Reps. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, and Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville, with 13 of their colleagues sent a letter to Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA), requesting that he take action to stop the National School Board Association (NSBA) from requesting federal assistance on behalf of Oklahoma and for an apology to the parents, children and educators.

The lawmakers said OSSBA should have denounced the NSBA’s initial request for President Joe Biden to treat parent groups expressing concerns to local school boards as domestic terrorists promoting hate crimes and requested federal assistance.

The letter, dated October 25, stated:

“Last week, the National School Board Association (NSBA) released a statement apologizing for the language used in their letter to President Joe Biden. While we are happy that the NSBA has accepted responsibility for their actions, it does not excuse the lack of action by you and the Oklahoma State School Board Association (OSSBA).

“On October 1st, Senator Julie Daniels and other Oklahoma State Senators sent you a letter requesting that you denounce the letter sent to President Joe Biden. In this letter, the NSBA referred to the concerned Oklahoma parents’ protests as ‘a form of terrorism and hate crimes.’ We are saddened that you did not seize the opportunity to protect the concerned parents, children, and educators in the school districts part of OSSBA.

“Your lack of initiative in protecting the rights of the parents, children, and taxpayers has led to cascading consequences for many Oklahomans. Even though the NSBA apologized for the language used, they failed to rescind their request from President Joe Biden for federal assistance. The request, if granted, would bring entities not accountable to Oklahomans to stop what they say are threats and acts of violence against public school children, public school board members, other public school district officials, and educators. Admitting error only after the damage to the rights and reputation of many Oklahomans is done is pointless unless you retract the call to action.

“We understand that there have been contentious school board meetings, but surely the OSSBA does not intend to let the NSBA and other federal actors silence the parents, patrons, and taxpayers who finance Oklahoma’s public education. Upset parents and taxpayers attending their local public school board meeting, a right granted by the Open Meetings Act, is not an attack and does not pose an immediate threat…”

The letter was signed by these State Representatives: Stearman; Conley; R-Newcastle; Stan May, R-Broken Arrow; Justin Humphrey, R-Lane; Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany; Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore; Sean Roberts, R-Hominy; Tom Gann, R-Inola; Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa; David Hardin, R-Stilwell; Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont; Danny Williams, R-Seminole; Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita; Ty Burns, R-Pawnee; and Jim Olsen, R-Roland.