A divided OKC school board accepts Sean McDaniel's resignation, then leaves without comment

Murray Evans, The Oklahoman
Updated ·4 min read
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Oklahoma City Superintendent Sean McDaniel sits in his seat Thursday before the Oklahoma City school board went into executive session to consider his surprise resignation.
Oklahoma City Superintendent Sean McDaniel sits in his seat Thursday before the Oklahoma City school board went into executive session to consider his surprise resignation.

A deeply divided Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Superintendent Sean McDaniel, its members casting their votes and then leaving the building without speaking to reporters.

After a closed session that lasted an hour and 48 minutes Thursday night, the board voted 5-3 to accept McDaniel's resignation, with board Chair Paula Lewis making the motion. Joining Lewis in voting for her motion were Vice-Chair Lori Bowman (who seconded Lewis' motion), Cary Pirrong, Meg McElhaney and newly sworn-in member Dana Meister, making her second vote as a board member. The first was to enter into the executive session.

Cary Pirrong, District 3 representative on the Oklahoma City school board, listens Thursday before the board went into executive session to consider the surprise resignation of Superintendent Sean McDaniel.
Cary Pirrong, District 3 representative on the Oklahoma City school board, listens Thursday before the board went into executive session to consider the surprise resignation of Superintendent Sean McDaniel.

Voting against accepting the resignation were members Carole Thompson, Adrian Anderson and Juan Lecona.

McDaniel also declined comment after the meeting, but on Friday afternoon he released a brief statement saying, “OKCPS is the greatest place I’ve ever worked. Our students are amazing, we have the best teachers on the planet and our school and district leaders display their dedication to our students daily."

In the statement McDaniel expressed his gratitude to students and staff in the district and said he was committed to giving them "my all" until the end of June, when his resignation takes effect.

He added: "I want everyone to remember that change can be good and exciting. I have no doubt that OKCPS is going to land an excellent superintendent to continue the phenomenal growth and momentum currently happening for OKCPS.”

Oklahoma City school board members Juan Lecona and Meg McElhaney walk past Superintendent Sean McDaniel during Thursday's meeting.
Oklahoma City school board members Juan Lecona and Meg McElhaney walk past Superintendent Sean McDaniel during Thursday's meeting.
Carole Thompson, District 1 board member, listens Thursday during the Oklahoma City school board's meeting.
Carole Thompson, District 1 board member, listens Thursday during the Oklahoma City school board's meeting.

At Thursday night's board meeting the division on the board was palpable. After the vote to accept the resignation, the board held what normally would be a routine vote to select a search firm to help the board in recruiting candidates for the open position. But two board members, Anderson and Lecona, both voted against the motion to hire the nonprofit Oklahoma State School Boards Association, even after the board heard a short presentation from the OSSBA’s executive director, Shawn Hime.

McDaniel made his surprise resignation announcement Monday, saying an “irreconcilable” difference of opinion with an as-yet-unidentified school board member led him to decide to resign, effective June 30, after six years in the position.

Oklahoma City Superintendent Sean McDaniel and wife, Traci, leave the Oklahoma City school board meeting Thursday when his resignation was accepted.
Oklahoma City Superintendent Sean McDaniel and wife, Traci, leave the Oklahoma City school board meeting Thursday when his resignation was accepted.

McDaniel is the longest-serving Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent since Arthur Steller, who held the job from 1985 through November 1992. Since Stellar left, McDaniel is one of only three people to last at least five years as the district’s superintendent.

After the meeting, instead of speaking with reporters, Lewis issued a prepared statement that read:

"Tonight, the Board of Education came together at a Special Meeting to formally accept Dr. McDaniel’s resignation as superintendent of OKCPS. Although we hate to see him go, the Board respects his decision and wishes him nothing but the very best."

The prepared statement also said: "The Board also took action to hire the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) to lead the district’s national search as we work toward selecting a new leader for the 2024-25 school year. While we are still very early in the planning process for our search, I want to take this opportunity to reassure each of you that the Board is committed to gathering input from all OKCPS families and staff, as well as our community, regarding the qualities and characteristics you would like to see in our district’s next superintendent. The diverse perspectives found within our district and across our growing city are part of what makes OKCPS special, and the Board looks forward to hearing from you. Stay tuned for more information about this effort in the coming weeks.

"As we look toward the future, I’m honored to work alongside my fellow board members who are deeply passionate about OKCPS. As elected officials, each of us works hard to respect those who dedicate their lives to public education, while representing the values and voices of our community.

"As I shared in my message earlier this week, OKCPS is deeply grateful to Dr. McDaniel for the leadership, passion and expertise he has invested in our district over the last six years. His impact is sure to be felt for generations to come. The Board looks forward to finishing the school year together, as we begin the process to hire a new superintendent."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKCPS board is divided even as it accepts Sean McDaniel's resignation