My 2 Cents: OKCPS Superintendent Brings Needed Leadership

For the past 35 years, I've watched the OKC School Board hire superintendent after superintendent. They averaged about two years on the job, before they ran out of ideas about how to fix the district or got sideways with the school board.

Enter Dr. Sean McDaniel, who the school board poached from Mustang back in July.  

He told me Monday, that when he accepted the job, he knew the current board was ready to make sweeping changes to the struggling school district. He promised to have a plan on the table by February and present it to the school board by March, and Monday he delivered.

McDaniel, had to do the dirty work previous superintendents weren't willing to do, close schools the shrinking district just doesn't need anymore - 15 of them.

I did the math myself, and then asked him how much has been spent through MAPS for kids and bonds remodeling those schools that will soon close. Dr. McDaniel said about 90 to $100 million over the last 15 years. 

That's where I had it too.

He admitted that's a tough pill to swallow, but told me it had to be done, he's right.  And that's the kind of leadership the Oklahoma City Public School district has needed for years.

I'm Kelly Ogle and that's My 2 Cents.