By Constitution Staff

On September 27, Gov. Mary Fallin announced the new composition of the State Board of Education. All of the appointments are filling new positions that are four-year terms and require confirmation from the Senate. A law passed in the last session of the Legislature restructured the board. Before the new law, members had been appointed for six-year rotating terms and could not be removed from office.

The new State Board of Education consists of seven members and is chaired by State Superintendent Janet Barresi. Each of the appointed members will represent one of the five congressional districts, plus one at large member. One vacancy remains for the appointee representing the third congressional district. Gov. Fallin is working to fill that vacancy as quickly as possible. The board sets policy for the state's school districts and is responsible for curriculum and testing.

"These men and women are dedicated public servants and business people who know the value of quality education in Oklahoma," said Fallin. "I've charged each one of them with pursuing and implementing reforms that will boost student performance and ultimately help us to create the kind of educated, highly skilled workforce that will bring more and better jobs to the state."

Maj. Gen. Lee Baxter (retired) of Lawton is president of Signal Mountain Associates, a general and defense consulting firm. In addition, he is the owner of Medicine Park Management, managing partner at Mount Scott Management, and partner at Cobblestone Canyon, all real estate development companies. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. He currently serves on the State Board of Career and Technology Education. Baxter has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota and a Master's in personnel management from Central Michigan University. He also is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Baxter will represent the fourth Congressional District.

Amy Ford of Durant is president of Neon Clinic, a physician staffing company. She serves as a board member on the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Foundation, president of the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals and as a board member on the Citizens for the Protection of the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer. Ford has a bachelor's degree from OSU. She will represent the second Congressional District.

Phil Lakin Jr. of Tulsa is the chief executive officer of the Tulsa Community Foundation. He previously served on the Health Care Reform Task Force, Community Hospitals Authority, Education Quality and Accountability board and the Metro Tulsa Transit Authority. Lakin earned a bachelor's degree and a master's in business administration from Baylor University. He will represent the first Congressional District.

Bill Price of Oklahoma City is an attorney at Phillips Murrah P.C. and is a managing partner and trustee at Price Oil and Gas & Family Trusts. He serves as chairman of the board and is the founder of Shiloh Summer Camp, a Christian summer camp for disadvantaged kids. Price previously served on the board of trustees at Casady School. He has a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from OU. Price will represent the fifth Congressional District.

Bill Shdeed of Oklahoma City is a private practice lawyer. He is a member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. He previously served as chairman of the board of Oklahoma City University and currently serves as chairman emeritus. Shdeed has a bachelor's and law degree from Oklahoma City University. He is serving as the at large member.

Fallin had previously appointed Baxter and Lakin to the old board earlier in the year. They are the only hold overs from the previous board.

Price was the Republican nominee for governor in 1990. The former U.S. Attorney is perhaps best known for his prosecution of the County Commissioner corruption scandal. Price received a Special Achievement Award from the United States Department of Justice for that work.

Price has recently emerged as a leader in the education reform movement. He serves on the board of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (the state conservative think tank) and is chairman of the Oklahoma Coalition for School Choice. In a recent issue of The School Choice Advocate, published by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice (one of the nation's leading school-choice organizations), the cover story is entitled "The Emerging Leaders of the School Choice Movement." Price was one of the leaders spotlighted in the article.

The previous board, which was mostly appointed by Gov. Brad Henry, tried to thwart many of Supt. Barresi's school reform initiatives. When she took office in January, the board even rejected the hiring of her top staff members. Conservatives hope that the new board, especially with the inclusion of Bill Price, move ahead with important reforms.