Sen. Mary Boren issued a statement June 27 after being denied access to an executive session by the State Board of Education – a meeting Boren said she had legal authority to attend.

“I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the State Board of Education conveniently interpreted the Open Meetings Act to exclude me in my official capacity as a state senator from their executive session. Section 310 of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes provides for attendance of state legislators in executive sessions.

“I had anticipated the executive session would involve decisions that will likely incur significant legal costs by misapplying administrative rules and unconstitutionally targeting teachers and rights of students.

“All of these issues are within my role as a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, the Administrative Rules Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

“Given the highly authoritarian approach of the State Board of Education to crush the rights of parents, teachers and readers, it is warranted that a state senator should observe executive sessions. Observation is the basic tenant of accountability to ensure state officials uphold both the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions in their proceedings.

“Failing to comply with the Open Meetings Act nullifies the actions of the Oklahoma State Board of Education and invites judicial scrutiny.”