Superintendent-Elect To Ask For Oklahoma Education Department Audit

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma's new schools superintendent says she plans to ask for an audit of the state's Department of Education upon taking office in January.

Superintendent-elect Janet Barresi told The Oklahoman she wants to determine where money is and how it's being allocated so that her administration can determine needs and shift resources.

The audit will come as state officials consider options to increase education funding after the defeat of State Question 744, which would have required Oklahoma within three years to meet the regional average of per-student spending of its six surrounding states. Barresi opposed the proposal.

Gov. Brad Henry led the fight against State Question 744 but says a funding source needs to be identified for education so that other areas of state government are protected and not sacrificed.

11/3/2010 Related Story: Oklahoma Republicans Sweep Major State Offices