Odilia Dank, Why Give Up the Fight to Bring More Money to the Classroom?

[Midtowner]

Odilia, this was a fight that was better fought and lost than not fought at all. You disappoint me greatly.

The state needs someone with the courage to stand up to the "good 'ol boys" and tell them that this waste of Oklahoman's hard-earned tax dollars needs to stop!

We have 540 school districts in Oklahoma. Is that too many? Well, our so-called conservative friends in high places (Speaker Hiett) doesn't think we should even have an independent commission find out. Why should we be so frightened of the truth??

The answer to our problems is not more money for the system, the answer is a more efficient system! What is so frightening about that?

Our elected leaders need to grow a spine when it comes to standing up to these "Bringing home the bacon"-"Good 'ol Boys". If our elected leaders refuse to represent us when faced with adversarial people from within the party, maybe they should think about resigning and being replaced with people who are not cowards?

Can't blame me! I voted for Jennifer Seal!

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Can't blame me! I voted for Jennifer Seal!

It sickens me that Odilia did not force the opponents of this (other than Mr. Speaker) to stand up and be counted. The only way she will be good in my book again is if she goes public and starts naming names.

I sincerely hope that there is someone out there with the time and resources out there to get this through as an initiative petition.

[mranderson]

Who is Odilia Dank?

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by mranderson

Who is Odilia Dank?

photo of Odilia Dank
Dank, Odilia

District 85, Republican

Born—September 3, 1938

Parents—Drs. Peter and Magdalene Russo (deceased)

Married David M. Dank.
Children—Daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Trina and Gale Joslin, and two grandchildren

Profession—business woman, retired educator

Graduated Casady School, Randolph Macon Woman's College, B.A.; University of Oklahoma, M.Ed.

Positions—Vice president and board member of KWD, distributor of aloe vera health and beauty aids

Organizations—Oklahoma City Republican Women's Club, National and Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women, Tri-City Republican Women's Club, American Legislative Exchange Council, and Oklahoma's First Ladies; Vice chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party 1999-2001; member of Oklahoma City Republican Women's Club, National and Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women, Tri-City Republican Women's Club, American Legislative Exchange Council, and Oklahoma's First Ladies

Honors: Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Legislative Award "For recognizing what’s right and trying to correct what is wrong."

Member, House of Representatives, 45th Legislature, 1995 to present

*****
She proposed a bill that would have created a committeeof professionals just to review and recommend possible changes to our school system's administrative structure. They were just going to conduct a study, not actually be empowered to make changes. The Legislature would have then been able to vote on whether or not to accept the changes.

She withdrew her bill under pressure from her own party. Cowardly.

Although school consolidation is desperately needed in Oklahoma it will probably never happen. Everytime any lawmaker brings it up the folks with the OEA go into chicken little mode. They scare fear into the small town folk. They tell them the local school house will close and/or they will have no say so at the local level.

All school consolidation is doing what every major corporation has done coast to coast. Thin out the management side and provide a stronger/shorter link between the executive in charge and the people in trenches.

Every school consolidation plan I have heard of is something similar to this.

Streamline the adminstration level.

Give principals more control of what happens at their schools.

Give teachers the freedom to be creative with thier teaching talents and more control in the classroom.

Keep all existing school houses open as well as build more if needed.

They never plan to close school houses nor do they plan to eliminate local control of schools.

[Midtowner]

I think this would pass easily if someone had the drive and funds to get an initiative petition out on it. If I were daddy warbucks (which I am not), I'd certainly be at the forefront of the initiative petition fight.

Hey, maybe we could get it on the ballot with that stupid gas tax?