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HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON YOUR HORIZON.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL SPRING IS HERE AND SPRING STORMS ARE JUST AROUND THE
CORNER.
TODAY, WE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE NATIONAL TORNADO SUMMIT HELD IN OKLAHOMA
CITY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SOME PROPOSED FEDERAL RULES THAT WOULD
STRENGTHEN BUILDING CODES TO BETTER WITHSTAND SEVERE WEATHER.
WE WILL ALSO VISIT WITH OKLAHOMA'S INSURANCE COMMISSIONER ABOUT WHAT WE
ALL CAN DO TO BETTER PREPARE IN CASE OF DISASTER.
JOHN DOAK: WE COULD HAVE A TORNADO TOMORROW IN OKLAHOMA AND WE JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF CONSUMERS.
ROB: WE WILL SEE HOW ONE SCHOOL NEARLY DESTROYED BY LAST YEAR'S DEADLY EL RENO
TORNADO PULLED TOGETHER AND DIDN'T MISS A BEAT HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE FIND
JOBS.
GREG WINTERS: YOU KNOW WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE SCHOOL ON AUGUST THE
15TH AND WE STARTED SCHOOL ON AUGUST THE 15TH.
ROB: NEW COMMON CORE STANDARDS ARE UNDER FIRE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO SOME EDUCATION REFORMS THAT ARE FAVORED
BY INDUSTRY BUT OPPOSED BY OTHERS PLUS, STATE SUPERINTENDENT JANET
BARESSI WILL BE HERE TO TELL US WHY SHE BELIEVES SOME NEW THIRD GRADE
READING REQUIREMENTS WILL BE GOOD FOR STUDENTS AND OUR ECONOMY.
JANET BARESSI: BECAUSE READING IS A SKILL.
AND ONCE YOU GET IT NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU, ONCE YOU GET IT,
WE'RE SEEING KIDS JUST REALLY TAKE OFF.
ROB: STAY WITH US FOR OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
MALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA'S INVESTMENT IN CAREERTECH PROVIDES MORE
THAN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING, IT PRODUCES
SOLID FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE;
OKLAHOMA CAREERTECH, ELEVATING OUR ECONOMY.
MALE: AND, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY,
HELPING GOOD PEOPLE GROW GOOD THINGS.
AND NOW, FROM THE CAREERTECH STUDIOS IN STILLWATER, HERE'S YOUR
HOST, ROB MCCLENDON.
ROB MCCLENDON: HELLO EVERYONE; THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON
HORIZON.
WELL THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF MAY, 2013, WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF MANY PEOPLE'S
MINDS AS WE PREPARE FOR ANOTHER SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.
CHANCES ARE IF YOU LIVE IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA YOU WERE EITHER IMPACTED BY LAST
MAY'S DEADLY TORNADOES OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS.
TWENTY-FOUR PEOPLE DIED IN MOORE, OKLAHOMA, WITH ANOTHER THREE HUNDRED AND
FIFTY SEVERELY INJURED.
ROB MCCLENDON: IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF PICKING UP THE PIECES AND REBUILDING IN
THOSE AREAS OF MOORE, OKLAHOMA, HIT HARDEST BY THE STORMS.
OVER ELEVEN HUNDRED HOMES WERE DESTROYED WITH DAMAGES ESTIMATED AT OVER
TWO BILLION DOLLARS.
CONSTRUCTION IS STILL UNDERWAY IN BOTH RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND AT
THE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS WERE KILLED WHEN WALLS COLLAPSED, A
TRAGEDY THAT HAS SPARKED BOTH LAWSUITS AND LEGISLATIVE DEBATE OVER
THE LACK OF STORM SHELTERS IN MANY SCHOOLS.
A STATEWIDE SURVEY LAST YEAR SHOWS JUST THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF
OKLAHOMA'S EIGHTEEN HUNDRED PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE STORM SHELTERS IN
PLACE, WHILE JUST FIFTEEN PERCENT HAVE SHELTERS BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE TWO
HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILE AN HOUR WINDS OF AN E-F-5 TORNADO.
AND JUST THIS MONTH, MOORE, OKLAHOMA, BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN THE
NATION TO APPROVE NEW STRICTER RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODES THAT
REQUIRE NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION TO WITHSTAND WINDS EQUIVALENT TO AN
E-F-2 TORNADO.
ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE FIFTY-FIVE TORNADOES A YEAR IN OKLAHOMA THAT
RANGE FROM AN E-F-0 TO AND E-F-5 TORNADO.
BUT IN COMPARISON, THERE WERE SIXTY-THREE TORNADOES IN JUST THE SINGLE MONTH
OF MAY LAST YEAR.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL WHILE THERE IS STILL MUCH TO LEARN FROM LAST YEAR'S
TORNADO OUTBREAK, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ARE PREPARING
FOR ANOTHER SPRING STORM SEASON.
OUR ANDY BARTH ATTENDED THIS YEAR'S TORNADO SUMMIT IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND JOINS
ME NOW.
ANDY BARTH: WELL ROB, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WONDER
WHEN THE NEXT TWISTER WILL HIT AND HOW BAD IT WILL BE.
BUT OKLAHOMANS HAVE LEARNED FROM LAST YEAR'S DEVASTATING STORM SEASON
AND ARE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND HOW TO BE MORE WEATHER AWARE.
ANDY BARTH: WELL SPRING IS HERE.
AND THAT MEANS SPRING STORMS.
RANDY NEUGEBAUER: YEAH, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, PARTICULARLY HERE IN OKLAHOMA, TORNADOS HAVE, YOU KNOW, REALLY
BEEN A, KIND OF WREAKED HAVOC ON THE STATE.
AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A LOT OF LIVES LOST, A LOT OF PROPERTY
LOSS.
ANDY: RANDY NEUGEBAUER IS A U.
S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM TEXAS, AND IS PROPOSING LEGISLATION TO TIGHTEN
BUILDING CODES TO WITHSTAND HIGHER WINDSPEEDS, SOMETHING HE
SAYS CAN SAVE LIVES.
RANDY NEUGEBAUER: IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT
WAYS THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE SAFER DURING A STORM, HOW WE CAN
CONSTRUCT OUR BUILDINGS IN A WAY THAT ARE MORE WIND RESISTANT.
ANDY: GOOD NEWS, THAT OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JOHN DOAK
SAYS IS IMPORTANT IN SUCH A VOLATILE AREA.
JOHN DOAK: WE COULD HAVE A TORNADO TOMORROW IN OKLAHOMA.
AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF CONSUMERS.
ANDY: THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR OKLAHOMA HAS HELD THE NATIONAL TORNADO SUMMIT.
SOMETHING THAT DOAK SAYS BRINGS AWARENESS TO THOSE IN A DANGEROUS PATH.
JOHN DOAK: THIS IS THE ONLY CONFERENCE, REALLY, IN THE WORLD THAT WE KNOW
OF, THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON TORNADO PREPAREDNESS, WORKING WITH
INSURANCE COMPANIES, WORKING WITH MITIGATION, WORKING WITH EMERGENCY
MANAGERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW WE DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE
FOR A CONSUMER THAT MAY HAVE LOST EVERYTHING.
ANDY: AND NEUGEBAUER SAYS LOSING EVERYTHING IS SOMETHING HIS BILL WILL
HELP MINIMIZE, BY FOCUSING ON PRE-STORM AWARENESS.
RANDY NEUGEBAUER: A LOT OF THE FUNDING WE WANT TO PUT ON THE FRONT END.
AND THAT'S THE FORECASTING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE BUILDING STANDARDS ARE
APPROPRIATE.
AND AS WE BUILD BACK IN MANY OF THESE AREAS, YOU KNOW BUILDING MORE
WIND-RESISTANT HOMES, YOU KNOW SAFE HOUSES, STORM CELLARS THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS ARE CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT ARE ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
ANDY: AND DOAK SAYS PART OF BEING WEATHER AWARE IS KNOWING YOUR INSURANCE
POLICY.
JOHN DOAK: SIT DOWN WITH YOUR AGENT OR BROKER.
TAKE THAT HOUR TO SIT DOWN AND UNDERSTAND YOUR POLICY.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE COVERAGE.
ANDY: AND WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE, A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
JOHN DOAK: TAKE PICTURES.
YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU GET ONE OF OUR FREE HOME INVENTORIES OFF OF THE
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE WEBSITE.
OR, TAKE THOSE PICTURES OF YOUR HOME, PUT THEM ON A JUMP DRIVE.
BECAUSE IF YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING, THOSE PICTURES REALLY DO HELP, PICTURES
OF YOUR GARAGE, PICTURES OF YOUR ATTIC, PICTURES OF YOUR CLOSET.
ANDY: SO BEFORE THE SKY EVER TURNS DARK GREY THIS SPRING, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
HOMEOWNERS TO BE PREPARED BEFORE DISASTER EVEN HITS.
ANDY BARTH: WELL, NATIONWIDE THE UNITED STATES RECORDS ROUGHLY ONE
THOUSAND TORNADOES ANNUALLY.
AS A RESULT, ABOUT FIFTEEN HUNDRED INJURIES AND EIGHTY DEATHS ARE REPORTED
EACH YEAR, A NUMBER THAT ALL AGREE IS STILL TOO HIGH.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL IT CERTAINLY IS.
BUT AS WE HAVE SEEN, ANDY, TOO OFTEN, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO STAY OUT OF A
TORNADO'S PATH.
ANDY: IT CAN ROB.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT JUST TO BE SMART WHEN IT COMES TO TORNADO SEASON
DON'T SUDDENLY DECIDE TO BECOME AN AMATEUR STORM CHASER TO CAPTURE PICTURES
OR VIDEO OF THE TWISTER.
YOU KNOW AS WE SAW LAST YEAR, EVEN FOR THE PROFESSIONALS IT CAN BE
DEADLY.
SO WHEN SEVERE WEATHER DOES THREATEN, GET TO A SHELTER OR A ROOM WITH NO
OUTSIDE-FACING WINDOWS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE A TORNADO THREAT EVEN
OCCURS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY ACCORDING TO FEMA, THIRTY-SIX PERCENT OF
AMERICANS DON'T EVEN HAVE EMERGENCY PLANS IN PLACE.
ROB: NOW I KNOW STORM SHELTERS CAN GET EXPENSIVE.
BUT ANDY, CAN YOU REALLY PUT A PRICE ON SAFETY?
ANDY: ROB THEY ARE EXPENSIVE, BUT LIFE-SAVING.
SINCE 1980 APPROXIMATELY TWENTY TO THIRTY THOUSAND SHELTERS HAVE BEEN BUILT,
WHICH SAVES ROUGHLY TEN THOUSAND LIVES EACH YEAR.
NOW IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A SHELTER, TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND NEARBY
BUSINESSES PRIOR TO STORM SEASON TO SEE IF YOU CAN TAKE SHELTER IN THEIR SAFE
ROOMS.
ROB: ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDY.
ANDY: YOU'RE WELCOME, ROB.
ROB: NOW WE DO HAVE MORE TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR STORM SEASON ON OUR
WEBSITE, AS WELL AS, A FEATURE ON AN OKLAHOMA STORM SHELTER MANUFACTURER
THAT HAS TURNED HIS PERSONAL HARDSHIP INTO A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.
JUST HEAD TO OK HORIZON DOT COM AND LOOK UNDER OUR VALUE ADDED SECTION.
NOW WHEN WE RETURN, PICKING UP THE PIECES AND PREPARING FOR A BRIGHTER
FUTURE.
MALE ANNOUNCER: YOU'RE WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON, FEATURING SOME OF THE GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL BETWEEN 1950 AND 2006, OKLAHOMA EXPERIENCED
FIFTY-FIVE TORNADOES CLASSIFIED AS VIOLENT.
NOW, FORTY-NINE OF THOSE WERE E-F-4'S, THOSE WITH WINDS OF UP TO TWO HUNDRED
MILES PER HOUR; WHILE SIX WERE CLASSIFIED AS E-F-5'S, THOSE STORMS THAT
ARE JUST HARD TO SURVIVE UNLESS UNDERGROUND.
BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF SUCH VIOLENT STORMS INCREASE TO EIGHT,
E-F-4'S AND TWO, E-F-5'S SINCE 2007.
NOW IN MAY OF LAST YEAR WE HAD ONE OF OUR DEADLIEST STORM OUTBREAKS, THE FIRST
HITTING NEWCASTLE AND MOORE; AND THE SECOND, THE WIDEST TORNADO IN RECORDED
HISTORY, JUST WEST OF OKLAHOMA CITY.
ALTHOUGH THE EL RENO TORNADO REMAINED MOSTLY OVER OPEN TERRAIN, IT DID
KILL FOUR STORM CHASERS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY ITS IMMENSE SIZE.
NOW THANKFULLY BECAUSE THE STORM DID REMAIN IN A MOSTLY RURAL AREA, DAMAGE
WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT.
BUT THE EL RENO CAMPUS OF THE CANADIAN VALLEY TECHNOLOGY CENTER WAS
MOSTLY DESTROYED.
BUT DESPITE SUCH DAMAGE, SCHOOL HAS GONE ON WITH THE HELP OF A NEIGHBORING
TOWN AND A NEVER-QUIT ATTITUDE.
ROB MCCLENDON: IT'S A DAY AMY SIMER WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER.
AMY SIMER: A COUPLE OF FRIENDS AND I WERE SITTING IN A COFFEE SHOP, AND THEY
HAD THE WEATHER CHANNEL ON TV.
AND I JUST KEPT WATCHING IT, AND WATCHING IT, AND THINKING THAT'S RIGHT
WHERE I WORK.
ROB: AND IT WAS.
A DIRECT HIT.
AMY SIMER: IT WAS UNREAL, UNBELIEVABLE.
ROB: THE CANADIAN VALLEY TECH CENTER IN EL RENO DESTROYED, HIGH TECH
EQUIPMENT STROWN AROUND LIKE GARBAGE.
AMY SIMER: YOU KNOW I WAS THINKING WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHERE DO I GO TO
WORK?
YOU KNOW, MONDAY WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?
ROB: AND AMY WASN'T ALONE.
FROM STUDENTS TO FACULTY THERE WERE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS OF WHAT NOW?
GREG WINTERS: YOU KNOW WE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE SCHOOL ON AUGUST THE
15TH.
AND WE STARTED SCHOOL ON AUGUST THE 15TH.
ROB: GREG WINTERS IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CANADIAN VALLEY CAREERTECH
DISTRICT AND SAYS WHAT HIS STAFF DID OVER THE NEXT 75 DAYS WAS NOTHING SHORT OF
REMARKABLE; PICKING UP THE PIECES OF WHAT COULD BE SAVED, AND MOVING THEM TO
A NEW TEMPORARY LOCATION.
GAYLA LUTTS: THIS WAS THE OLD CAR DEALERSHIP SHOWROOM CURRENTLY, IT IS
A MATH CLASSROOM OVER IN THAT CORNER.
WE'VE PUT WALLS UP HERE TO MAKE THE COSMETOLOGY CLASSROOM AND TO MAKE
ANOTHER ADDITIONAL MATH CLASSROOM OVER THERE, SO THAT WE HAVE SPACE FOR ALL
OUR CLASSES.
AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOMS.
ROB: GAYLA LUTTS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE EL RENO CAMPUS, NOW HOLDING CLASS
AT A ONE-TIME CAR DEALERSHIP IN YUKON.
ROB: SO WHERE ARE WE?
GAYLA LUTTS: OKAY, SO THIS IS THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE HOLT BUILDING.
AND YOU KNOW WHEN WE TOOK THIS OVER IT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR ABOUT FIVE
YEARS.
THERE WERE DEAD BIRDS EVERYWHERE.
ROB: IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE MADE GOOD USE OF THE SPACE.
GAYLE LUTTS: YES, WE HAVE.
WE HAVE MADE USE OF EVERY SQUARE INCH.
WE'VE, WE PUT HOLES IN WALLS SO THAT WE COULD MAKE IT LIKE ONE
CLASSROOM, INSTEAD OF TEARING DOWN A WALL WE WOULD JUST PUT A WINDOW IN
SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THROUGH SO IT BECOMES ONE LARGE CLASSROOM.
ROB: TURNING A BUSINESS PROPERTY INTO A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHILE THE COMPUTERS MAY BE STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER, THE STUDENTS
ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE.
GREG WINTERS: I'M, PROUD OF OUR KIDS AND THE WAY THEY'VE ADAPTED BECAUSE
THE ENVIRONMENT IS A LONG WAY FROM WHAT WE CONSIDER THE NORMAL ENVIRONMENT AT
A CAREER TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
YOU KNOW IT JUST IS.
BUT THEY'VE MADE THE BEST OF A REALLY BAD SITUATION.
ROB: BUT TURNING A ONCE CLOSED BUSINESS INTO A TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN JUST
75 DAYS WAS NEITHER CHEAP, NOR EASY.
GREG WINTERS: WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE A LOT OF OUR EQUIPMENT WE'VE BOUGHT A
TON OF EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE SPENT OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF INSURANCE MONEY ALREADY ON
REPLACING EQUIPMENT.
WHEN WE CAME INTO THIS BUILDING WE HAD TO RUN 1200 AMPS OF BRAND NEW 483
PHASE ELECTRICITY.
THERE WERE 600 AMPS IN THE BUILDING, AND WE NEEDED 1800 AMPS.
WE HAD TO RUN 18,000 LINEAR FEET OF CAT 6 CABLE TO HOOK UP 400 COMPUTERS.
YOU KNOW WE HAD TO YOU KNOW, GRAB THE FIBER OPTICS FROM THE BANK OF
OKLAHOMA LOCATION ACROSS THE STREET THAT'S A *** CONNECTION THAT'S HIGH
SPEED INTERNET.
ROB: WHICH IS VITAL.
GREG WINTERS: WHICH IS VITAL.
MEAN YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT.
AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WENT OUR WAY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT JUST DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
I MEAN THEY REALLY DID, YOU KNOW.
AND YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD STAFF, BUT THEN YOU PUT THEM IN A
SITUATION THAT WE WERE PUT IN AND IT MAKES YOU KIND OF PROUD TO BE A
SUPERINTENDENT AT CANADIAN VALLEY, QUITE FRANKLY.
ROB: YET THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
WHILE CLASSES ARE UNDERWAY IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY, IT'S NOT THE BEST LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S NOISEY, IT'S HOT, AND IT'S OVERCROWDED.
BRAD WAKE TEACHES DIESEL MECHANICS.
BRAD WAKE: WE'RE PACKED TO THE BRIM.
WE'VE GOT ENOUGH STUDENTS COMING BACK NEXT YEAR THAT WILL MORE THAN FILL THE
CLASS.
SO, WE'RE LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THE NEW ONES IN.
ROB: THAT IS WHY VOTERS IN THE CANADIAN VALLEY DISTRICT WILL BE GOING TO
THE POLLS ON APRIL 1ST, TO VOTE ON HOW TO PUT ALL THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER.
GREG WINTERS: INSTEAD OF US REMODELING A 1970 MODEL BUILDING, WHICH WE'VE BEEN
DOING FOR YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FRAMEWORK, NOW THE ORIGINAL SKELTON
STRUCTURE OF TWO OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
WE HAD NINE BUILDINGS WHEN THE TORNADO HIT.
SEVEN OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE COMPLETELY GONE THEY TOOK THEM COMPLETELY OUT,
FOOTINGS, AND IT'S RED DIRT.
WE'VE GOT TWO SKELETON STRUCTURES WITH AN ECONOMIC VALUE OF ABOUT
FOUR MILLION DOLLARS.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THAT WAS ALL GONE IT WOULD COST US AN ADDITIONAL FOUR
MILLION DOLLARS JUST TO BUILD THE SKELETON BACK.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE SKELETON STRUCTURE THAT WAS PART OF
THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS WHEN THEY WERE BUILT.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IS GO IN AND DESIGN A 2015 MODEL
TECHNOLOGY CENTER USING A 1970 SKELETAL FRAME.
THERE IS NOT TO MANY SILVER LININGS ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, QUITE
FRANKLY, BUT THE SILVER LININGS I'VE BEEN DANGLING OUT IN FRONT OF FOLKS IS,
YOU KNOW WHEN WE BUILD BACK, WE GET A 2015 MODEL BUILDING, WE'RE ALBE TO
BUILD IT BACK AND USE BASICALLY THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT REDESIGN IT A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WHERE IT'S MORE EFFICIENT AND A LITTLE BIT MORE USER
FRIENDLY MAYBE THAN WHAT THE OLD BUILDING WAS.
ROB MCCLENDON: NOW GREG WINTERS TELLS US HE BELIEVES THE REBUILDING OF
THE EL RENO CAMPUS WILL BE A WIN - WIN FOR BOTH YUKON AND EL RENO.
EL RENO GETS A NEW UP-TO-DATE TECH CENTER WITH STORM SHELTERS THAT
CAN ACCOMMODATE THEIR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY AND FACULTY, WHILE YUKON'S
BUSINESS COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM HAVING A NEWLY RENOVATED BUILDING
ON THE MARKET THAT THE TECH CENTER HAS MADE ITS TEMPORARY HOME.
NOW THE CANADIAN VALLEY BOND ELECTION IS ON APRIL FIRST.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: STILL TO COME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON; THIRD GRADE READING
STANDARDS.
BUT FIRST, COMMON CORE.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL RECENT EDUCATION REFORMS ARE FACING CHALLENGES AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO REPEAL COMMON CORE
CURRICULUM STANDARDS AND GIVE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UNTIL THE
2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR TO PUT NEW STANDARDS IN PLACE.
NOW STATE REPRESENTATIVE GUS BLACKWELL WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THE LEGISLATION
SAYS, IF YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH, YOU STOP, YOU TURN AROUND, AND YOU
GO BACK.
GUS BLACKWELL: A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL THEY'RE JUST STANDARDS.
WELL IF YOU CHANGE THE STANDARDS, YOU CHANGE THE TESTING.
YOU CHANGE THE TESTING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE CURRICULUM.
YOU CHANGE ALL THAT, YOU CHANGE HOW YOU EVALUATE TEACHERS.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE AND WEIGH THEM AND SEE HOW CAN WE TAKE MAYBE WHAT'S
GOOD, BUT ALSO KEEP IT WITHIN THE REALM OF OKLAHOMA CONTROL?
ROB: WELL SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JEFF HICKMAN SAYS HOUSE BILL 3399 ALLOWS THE
FLEXIBILITY NEEDED TO CREATE STANDARDS THAT ARE PURELY OKLAHOMAN AND WILL
PREPARE CHILDREN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OR CAREERS IN THE MODERN JOB
MARKET.
NOW, COMMON CORE IS A SET OF LEARNING STANDARDS ADOPTED BY FORTY-FIVE
OTHER STATES THAT DETERMINE WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW IN EACH GRADE
LEVEL TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS.
NOW CRITICS SAY IT REPRESENTS A FEDERAL INTRUSION INTO LOCAL
CONTROL OF SCHOOLS AND THAT IT WILL LEAD TO INCREASED STANDARDIZED
TESTING.
BUT PROPONENTS OF THE TOUGHER STANDARDS WHICH INCLUDES MOST INDUSTRY
LEADERS AND GOVERNOR MARY FALLIN SAY THEY ARE NEEDED TO KEEP OKLAHOMA STUDENTS
COMPETITIVE IN A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK JUST
HEAD TO OK HORIZON DOT COM WHERE YOU CAN SEE MORE OF ANY OF OUR STORIES, READ
OUR REPORTERS BEHIND THE SCENES BLOGS, SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT US
ON TWITTER, AND FACE THE FACTS WITH OUR REGULAR UPDATES.
SO REACH OUT AND TOUCH US ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME.
ROB MCCLENDON: AN UPCOMING THIRD-GRADE READING TEST HAS CREATED A PUBLIC FUROR
OVER CONCERNS THAT HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WILL BE HELD BACK FOR READING
BELOW THEIR GRADE LEVEL OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS
ESTIMATE NEARLY ONE-IN-FOUR OF THEIR THIRD-GRADERS ARE READING
BELOW GRADE LEVEL AND ARE IN DANGER OF RETENTION.
IT'S A DEBATE THAT IS BEING WAGED AT THE CAPITOL AND AROUND SOME DINNER
TABLES EARLIER I VISITED WITH THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION, JANET BARRESI, ABOUT WHY SHE BELIEVES BEING ABLE TO READ BY
THIRD GRADE IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF OKLAHOMA'S WORKFORCE.
WELL SUPERINTENDENT BARRESI, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THAT, AND IT'S BEEN
SAID BEFORE, READING IS FUNDAMENTAL, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE MAKING THESE
EFFORTS HERE IN THE STATE.
JANET BARRESI: ABSOLUTELY, IF YOU CAN'T READ YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.
WE KNOW THAT EVEN KIDS THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN MATHEMATICS ARE STRUGGLING
READERS AS WELL.
IT IS TIME THAT WE TAKE A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD LAW AND PUT A DATE CERTAIN AND
SAY THAT IN THIRD GRADE YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SKILLS YOU NEED
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN FOURTH GRADE.
ROB: THERE ARE SOME CONTENTIONS WITH THIS LAW, AND I THINK IT PROBABLY IS
A LOT OF FEAR OVER THE RETENTION OF THESE THIRD GRADERS.
NO ON WANTS THEIR CHILD HELD BACK.
JANET BARRESI: RIGHT, RIGHT, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT CONCERN
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS NOT ONE TEST ON ONE DAY.
THERE ARE OTHER ASSESSMENTS ALTERNATE ASSESSMENTS THAT THE
CHILDREN CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND FOR KIDS THAT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TEST ANXIETY, THE TEACHER CAN
PUT TOGETHER A PORTFOLIO OF THEIR WORK THAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED ACROSS THE YEAR
AND THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THEY ARE READING ON GRADE LEVEL, AND THAT'S
AVAILABLE AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTIONS THAT'S BUILT
INTO THE LAW.
AND SO FOR INSTANCE FOR CHILDREN WHERE ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE THAT
HAVE HAD LESS THAN TWO YEARS OF INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION, THOSE KIDS
ARE ACTUALLY PROMOTED BUT STILL GET THAT INTENSIVE REMEDIATION.
THERE'S THINGS FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE COGNITIVE CHALLENGES, THAT
ARE ON AN I-E-P, OR MOVED ON THAT HAVE TO TAKE A SPECIAL KIND OF TEST.
THERE'S A PROVISION FOR JUST ONE YEAR OF RETENTION FOR CHILDREN ON AN I-E-P
THAT HAVEN'T BEEN RETAINED BEFORE.
IF THE CHILD HAD BEEN RETAINED AND IS ON AN I-E-P, THEY ARE PROMOTED
AS WELL.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO RETENTION, THE SECOND THING I WANT TO STRESS, RETENTION IS A LAST
RESORT, IT'S A LAST RESORT.
ROB: SO WHAT IS THE ROLE THAT PARENTS CAN HAVE IN ALL THIS?
BARRESI: WELL FIRST OF ALL, A PARENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THE FIRST
TEACHER OF EVERY CHILD.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT AS A PARENT TO BEGIN SPEAKING TO YOUR BABY, AND BUILD
VOCABULARY AS YOU TALK WITH YOUR BABY, AND ENCOURAGE LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT.
AND YEAH, THOSE NURSERY RHYMES ARE IMPORTANT.
THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER IS A BIG PART OF PRE READING SKILLS THAT THEY LEARN THE
RHYTHM AND THE SEQUENCE OF LANGUAGE.
AND THAT ACTUALLY IS A PRE READING SKILL.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LITTLE ONES HAVE A VERY GOOD VOCABULARY BY
THE TIME THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN, BECAUSE THAT GETS THEM READY TO LEARN
TO READ.
ROB: YEAH, YOU KNOW I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN SECOND GRADE THAT
MY READING SKILLS WEREN'T UP TO SNUFF.
AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN MY MOTHER'S LAP OR AT THE KITCHEN TABLE READING
EVERY NIGHT AND I MAY NOT HAVE LOVED IT AT THE TIME, BUT IT SEEMED TO HAVE
WORKED.
I DO IT FOR A LIVING NOW.
BARRESI: YOU KNOW I DID THAT TOO AS A PARENT.
READ TO MY KIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT MY KIDS ACTUALLY WERE STRUGGLING READERS THEMSELVES.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY BECAME SPECIAL ED STUDENTS, WERE ON AN I-E-P
AT AN EARLY GRADE.
AND WHEN THEY GOT INTO FOURTH GRADE WAS ACTUALLY MY TOUGHEST DAY AS A
PARENT.
DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM SCHOOL, HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, MOM AM I
RETARDED?
AND THAT STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS.
I HAD TO STOP THE CAR.
AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
AND HE SAID, MOM I DON'T WANT TO STAND UP AND READ ANYMORE.
I HAD TO READ OUTLOUD IN CLASS TODAY, AND HE SAID I CAN'T READ LIKE THE OTHER
KIDS.
AND HE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, I DON'T WANT TO READ HE SAID THIS
ISN'T FUN.
THAT REALLY STOPS YOU AS A PARENT, BUT IT ALSO HELPS ME KNOW ABOUT WHAT KIDS GO
THROUGH THAT ARE PUT INTO A GRADE NOT READY TO DO THAT LEVEL OF LEARNING.
IN FOURTH GRADE, KIDS STOP LEARNING TO READ AND THEY START READING TO LEARN.
IT'S A BIG TRANSITIONAL GRADE.
MY SON WAS IN THERE AND DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS THAT HE NEEDED.
AND JUST BY SHEER LUCK AND BLESSINGS OF THE LORD, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT
MODEL THAT WE'RE TEACHING NOW WHICH IS EXTENDED TIME ON TASK, AND MET WITH AN
INCREDIBLE TEACHER WHO REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE APPROACH TO HIS READING
HAD TO BE DIFFERENT, NOT THE WAY IT HAD ALWAYS BEEN.
THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, HE BEGAN TO PROGRESS, STILL STRUGGLED QUITE A
BIT AND QUITE FRANKLY FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE WAS PRETTY TOUGH.
AND SOMETIME AROUND MARCH OR SPRING OF HIS FIFTH GRADE YEAR, IT JUST
CLICKED, BECAUSE READING IS A SKILL, AND ONCE YOU GET IT, NO MATTER HOW LONG
IT TAKES YOU, ONCE YOU GET IT, WE'RE SEEING KIDS JUST REALLY TAKE OFF.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.
HE BECAME A VORACIOUS READER.
AND STILL LOVES READING TODAY, HAS A GREAT DEGREE FROM COLLEGE, AND IS OFF
THE PAYROLL.
[LAUGHS].
ROB: [LAUGHING].
OFF YOUR PAYROLL, EVEN BETTER, EVEN BETTER.
YOU KNOW FROM A STATE'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE STATE PERSPECTIVE, WHY DO
THIS?
BARRESI: OH, LISTEN, READING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE AND REALLY BEING ABLE TO ATTAIN THEIR PERSONAL GOALS.
LOOK, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT STATISTICS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO STRUGGLING
READERS, THE ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT SEVEN OUT OF TEN PRISON INMATES
ARE READING ABOUT ON A FOURTH GRADE LEVEL.
AND EIGHTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF NINETEEN YEAR OLDS THAT WERE DROPOUTS OUT OF
SCHOOL WERE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL, WERE STRUGGLING READERS IN
THIRD GRADE.
SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON FOOD STAMPS ARE POOR
READERS, DO NOT READ VERY, VERY WELLL.
I COULD GO ON AND ON.
I COULD TALK ABOUT DROPOUT RATES.
I COULD TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT ON I-E-PS QUITE FRANKLY WE THINK IN THE
STATE THAT ALMOST FIFTY PERCENT OF OUR KIDS ARE ON AN I-E-P DO NOT HAVE A
COGNITIVE PROBLEM, THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY STRUGGLING READERS WHO WE'RE LOOKING
AT THEM DIFFERENTLY NOW.
WE EXPECT, AS IN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE HAD A LONG EXPERIENCE WITH
THIS, WE'RE GOING TO START DROPPING THAT I-E-P ENROLLMENT.
WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO START DROPPING THE ILLITERACY RATE,
INCREASING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
AND THE BIG GOAL IS, REDUCE REMEDIATION RATE WHEN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
GET TO COLLEGE.
ROB: YEAH, SO CERTAINLY A PERSONAL, A SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUE.
BARRESI: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
ROB: WELL SUPERINTENDENT BARRESI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
BARRESI: MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
ROB MCCLENDON: NEXT TIME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, G-M-O, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW
THESE THREE LITTLE LETTERS HAVE OKLAHOMA'S AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
DIVIDED OVER THE GENETIC ENGINEERING OF OKLAHOMA'S TOP CROP.
SCIENCE IS NOT THAT SIMIPLE, THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
ROB: PLUS, WE'LL MEET THE LATEST INDUCTEE INTO OKLAHOMA'S AG HALL OF
FAME; ON OKLAHOMA'S SHOW FOR THE HEARTLAND, OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL WE ARE OUT OF TIME.
I'M ROB MCCLENDON.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON.