Mr. Stitt speaks on his retirement from the state Department of Education.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt said Friday that the reported exodus of more than 130 people from the Oklahoma State Department of Education since Superintendent Ryan Walters took over “sounds like a good thing.” , Walters defended the Department of Education's response.

In an article first published online Thursday, a spokesperson for Walters told The Oklahoman that reports that people are leaving OSDE due to dissatisfaction with its management are “fake news.” He said that. In a meeting with reporters Friday morning, Stitt not only affirmed the report, but also said the loss of 130 “bureaucrats” would be good news for the state.

“So you're saying we're losing 130 bureaucrats here in Oklahoma City and our education system is still going strong across the state? Sounds like a good thing to me,” the governor said. Ta.

Various media outlets have reported on the departure of dozens of employees in the education sector, 23 of whom held executive positions or the titles of directors and managers. Retired staff include those who supported local school districts and programs like SoonerStart, which aims to meet the early education needs of young children.

Some former officials who spoke to reporters spoke of dysfunction within the agency. The outlet obtained and reported several resignation letters, including one from Pamela Smith Gordon, the department's former program manager for grant development and compliance. He stated that “the lack of leadership and availability within our own OSDE is impossible to ignore.”

Dan Isett, Mr. Walters' spokesman, on Wednesday harshly criticized both the media and the OSDE, which previously operated.

“They continue to lie about SDE and are outraged that Superintendent Walters blamed a government agency for a dumpster fire,” Isett said.

In a meeting with reporters, Stitt said it was not his place to judge how Walters had run the Department of Education.

“Generally speaking, when you have a small government, that's what you want from me,” Stitt said. “That means we need to spend less on taxes to fund the bureaucracy. But look, Superintendent Walters is elected separately…I don't know how he runs the administration. I'm not going to get into what he's doing. He was elected by the people of Oklahoma. But I'd rather see 130 fewer (officials) in government.”

Stitt also commented Friday on reports that a state law would soon be introduced that would give local law enforcement the power to arrest people for “trespassing,” which carries a range of fines and prison sentences. If passed, the bill would also give authorities the power to require Oklahoma residents to illegally leave the state.

Asked if he might consider creating a new state unit to target illegal immigrants, perhaps within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Stitt said he was not considering that.

“We're not targeting anyone. We're just saying Oklahoma is not going to be a sanctuary state,” he said. “We follow the rules of the state of Oklahoma.”

Stitt said President Joe Biden has failed Americans when it comes to illegal immigration.

“He has the necessary tools, but he hasn't implemented them, so the state will have no choice but to do so.” “We are talking about people on terrorist watch lists, Chinese nationalists who are passing through. It surprises most Americans that it hasn't.”