FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 4, 2011

Board of Education votes down Barresi’s appointment for Chief of Staff

Last week, the Board of Education voted down Barresi’s Chief of Staff appointment, Jennifer Carter.

While much has come out of the Board of Education meeting with Barresi, including infighting and accusations, the news of the day should be the Board of Education voted down Barresi’s appointment for the Chief of Staff position.

The Barresi camp cites political motives behind this vote, but the Board has grounds for their vote. Todd Goodman, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said he may not agree with everything that went down in the meeting, but he does agree with the Board’s decision to vote down her appointment.

“Barresi knew from the beginning Jennifer Carter was not qualified according to rules that have been in place for over twenty years,” Goodman said. “The members of the board did their job by completing a checks and balance system and not just rubber stamping the appointment. The position is in Education, and the rules were put in place to guarantee those in that position have experience in the Education sector--not the political sector. Carter would be qualified for many positions, but Chief of Staff to Superintendent of education is not one of them.”

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