Walters brings $3 million bible-in-the-classroom ask to Senate hearing
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - During a Thursday Senate hearing, Superintendent Ryan Walters introduced his $3 million Bible-in-the-classroom ask for next year's budget.
Included, and what was relatively not known, was a $5 million pot that he asked to be set aside in part for legal battles surrounding Bibles being in the classroom.
"That's the pot of money that will pay for those legal responsibilities," Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman) asked Superintendent Walters Thursday. "Yes," replied Walters.
For months there has been a push from Supt. Walters to put Bibles in every classroom, but he has held that the push will come at a cost.
However, many churches and others have said that they would be happy to donate the Bibles if it was needed.
"We've been clear in our guidance and standards that the Bible would be used in its historical context," said Supt. Walters Thursday.
"It doesn't feel like any of this is for the benefit of our children," said Satyra Mahaffey, a parent whose students go to public schools.
"It's all going to fight these legal battles instead of teaching kids," said Senator Boren to News 4 Friday.
Boren believes that Walters is pushing for the extra legal fees and making taxpayers essentially pay for the Bibles going in the classroom because she says he is trying to bring it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"State tax dollars that would be going to classrooms are being prioritized for a legal battle to change the Oklahoma constitution," said Senator Boren.
Walters has not stated that, but during the hearing he argued against federal government agencies. At one point he said he looked forward to the dissolving of the U.S. Department of Education.
"It's ironic; Ryan Walters is using the education budget to bring them in and ask the United States Supreme Court to come in and get rid of an Oklahoma provision that we all like," said Senator Boren.
She said that this all still has to be introduced before the House, but the real push comes sometime after April.
News 4 reached out to an OSDE spokesperson Friday but did not hear back from them.