTS THE SPORT AS NIL PERMEATES THE SPORTS WORLD, FROM PRO SPORTS TRICKLING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HIGH SCHOOL, WAYNE IS CHOOSING TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.

WE'LL HAVE TO ADJUST AND MAKE MAKE CHANGES AND AND LEARN THE NEW RULES AND FOLLOW THE RULES.

AND AND HOPEFULLY IT BECOMES A POSITIVE THING BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HERE TO STAY.

ONE THING EVERY COACH SEEMS TO AGREE ON IS NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU SLICE IT, COACHES CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF A CHILD'S LIFE.

ELIJAH WOULDN'T BE STANDING IN THESE HALLS IF THAT WASN'T THE CASE.

AND HE'S LEARNING TO PAY IT FORWARD AND DO THE SAME FOR ANOTHER KID.

AFTER WATCHING THOSE LITTLE STEPS, GETS ME UP IN THE MORNING, GETS ME ENERGIZED AND READY TO WORK.

THE OCA WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL GATHERING IN EDMOND FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

TAELYR NOAH THINKS, WHO WILL REPLACE LINDEL FIELDS AS OKLAHOMA'S SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

TWO REPUBLICANS ARE IN A RUNOFF TO JOIN A DEMOCRAT ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

JASON DOYLE HAS MORE ON HOW THE RACE IS SHAPING UP.

TAELYR.

THE THREE REMAINING CANDIDATES ARE VYING TO BE THE FIRST ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT SINCE RYAN WALTERS LEFT OFFICE.

ALL THREE SAY THEY'RE FOCUSED ON MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO OKLAHOMA CLASSROOMS.

WE'RE EXCITED YOU'RE HERE TODAY.

TUESDAY MORNING, REPUBLICAN STATE SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE ROBERT FRANKLIN BEING INTRODUCED TO THE MUSTANG POSSE CLUB TO DISCUSS HIS CANDIDACY AND HIS VIEWS ON HOW TO MOVE OKLAHOMA EDUCATION FORWARD.

I'M TRYING TO EARN YOUR VOTE, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHO YOU'RE VOTING FOR IF YOU VOTE FOR ME.

SO I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF FARMERS AND WELDERS.

FRANKLIN ALSO HAS SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND BEYOND.

44 YEARS IN SCHOOL BUSINESS, AND NOT A DAY IN POLITICS.

THAT'S THE TAGLINE.

BUT THE REALITY CHECK IS STARTING OUT AS SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, JUNIOR HIGH ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT IN A LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SAND SPRINGS, 14 YEARS IN CAREERTECH RETIRED AND THEN NOW WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

AT THE TULSA CAMPUS.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A STRONG READERS ACT THIS YEAR IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE READING SCORES AND ENSURE KIDS KNOW HOW TO EFFECTIVELY COMPREHEND WHAT THEY'RE READING.

BY THIRD GRADE, FRANKLIN BELIEVES IT COULD WORK IF STATE LEADERSHIP STICKS TO THEIR PLAN.

STRONG LEADERS ACT IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT WE'VE DONE SIMILAR WORK IN LANDMARK LEGISLATION IN THE 90S UNDER HENRY BELLMON.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE WE DID THAT WORK REALLY RIGHTEOUSLY AT THE BEGINNING, BUT THEN WE KIND OF GOT OURSELVES DIFFUSED AND PERHAPS LOST OUR FOCUS.

THIS ONE GIVES US THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, GIVES US A CHANCE TO BE MORE TARGETED, MORE FOCUSED.

HE ADDS.

INVESTING IN TEACHERS IS THE KEY TO MAKE THE STRONG READERS ACT AND OTHER PROGRAMS MEANT TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES WORK.

INVEST IN TEACHERS BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE THE SOLUTION.

THEY ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.

WE'VE GOT TO PUT AN UMBRELLA OVER TEACHERS, GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO CATCH THEIR BREATH, BRING MORE EDUCATORS INTO THE FOLD WITH US, SUPPORT THEM WILDLY, AND THEN CELEBRATE WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THOSE THOSE MOVES FORWARD.

FRANKLIN IS FACING FELLOW REPUBLICAN DOCTOR JAMES TAELYR FOR THE NOMINATION.

THIS IS JT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT YOU'VE BEEN GIVING ME WITH EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE JAMES TAELYR FOR SUPERINTENDENT CAMPAIGN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.

TAELYR IS A HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT TEACHER AS WELL AS A PASTOR.

ONE OF TAYLOR'S PRIORITIES, ACCORDING TO HIS WEBSITE, IS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF QUALITY TEACHERS.

HE ALSO SAYS HE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO INCLUDE EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES ON ANY PROPOSED FUTURE REFORMS.

TAYLOR ALSO IS JUMPING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA TREND OF PREPARING FOR A NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY, THIS ONE FOCUSED ON REFORMING OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

COMIN IN THE AIR.

FROM EVERYWHERE.

TAYLOR IS FACING A BIT OF CONTROVERSY CURRENTLY OVER SOME OF HIS SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO ADS.

LITTLE AX PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT JAY THOMAS ISSUED A LETTER ON AUGUST 1ST SAYING THAT AN EMPLOYEE MADE MULTIPLE CAMPAIGN ADS USING SCHOOL RESOURCES, INCLUDING A CLASSROOM.

THE LETTER SAYS, IN PART, THE EMPLOYEE ACTED WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OR PERMISSION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.

THE ACTIONS ARE AN IMPROPER USE OF SCHOOL RESOURCES AND MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CAMPAIGN ETHICS RULES.

THE CAMPAIGN RESPONDED BY POSTING A LETTER OF ITS OWN, QUOTING TAYLOR IN PART SAYING AT NO POINT WAS THERE ANY INTENT TO MISUSE SCHOOL RESOURCES OR DISTRACT FROM THE IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

AS BOTH AN EDUCATOR AND A CANDIDATE FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT, I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT THAT WAS POSTED, AND AT NO POINT DID LITTLE AX PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY FILMING IN THE SCHOOL.

EARLIER IN HIS CAMPAIGN, TAYLOR DID SECURE THE BACKING OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, LIKE STATE REPRESENTATIVE GABE WOOLLEY AND FREEDOM CAUCUS LEADER STATE SENATOR SHANE JETT, WAITING IN THE WINGS TO SEE WHO SECURES THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IS FORMER TULSA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DOCTOR JANETTE MARSHALL.

SHE WON THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION DURING THE JUNE PRIMARY.

MOVING FORWARD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, SHE SAYS THAT IT WAS SUPPORTERS WHO ENCOURAGED HER TO TAKE THE LEAP AND MAKE A RUN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE OVERSEEING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

PEOPLE BEGAN TO SHOW ME HOW I COULD STAND AND STAND TALL FOR OUR TEACHERS, FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OKLAHOMA.

MARSHALL SAYS SHE HAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE RECENTLY PASSED STRONG READERS ACT, BUT SAYS THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS A PLATFORM AND A FOUNDATIONAL PLATFORM BENEATH THAT, A STARTING POINT, BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TEACHER POPULATION IN OKLAHOMA, WE MUST REALIZE THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONAL TEACHERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THAT FOUNDATION.

SHE FEELS A PROGRAM WHICH ENSURES TEACHERS GET THE TRAINING THEY NEED IS KEY TO UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF THE STRONG READERS ACT FOR SCHOOLS TO ACHIEVE BETTER ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, MARSHALL SAYS PARENTS NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

WE NEED TO BEGIN TO INCORPORATE PARENTS MORE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, AND TULSA WAS ON TARGET WHILE THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER I WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND UPON MY URGING, DOCTOR GIFTS.

WE STARTED THE NORTH TULSA COMMUNITY EDUCATION TASK FORCE.

MARSHALL SAYS THAT TASK FORCE HELPED ENGAGE PARENTS IN TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE NORTH TULSA TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PARENT RESOURCE CENTER, BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAW IS THAT WE'RE SERVING POPULATIONS WHERE ENGLISH IS NOT THE FIRST LANGUAGE, IT'S THE SECOND LANGUAGE.

SO WE HAVE PARENTS THAT NEEDED TO COME IN.

THEY NEEDED TRAINING.

SHE ALSO AGREES WITH THE TWO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BRING QUALIFIED TEACHERS INTO THE CLASSROOM.

OUR CLASSROOMS ARE HURTING.

WE'VE HAD ONE SCHOOL HERE IN TULSA THAT FOR A WHOLE YEAR.

ALL THEY HAD WAS SUBSTITUTES.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

JUST A REMINDER, THE REPUBLICAN RUNOFF BETWEEN FRANKLIN AND TAYLOR IS SET FOR AUGUST 25TH.

THE WINNER OF THAT RACE WILL FACE MARSHALL IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

TAYLOR.

JASON, THANKS.

PAYCOM IS BEATING EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ITS QUARTERLY EARNINGS.

STEVE SHAW PROVIDES THE DETAILS IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

PAYCOM IS REPORTING SECOND QUARTER NET INCOME INCREASED TO $107 MILLION.

THAT'S COMPARED TO 2025 SECOND QUARTER PROFITS OF $89.5 MILLION.

OKLAHOMA CITY HR SOFTWARE DEVELOPER REPORTS ITS QUARTERLY REVENUES INCREASED BY 9.8%, BRINGING IN $531.2 MILLION.

PAYCOM LEADERS BELIEVE THE COMPANY'S TOTAL YEAR REVENUES WILL BEAT 2025 FIGURES BY 7 TO 8%.

OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA HOME SALES HAVE JUMPED BY 4.1% IN JULY COMPARED TO JULY OF LAST YEAR.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE ZILLOW JULY MARKET REPORT, WHICH ALSO SAYS HOME SALES HAVE SURGED NATIONWIDE BY 7% LAST MONTH.

THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS INCREASED TO MORE THAN $246,000, NEARLY A FULL PERCENTAGE POINT HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.

THE REPORT ALSO SAYS THE TYPICAL RENTAL NOW GOES FOR $1,390 A MONTH, OR A 2.4% INCREASE WHEN COMPARED TO LAST JULY.

THE KINGFISHER MEMORIAL LIBRARY IS THE FIRST LOCATION IN THE STATE TO OPEN AN INTERNET COMMUNITY ACCESS PORTAL.

THE OKLAHOMA BROADBAND OFFICE SAYS THAT THE PORTAL PROGRAM PLANS TO OPEN 175 SECURE, ACCESSIBLE PORTALS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

THE PORTALS ARE ALL COMPATIBLE WITH SEVERAL POPULAR VIDEO CONFERENCING PLATFORMS, SO USERS CAN SECURELY PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL HEALTHCARE APPOINTMENTS, WORKFORCE TRAINING, REMOTE JOB INTERVIEWS, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

OG AND E HELD ITS 35TH ANNUAL LINEMEN'S EXPO ON AUGUST 1ST, BRINGING IN LINEMEN FROM ACROSS THE ELECTRIC UTILITIES SERVICE AREA.

THE EVENT INCLUDES A COMPETITION TO TEST THE LINEMEN'S TRAINING, SAFETY, FOCUS AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO'S ENDANGERED ASIAN ELEPHANT HERD IS GROWING.

THE ZOO WELCOMED A NEW BABY CALF THIS SPRING, AND ANOTHER WILL JOIN THE HERD NEXT JULY.

OUR SUMMER INTERN, HAYLEY CARTER, FILED THIS REPORT ON WHY THESE NEW ADDITIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ELEPHANT CONSERVATION.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDENS RECENTLY WELCOMED A NEW BABY ELEPHANT CALF JUST IN TIME FOR THE START OF ASIAN ELEPHANT AWARENESS MONTH.

THE ENDANGERED FEMALE ASIAN ELEPHANT WAS BORN ON JUNE 26TH INSIDE THE ZOO'S ELEPHANT BARN AT THEIR SANCTUARY ASIA COMPLEX, WEIGHING IN AT A WHOPPING 264 POUNDS.

CARETAKERS SAY THE ZOO'S NEWEST ARRIVAL IS HEALTHY AND HAPPY.

ALTHOUGH HER NAME HAS NOT YET BEEN ANNOUNCED, SHE IS ENJOYING SPENDING TIME WITH THE HERD.

SHE HAS BEEN MEETING ALL THE MILESTONES THAT WE WOULD EXPECT.

SO WHEN SHE WAS FIRST BORN, SHE WAS STANDING AND MOVING VERY SHORTLY AFTER BIRTH AND NURSING VERY QUICKLY AS WELL.

AND THEN SHE WAS REINTRODUCED TO OUR FAMILY HERD WITHIN A FEW HOURS.

ALTHOUGH THE NEWBORN ARRIVED ABOUT TWO MONTHS EARLIER THAN SHE WAS EXPECTED.

LEAD ELEPHANT CARETAKER ELENA MAGUIRE SAID SHE WAS STILL WITHIN THE ANTICIPATED BIRTHING WINDOW.

RIGHT NOW, SHE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND CONFIDENT IN EXPLORING HER NEW SURROUNDINGS.

SHE REALLY ENJOYS PLAYING AND SWIMMING WITH OUR ONE YEAR OLD CALF, SO SHE IS FOCUSED ON HAVING FUN RIGHT NOW.

XERXES BIRTH LAST YEAR MARKED THE KEY MILESTONE OF HAVING THREE GENERATIONS OF ELEPHANTS AT THE OKC ZOO.

THE NEWEST BIRTH BRINGS THE TOTAL OF ELEPHANT BABIES BORN IN OKC UP TO SIX.

DOCTOR CHASE LEDOUX SAYS THIS IS WHY OKC'S NEWEST CALF IS SO IMPORTANT TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

THE BIRTH OF THE CALF IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING.

IT PROVIDES HOPE FOR THE SPECIES, WHICH.

THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 40,000 ASIAN ELEPHANTS LEFT IN THE WORLD, SO EVERY BIRTH MATTERS.

THE OKC ZOO HAS BEEN CARING FOR ELEPHANTS FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS, AND OVER THE YEARS, THE ELEPHANT PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO GIVE RESEARCHERS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO.

THE SRI LANKA ELEPHANT PROJECT IS A CONSERVATION RESEARCH ENDEAVOR TO BOTH COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT ELEPHANTS AND HOW THEY BEHAVE AND RESPOND TO HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THEIR NATURAL RANGE, BUT ALSO TO UNDERSTAND AND RESEARCH HOW PEOPLE MAY BE ABLE TO COEXIST WITH ELEPHANTS OUT IN ASIA.

THE SLEP INITIATIVE SEEKS TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN RESEARCH BETWEEN ASIAN ELEPHANTS IN CAPTIVITY AND THOSE FOUND IN THE WILD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE ELEPHANTS WE HAVE, BUT WE'RE BREEDING ELEPHANTS RESPONSIBLY AND SUSTAINABLY TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT SORT OF SAFE HOLD POPULATION.

AND SO THIS BIRTH OF OUR LATEST ELEPHANT CALF IS REALLY JUST A REPRESENTATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO DO THAT.

DOCTOR LEDOUX SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SLEP, THE CURATOR OF RESEARCH AT THE OKC ZOO, AND RESEARCH ADVISOR TO THE ELEPHANT TAXON ADVISORY GROUP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS.

THE AZA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND CONSERVATION, REPRESENTING 254 FACILITIES GLOBALLY.

OKC IS THE ONLY AZA ACCREDITED ZOO TO DO THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH ON ELEPHANT HUMAN INTERACTIONS IN SRI LANKA.

ALTHOUGH THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO HAS A BRAND NEW BABY ASIAN ELEPHANT, THE TULSA ZOO IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ELEPHANT CONSERVATION.

AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, TWO OF THE MEMBERS OF THEIR SEVEN HERD ARE BEHIND ME.

THEIR NAMES ARE BILLY AND KONG.

THE TWO ZOOS SUPPORT MANY OF THE SAME CONSERVATION PROGRAMS WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT ELEPHANTS ACROSS THE STATE.

CURATOR OF CONSERVATION AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT AT TULSA ZOO, RICHARD KOTARSKI, FURTHER EMPHASIZED TULSA'S CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION AND WE HAVE THE SAME VALUES AND VISION FOR ELEPHANT CONSERVATION AND ELEPHANT CARE.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN ORDER TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ON CONSERVATION, IT REALLY TAKES A COMMUNITY.

SO WE'VE WE'VE HELPED ELEPHANTS FOR ABOUT 70 YEARS NOW, AND OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING PRETTY SOLID SINCE 1997.

AND IN THAT TIME, WE'VE SUPPORTED MANY, MANY PROJECTS WITH FOR FIELD CONSERVATION AS WELL AS SCIENCE OUT IN THE FIELD TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.

THE AZA DESIGNATES THE MONTH OF AUGUST AS ASIAN ELEPHANT AWARENESS MONTH.

ELEPHANT EXPERTS SAY THAT THE BEST WAY TO BE INVOLVED IN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION IN OKLAHOMA IS TO VISIT THE OKC AND TULSA ZOOS.

FOR THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M HAYLEY CARTER.

GREAT JOB HAYLEY.

OKLAHOMA IS TRYING TO REPLICATE THE MISSISSIPPI MIRACLE THAT RESULTED IN THAT STATE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING THEIR READING LEVELS IN SCHOOLS.

SENATE BILL 1778, PASSED DURING LAST SESSION, PROVIDES MORE THAN $43 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR READING INSTRUCTION.

AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY BIG CHANGE STUDENTS WILL FACE WHEN SCHOOL BEGINS IN THE COMING DAYS.

WITH MORE ON THAT, HERE'S MODERATOR JASON DOYLE WITH THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

JASON, THANK YOU, TAELYR JOINING US AROUND THE TABLE FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ARE DOCTOR PAM DEARING, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COOPERATIVE COUNCIL OF OKLAHOMA SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, AND DOCTOR SEAN HEIM.

HE SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING TO BE HERE.

WE'RE WE ARE NEIGHBORS IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

SO YEAH, WE SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN TOGETHER.

YEAH.

GOT A RIDE SHARE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YEAH.

WELL, LET'S START OFF TALKING ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS, DOCTOR DEARING.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COSA.

COSA IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES REALLY FIVE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE SERVE SUPERINTENDENTS, CENTRAL OFFICE FOLKS, ALL LEVELS OF PRINCIPALS AND SPECIAL ED DIRECTORS.

SO WE HAVE OVER 3100 MEMBERS THAT SERVE STATEWIDE.

AND DOCTOR HIME, WHAT ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?

SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION WE SERVE.

WE'RE DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP.

WE SERVE 2500 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE AND THEIR GOVERNANCE TEAM.

SO OUR JOB IS TO MAKE THEIR JOB MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME CHANGES COMING UP INTO THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

ONE OF THEM IS THE STRONG READERS ACT.

AND DOCTOR DEARING, IT WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR GOING INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR.

WHAT DO SCHOOLS NEED TO DO TO GET READY FOR THIS NEW PROGRAM?

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR RECOGNIZING AND HONORING SCHOOL LITERACY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF.

SCHOOLS HAVE LIKE A THREE YEAR WINDOW TO GET STARTED, BUT IT DOES GET STARTED THIS YEAR WITH SCREENERS AND A LOT OF WORK AROUND THE DEPARTMENT GETTING READY FOR WHAT WILL BE THE TRUE IMPLEMENTATION AS TRAINERS AND ALL ARE TRAINED AND KIDS INVOLVED IN IT FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THERE'S A RUNWAY FOR THINGS TO GET STARTED.

BUT THIS YEAR IS A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

SO DOCTOR HIME, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE'S SOME TRAINING GOING INTO PLACE HERE, OR IS ANY TRAINING NEEDED AT ALL?

I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY TRAINING NEEDED AND THAT'S ONE THING DOCTOR DEARING AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH SOME OTHER PEOPLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM SO THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE TEACHERS THEY NEED, SO THEY CAN BE TRAINED IN LITERACY AND BE EVERYTHING WE WANT THEM TO BE WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

NOW, DOCTOR DEARING, PART OF THE THE READERS ACT STRONG READERS ACT, IS THAT THEY'VE DECIDED TO CREATE A RESOURCE CENTER WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND THEY'RE CREATING A LITERACY COACHING TEAM.

DO YOU THINK THAT KIND OF TOOL CAN REALLY HELP DISTRICTS IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE BEEN IN SUPPORT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TYPES OF COACHES FOR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND I THINK THIS IS A FIRST STEP.

IT'S ACTUALLY ANOTHER STEP BECAUSE WE'VE HAD INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES BEFORE, BUT THESE SPECIFIC COACHES WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE PURPOSE.

AND I THINK WE'LL, OVER THE LONG RUN, BEGIN TO MULTIPLY AND ULTIMATELY HELP PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LITERACY ACT.

SO, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK IS THAT BASICALLY THEY'RE THE CENTRAL OFFICE.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE AT.

AND IF IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS KIND OF DIPPING A LITTLE BIT IN THEIR PROFICIENCY, THESE TEAMS CAN GO OUT AND HELP FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE RULES ON THAT GAP.

WHAT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS LEADS TO A REAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OKLAHOMA PUBLIC EDUCATION.

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED, BUT WE'VE NEVER REALLY HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR PRE-K TO 12 EDUCATION AND STAYED WITH THAT AND CONTINUITY.

SO OUR STUDENTS, FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT GIVES US MEASURABLE GOALS THAT WE MEET.

SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS A REAL START TO HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OKLAHOMA.

WELL, DOCTOR HYMAS, CONTINUE WITH YOU AND FOLLOW UP.

PART OF THE STRONG READERS ACT IS MAKING SURE PARENTS GET INVOLVED.

IS THIS GOING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL TO MAKE SURE PARENTS KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE, AND MAYBE ENGAGE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE INSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM.

WELL, I'M HOPEFUL AND I RECOMMEND ALL PARENTS GET TO KNOW YOUR TEACHER, TALK TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER, TALK ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS, THEIR FAILURES, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM, MAKE SURE YOU'RE ENGAGED IN THIS BECAUSE THE TEACHER'S GOING TO HAVE 20 PLUS STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

THEY WILL GIVE YOU FEEDBACK, THEY'LL GIVE YOU INFORMATION.

BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER AND DOCTOR.

DEARING.

YOU FIND THE SAME, SAME THING THERE.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

JUST KEY TO THE WHOLE SUCCESS OF THIS WILL BE THAT PARENTAL INPUT IN CONJUNCTION AND COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL AND THEIR TEACHER.

SO NOW ONE OF THE BIG FACETS OF THE STRONG READERS ACT IS THE RETENTION.

SO IF YOU DON'T HIT THE RIGHT GOALS IN THE THIRD GRADE, YOU MAY BE HELD BACK.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANY PUSHBACK ON THE RETENTION PORTION OF THIS?

OH, YES.

OF COURSE, AS YOU'VE AS WE'VE LOOKED AT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES, IF THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE KEY PIECES OF THE LEGISLATION, AND IN OUR STATE, IT WAS FOR US AS WELL.

WHAT WE LOOKED TOWARD IS WITH THE ACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL SUPPORTS THROUGH THE BILL AS IT'S IMPLEMENTED WITH INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, WITH THE INTENTION TO, YOU KNOW, THE SCIENCE OF READING AND WHERE THAT WILL GO FOR TEACHER INSTRUCTION.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THOSE KIDS ARE CAUGHT EARLY ON.

AND RATHER THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT, PERHAPS AT THE THIRD GRADE.

BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE LOTS OF SUPPORTS THAT WE'RE HOPING WILL LEAD TO THE SUCCESS OF KIDS WHERE THAT MIGHT NOT JUST BE AN ISSUE.

AND THERE ARE SOME GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTIONS WHERE THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME KINDS OF KIDS, YOU KNOW, IN EDUCATION.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WILL BE A GREAT SUPPORT AND THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT AS MUCH.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF READING THAT NOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE JUST A COURSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN JUST A WAY TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO, TO READ.

TRUE.

IT'S FOUNDATIONAL.

AND AGAIN, A KEY COMPONENT FOR TRAINING PD FOR PRINCIPALS.

AND ALSO IT'S INTEGRAL TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUCCESS FOR THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

SO I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

WE ACTUALLY HAD RETENTION 15 YEARS AGO THAT WAS REQUIRED AND THEN WENT AWAY.

BUT IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, PUT IN TO FIDELITY.

AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD FIVE DIFFERENT REQUIRED READING PROGRAMS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE SCIENCE OF READING IS BACKED UP BY SCIENCE.

IT HAS RESEARCH BEHIND IT, AND THAT WE HAVE A CONTINUITY FOR THE NEXT DECADE SO THAT OUR TEACHERS AND PARENTS SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, GROW THEIR STUDENTS, SO THAT FROM PRE-K TO 12, THAT 14 YEAR PERIOD IS REALLY THEIR LIFE IN THE CLASSROOM.

HERE'S THE BIG $64 QUESTION.

WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE SOME RESULTS OF THE STRONG READERS ACT?

I THINK THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT IT'S GIVEN US A RUNWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, BEGINNING DATE, YOU KNOW, PREPARING FOR IT AND THEN OVER WHAT, A THREE YEAR TERM THAT HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME EVIDENCE, YOU KNOW, OF THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT OVER THAT TIME, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE JUST A QUICK TURNAROUND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A JOURNEY OF HAVING KIDS PREPARED, PARTICULARLY IN READING, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR GRADES AND GRADES ONE THROUGH FIVE, I BELIEVE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS FOR THE LONG TERM.

AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US WILL BE THAT THERE IS SUSTAINED SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR CONTINUING THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, BEYOND JUST THE THREE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION.

SO, YEAH.

AND OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALMOST 2 BILLION NEW DOLLARS, WHICH IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS THE TWO DECADES BEFORE.

SO IF THEY'LL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS.

SO OUR TEACHERS HAVE THE RESOURCES.

OUR CLASS SIZES ARE WHERE WE NEED THEM.

I THINK OUR TEACHERS CAN KNOCK IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE STRONG READERS ACT.

IT'S A GOOD BEGINNING.

IT'S A WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TO SEE THE RESULTS, BUT WE'RE KIND OF EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS INTO OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG MATH ACT, JUST VERY SIMILAR IN A PARALLEL TO THIS, TO HAVE A MATH PROGRAM.

AS A FORMER MATH TEACHER, I REALLY LIKED THAT WE WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE STATES THAT WILL LOOK TO THAT.

WE DO HAVE KIDS WHO ARE LEARNING AND STRONG IN READING AND MATH BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS.

SO OKLAHOMA'S OWN VERSION OF MISSISSIPPI MIRACLE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE'RE GOING TO DO MUCH BETTER.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE WON'T BE COMPARED TO YOU AT THAT POINT.

I THINK WE'LL BE BETTER.

I LIKE I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE.

SO LET'S CHANGE TOPICS A LITTLE BIT TO A LITTLE BIT OF FUN RECESS.

THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.

WE NEED TO EXTEND THAT TIME, THAT PLAYTIME.

SO DOCTOR, DURING WHAT'S YOUR REFLECTIONS ON ON THAT LEGISLATION BEING PUT INTO PLACE FOR OUR KIDDOS?

I'M ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF RECESS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR KIDS AND INSTRUCTION.

YOU KNOW, THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, THE INTENT WAS ALWAYS GOOD FOR IT IN TERMS OF, OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION SIDE OF IT, IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CLARITY AROUND HOW THAT'S IMPLEMENTED AT SCHOOLS.

SO SCHOOLS ARE DOING, I THINK, THEIR BEST AT TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN THIS YEAR SO THAT IN TURN, THEY CAN INCORPORATE IT AS A LAW INTENDED.

I DO THINK THAT THERE WILL NEED TO BE SOME CLARIFICATION AROUND ULTIMATELY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT, MAYBE WITH THIS NEXT SESSION, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RECESS IN AN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.

SO AND SO DOCTOR HIME, COULD EXPANDING RECESS HELP OUR KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM AS A FORMER TEACHER?

GET THEM OUT THERE.

LET THEM HAVE FUN.

THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN TO LIVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

YOU LEARN TO, YOU KNOW, INTERACT AND THEN COME BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AND DO THE GREAT THINGS THEY CAN DO.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AMONG MY COWORKERS, AND I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT RECESS AND LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

MAYBE EVEN WHEN WE WERE RAISING OUR LITTLE KIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, GETTING THAT EXTRA ENERGY OUT KIND OF GOT THEM FOCUSED A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE DAY.

IS THAT KIND OF HOW YOU FEEL?

MAYBE THIS WILL WORK?

I'M EXCITED FOR THE FACT THAT KIDS STILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RECESS AND ALL THAT.

IT JUST DIDN'T ELIMINATE A LOT OF OTHER ITEMS.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT PUSH A LOT OF OTHER SUBJECT CONTENT OUT, BUT I THINK IT COMES BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL AND HOW THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING IT.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS AS WE'VE TALKED TO SCHOOL LEADERS, THAT IT ALWAYS COMES WITH A COST OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AROUND THE SCHOOL DAY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT PUSHES OUT INTO THE EARLIER PART OF THE DAY OR CHANGING YOUR BUS SCHEDULES OR YOUR OPERATIONAL SIDE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS COST ASSOCIATED WHEN YOU DO THAT.

BUT AGAIN, I'M GLAD THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE IMPLEMENTING IT WITH AS MUCH FIDELITY AS THEY CAN THIS YEAR, AND I THINK ARE LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION THIS NEXT YEAR AROUND HOW THAT DOES THAT REALLY FIT IN A SCHOOL DAY.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE CAN'T IGNORE THE DATA ON HOW HEALTHY OR UNHEALTHY WE ARE AS OKLAHOMANS.

WE ALL FALL IN THAT CATEGORY.

AND LOOK, LOOK AT HOW DO WE HOW DO OUR CHILDREN, HOW DO I AS ADULTS AND WE NEED TO DO THINGS TO IMPROVE OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH, HEALTH, AS WELL AS OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND PLANTING THOSE SEEDS EARLY REALLY, REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S GREAT.

YEAH.

SO THIS ALSO KIND OF RELATES TO SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID.

THEY EXPANDED HOW MANY INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS ARE IN THE DAY FOR OR IN THE YEAR FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO LET'S START WITH YOU, DOCTOR DEARING.

WITH THAT MINIMUM NUMBER GOING FROM 166 TO 173 HOURS.

WHAT KIND OF ADJUSTMENTS DO SCHOOLS HAVE TO MAKE IN ORDER TO FIT THAT MINIMUM?

IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS ARE ALWAYS AT DIFFERENT PLACES, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR CALENDAR YEARS AND ALL.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS, I THINK, THAT HAVE ALREADY MOVED TOWARD, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING THE DAYS OF INSTRUCTION.

SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT.

THOSE THAT HAVE NOT DONE SO HAVE A BIG ENOUGH RUNWAY RIGHT NOW.

I THINK AHEAD TO KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO BE PREPARING FOR IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED AS ORGANIZATIONS, GREATER INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS, MORE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS, BECAUSE WE JUST BELIEVE THAT KIDS NEED TO BE IN CLASS, YOU KNOW, IN INSTRUCTION AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

BUT AGAIN, THEY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AHEAD AND SAY, THIS IS COMING.

HOW AM I GOING TO PREPARE?

AND WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE?

AND DOCTOR HIME, YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND FOR THE MOST PART, IT REALLY TAKES US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE WE HAD HOURS.

TODAY'S USED TO YOU HAD TO GO 175 DAYS, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO USE HOURS INSTEAD OF DAYS AND WE REDUCED THAT NUMBER.

AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO EDUCATING A STUDENT IS A HIGH QUALITY TEACHER IN FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM.

SO AS MANY DAYS AS WE GET THEM IN FRONT OF A TEACHER AND HOPEFULLY PAY TEACHERS MORE, GROW THE TEAM.

IF WE'RE GROWING THE CALENDAR, GROW TEACHERS, I WOULD LIKE US TO ADD ANOTHER FIVE DAYS AND PAY OUR TEACHERS EVEN THAT MUCH MORE.

SO WE KEEP OUR TEACHERS IN OKLAHOMA, AND WE HAVE FIVE MORE DAYS WITH OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN.

AND I WANT TO SAY JUST BRIEFLY, OUR STATE HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARD GETTING MORE QUALITY TEACHERS INTO THE CLASSROOM.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL JUST NOW BE PROVIDING THAT FRUITION.

YOU KNOW, OF MORE TEACHERS, QUALIFIED TEACHERS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO I THINK IT MIGHT BE COMING AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME THAT EXPANDING THAT INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND THEN THOSE QUALIFIED TEACHERS, BECAUSE OUR STATE HAS BEEN BUILDING IN PROGRAMS AT THE HIGHER ED LEVEL FOR MORE QUALITY TEACHERS IN OUR STATE.

SO TRYING TO GET THAT PIPELINE TO GET THOSE GOOD QUALIFIED TEACHERS, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SAY IT.

THAT'S TRUE.

YEAH.

SO I KNOW OTHER STATES KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TIME WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL.

DOES THIS KIND OF GET US A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE?

PERHAPS THIS GETS US BACK IN THE REGIONAL AVERAGE, AT LEAST.

LOOKING AT THE STATES AROUND US, WE WE COMPARE A LOT TO THOSE STATES AROUND US.

COST OF LIVING, TEACHER PAY PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE.

OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS AND NEW MEXICO SHOULD BE VERY SIMILAR IN THOSE.

SO WE'RE.

WE REALLY WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND SAY, HERE WE'RE BEHIND THESE STATES.

IN THESE AREAS.

WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON TEACHER SALARY.

MOST OF OUR CAREER.

WE WERE DEAD LAST.

I MEAN, DEAD, DEAD LAST.

AND NOW, SINCE 2019, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL TEACHER RAISES AND OUR TEACHER SALARIES ARE RIGHT THERE CLOSE TO THAT REGIONAL AVERAGE.

WE LIKE TO GET THEM A LITTLE HIGHER EVEN, BUT WE'RE COMPETING AGAIN.

AND I THINK THIS WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD AND COMPETE EVEN MORE.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL WRAPPING THINGS UP, LET'S GET SOME FINAL THOUGHTS FROM YOU, DOCTOR DEARING.

WELL FIRST OF ALL TO SAY BACK TO SCHOOL IS IS UPON US, YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME IN OUR SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, THE JOY OF OPENING THAT DOOR AND GOING, OH YAY.

I'M GLAD TO BE A THIRD GRADER TO FOURTH GRADE THIS YEAR.

BUT I WANT TO SAY WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM TO GET THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED RIGHT AND TO THINK AHEAD TO THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF THINGS THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO A SPRING OF WHERE WE'LL HAVE GREAT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC ED THIS YEAR, MORE TEACHER PAY RAISES IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT A FULL YEAR OF THINGS AROUND READING AND MATH AND ALL THINGS KIDS AND INSTRUCTION, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

SO.

AND DOCTOR HEIM, YOUR THOUGHTS?

I THINK THERE'S AN OVERALL OPTIMISM AROUND OKLAHOMA PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHERE WE'RE GOING FORWARD.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO GET THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED, EXCITED TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR, A NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT ELECTED COMING UP, EXCITED TO LOOK AT THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CHART A FUTURE THAT'S VERY BRIGHT FOR OKLAHOMA CHILDREN AND AND KEEPS US FROM BEING AT WHATEVER LEVEL YOU THINK WE ARE RATED TO BEING, YOU KNOW, UP THERE HIGHER AND BEING ABLE TO COMPETE WITH EVERY STATE AROUND US.

AND LIKE WE TALK ALL THE TIME, IF OUR TEACHERS ARE GIVEN THE SAME RESOURCES THAT TEACHERS AND STAYED AROUND US, THEY'LL KICK THEIR TAIL EVERY DAY.

WELL, DOCTOR, DURING DOCTOR HIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON IN-DEPTH THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE FOOTHILLS OF THE TUCSON MOUNTAINS IN ARIZONA, WHERE HIKERS OFTEN COME ACROSS A LONG ABANDONED HOME WITH A MYSTERIOUS PAST.

THAT'S THE STORY COURTESY OF JOHN DESOTO AND OUR PBS PARTNERS AT ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA.

HIGH IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE TUCSON MOUNTAINS, ALONG A QUIET STRETCH OF THE YETMAN TRAIL, HIKERS SOMETIMES COME UPON SOMETHING UNEXPECTED STONE WALLS STANDING ALONE IN THE DESERT.

AT FIRST GLANCE, THEY LOOK ANCIENT.

MAYBE THE REMAINS OF AN OLD MISSION, OR THE RUINS OF SOME FORGOTTEN FRONTIER OUTPOST.

BUT THESE WEATHERED STONES TELL A DIFFERENT STORY, ONE ROOTED IN THE HOPES OF A TUCSON FAMILY NEARLY A CENTURY AGO.

THIS IS THE BONE STONE HOUSE.

IN THE EARLY 1930S, NEWSPAPERMAN SHERRY BONE AND HIS WIFE, RUBY, SET OUT TO BUILD A NEW LIFE IN THE SONORAN DESERT.

BONE WORKED AS A CITY EDITOR FOR THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR, BUT THE COUPLE DREAMED OF SOMETHING FAR REMOVED FROM LIFE IN DOWNTOWN TUCSON.

THEY FOUND IT HERE IN A QUIET VALLEY TUCKED INTO THE RUGGED HILLS WEST OF THE CITY.

THE BONES BEGAN BUILDING A RANCH HOUSE FROM THE VERY LANDSCAPE AROUND THEM, STACKING THICK STONE WALLS THAT COULD WITHSTAND THE DESERT'S FIERCE WINDS, BLAZING SUMMERS AND SUDDEN STORMS.

OVER TIME, THEIR HOMESTEAD EXPANDED TO NEARLY 2000 ACRES OF DESERT LAND.

FROM THE WIDE PICTURE WINDOWS OF THEIR HOME, THE FAMILY WOULD HAVE LOOKED OUT ACROSS A VALLEY FILLED WITH SAGUAROS, MESQUITE TREES AND OPEN GRASSLAND.

DEER AND BIGHORN SHEEP WANDERED THE HILLS, AND WILD HORSES SOMETIMES PASSED THROUGH THE VALLEY BELOW.

LIFE HERE WAS REMOTE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DIFFICULT YEARS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR TWO.

BUT THE BONE FAMILY MADE THE DESERT THEIR HOME.

THEIR DAUGHTER, GLORIA, WAS BORN HERE AT THE RANCH AND WOULD GO ON TO BECOME A CELEBRATED BALLERINA, TRAVELING FAR BEYOND THE QUIET VALLEY WHERE SHE FIRST OPENED HER EYES.

BUT OVER TIME, THE HOMESTEAD FELL SILENT.

FAMILY EVENTUALLY LEFT THE RANCH, AND THE DESERT SLOWLY BEGAN RECLAIMING THE PLACE THEY HAD BUILT.

ROOFS COLLAPSED, WINDOWS DISAPPEARED, WOODEN BEAMS WEATHERED AWAY UNDER THE RELENTLESS ARIZONA SUN.

WHAT REMAINS TODAY ARE THE STURDY STONE WALLS, THE SKELETON OF A HOME THAT ONCE STOOD PROUDLY AGAINST THE DESERT SKY.

IN 1983, THE SURROUNDING LAND BECAME PART OF TUCSON MOUNTAIN PARK, PRESERVING THE SITE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

TODAY, HIKERS ALONG THE YETMAN TRAIL OFTEN PAUSE HERE, STEPPING THROUGH THE EMPTY DOORWAYS AND IMAGINING THE LIVES THAT ONCE FILLED THESE ROOMS.

IT'S EASY TO SEE HOW STORIES BEGIN IN PLACES LIKE THIS.

SOME VISITORS SPEAK OF MYSTERY, BUT THE REAL STORY OF THE STONE HOUSE MAY BE EVEN MORE COMPELLING.

IT'S A STORY ABOUT RESILIENCE, ABOUT A FAMILY WHO CAME WEST SEEKING HEALTH, OPPORTUNITY AND A NEW BEGINNING IN THE DESERT.

AND IT'S A REMINDER THAT EVEN WHEN BUILDINGS FADE AND WALLS CRUMBLE, THE STORIES THEY HOLD CAN STILL ECHO ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.

HERE IN THE TUCSON MOUNTAINS, THE BONE STONE HOUSE STANDS AS A MONUMENT TO A DIFFERENT ERA, ONE WHERE CARVING OUT A LIFE IN THE DESERT REQUIRED DETERMINATION, IMAGINATION, AND A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE LAND AND FOR THOSE WHO PASS BY ON THE TRAIL.

TODAY, THESE WEATHERED STONES OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO TUCSON'S PAST ONE STEP AND ONE STORY AT A TIME.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS ARRIVED AS SCHOOLS AROUND THE METRO BEGIN WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK TO CLASS.

WE'LL SHOW YOU A DISTRICT'S FIRST DAY NEXT FRIDAY AT SEVEN, AND WE'LL SAY SO LONG FOR NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE RED EARTH FESTIVAL PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA DEVI WILKERSON.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON AIR EACH WEEK, I'M TAELYR JACKSON RICH LENZ WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

HI.

HEY HEY HEY!

OH, MY.

HEY!

HI.

WAY.

HEY!

HI.

HEY, HEY.

OH!

WAY.

HI.

HEY.

HEY.

HI.

WAY.

HI.

HEY HEY.

OH.

HEY HEY.

HELLO.

OH, HEY.

WAY.

WAY I. HEY HEY.

HEY HEY.

HI.

HEY HEY HEY.

YA HEY YA HEY OH.

LOCAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY TOM JOHNSON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, AN OKLAHOMA BASED FIRM.

BUILDING INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS THROUGH RIGOROUS INTERNAL ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS INFORMATION,