[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6509894,"mediaKeyId","5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873","parentId",5419091,"title","Board votes to terminate employee after executive session; record shows executive session times","audioSeconds",1185,"startMs",3017900,"endMs",4203755,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873&start=3017&end=4203","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873/thumbnail_3017900.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6509894/Oklahoma/Board-votes-to-terminate-employee-after-executive-session-record-shows-executive-session-times","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509894-49739f2aa42caa9a4060a8a989e0b4fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095067&Signature=l2YKnayWVbPr7-PNt~O8rPSGj6jlAovboUOGCYuw5WD3cz7HopAmDf30IBvvgw5WkW1akaWyPrmdrgGyAi0MZTEKWB-9kME8j5wDgdU8Y5oN9SmBCmftrf10mUklg~AIk3vm6TuYH6eH0S47Zgy7xgUKKEWttQ~GZhzNWixkXsci1oxzMbz7VLYRu3eSPhLW76Ebr6T2RJ74O1ABp64MDa8wPYR0tJ2zPjRzPNfnqheJ55Glk59Bi8s3khHriDXzDzY1zJOJpu8wpO5sMgIF67gTvR~v5kd8TOvVS0S0shrHk3SoTDPzCU-12BzPyRmUaIEPth~KgsrGCgG2bZrivA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CareerTech","date","2025-07-17T15:39:22.543Z","article","The State Board of Career and Technology Education voted to accept the director’s recommendation to terminate the employment of Vesteral Berger following executive-session discussion.

The agency presented the matter under agenda item 3.02 and said the employee was present. The staff noted the authority for closed discussion as the statute permitting discussion of a salaried public employee (cited in the meeting as 25 Oklahoma statute 2021 307 b 1). The board initially attempted to take action in open session but lacked a second for the motion to terminate and then moved to vote on whether to enter executive session. A motion to enter executive session carried; the record states the board entered executive session at 9:58 a.m. and exited at 10:14 a.m.

After the executive session, the board reconvened in open session and voted to accept the director’s recommendation to terminate. The roll-call vote recorded each of the five members present voting yes: Mr. Seaman, Mr. McCullough, Miss Hanning, Mr. Brown and Mr. Dethridge. The chair stated the motion passed and no further public discussion was recorded.

The meeting minutes reflect that the board discussed only items on the agenda during the executive session and that the record reflects the entry and exit times for the session. The employee’s name and that the employee was present were stated during the agenda discussion. The packet does not include a further public explanation of the factual basis for the termination.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CareerTech State Board Meeting -- July 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After an executive session, the State Board accepted the director’s recommendation to terminate employee Vesteral Berger. The board first attempted action in open session, then moved to executive session and later voted to accept the termination recommendation.","taxTitle","CareerTech, Executive, Oklahoma","taxId",27353,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6509898,"Board ratifies midyear personnel report and pay-band adjustments",259,2733390,2992680,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873&start=2733&end=2992","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873/thumbnail_2733390.jpg","/articles/6509898/Oklahoma/Board-ratifies-midyear-personnel-report-and-pay-band-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509898-3a634ca84d3d6e9c4132936bb2a6799f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095067&Signature=SbDKI9-7WF~LGRvk2lrpQYlD~mDmUNrVdvGpas09ir3pDCOGPirRQPrHAUZH74BljAer1gJys4OGuUeXAKtJOBJQMswuI6-gDIkDn62ZVEVCfo4LiQp0a8azEa70mAeZtPAbKOtH93hmDT7XTA-bg5d5QQdUIpwmzV0AR5bq3hii-ltGSSXjc1R3Yfcm08fSsdZPu2UtzSi0UTF6ugPRJLbkPdkswLXc9~YW7Y9tp8V8CNPfFApMm~cd1e8Oy2~p83kGdcSZU5ooADGH88RjAXv36WNBuOwFLSxdSedvdflGDSeNwBm26ErQWvuLybawhIXkaDX1Fn0cH~0XzJ7Ckg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Board of Career and Technology Education voted to ratify the agency’s midyear personnel actions covering Jan. 1 through June 30, 2025, and accepted programmatic pay adjustments recommended by human resources.

Raquel Parley, the agency’s human resource manager, presented the midyear report, which lists appointments, promotions, retirements and resignations for the period. Parley noted one long-serving employee, Marie Satcamper, retired after roughly 30 years at the agency.

Parley told the board the agency implemented a $1,000 increase for employees in pay band 13 and made additional individual adjustments for staff who had not received previous increases. She also reminded the board the agency is operating under the governor’s executive order for the 2019 FTE count and is monitoring FTE totals with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).

During review, the board identified two retirement effective dates listed incorrectly as \"02/1930\" on the packet. Parley confirmed the correct effective dates are June 30, 2025, and the board amended the record before voting.

A motion to approve the midyear report (mover and seconder not specified in the record) passed on the roll call with the five members present voting yes: Michael Brown, Phyllis Hanning, Leonard McCullough, Mr. Seaman and Ryan Dethridge.","The State Board approved the midyear personnel report covering Jan. 1–June 30, 2025, including retirements, appointments and a $1,000 increase for pay-band 13 positions; the board corrected two retirement effective dates during the meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6509902,"SkillsUSA Oklahoma reports membership growth, national medals and expanded industry partnerships",1807,862050,2669865,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873&start=862&end=2669","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873/thumbnail_862050.jpg","/articles/6509902/Oklahoma/SkillsUSA-Oklahoma-reports-membership-growth-national-medals-and-expanded-industry-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509902-a1d1b46a1a1d0c27937cc0ef370a9288/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095067&Signature=Hx122tV8LjTo-75gbc-tP-c4AuuzMibZSVUBpmEC3lXO9OcDi6fUm~ayC6O7a64iMv4ZNUWFtdl1Ks7GydQZUyFio6SvptkqoMubasB4~jm~y27rzFe97YPkHn4tBjw8VLrwUgyRlJlfZQD9J391eEIRYw31WIOwDg53n3bfduTKm-SKI8ia~ZM~2K8GD7pw6L6wZDqCzz91gT07Hn78CNaUMmW9S-WJrnQMMijBkZkng8UeEEqYDY0rb3wfRAGZoREa3MmI9hUvLRj9hTX~CTj0IFMvO8Z4V4w25YinzfqurIzlM3RPddp0kpHisCipokNegIzA0anGpBnkyV8uzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Presenters at the State Board of Career and Technology Education meeting described SkillsUSA Oklahoma’s growth, contest activity and industry partnerships and invited board members to attend state and national competitions.

\"SkillsUSA Oklahoma has grown to over 18,000 members this year,\" Kendra Kahl, SkillsUSA state advisor, told the board. She highlighted state and national contest participation and leadership-development events, and said the program is among the country’s larger SkillsUSA associations. \"We were one of the largest delegations at nationals this year,\" she added, and said 433 Oklahoma delegates attended the national conference.

Renee Reed, the agency’s trade and industrial education program manager, reviewed the technical programs that feed SkillsUSA participation, noting growth in licensed trades, aerospace maintenance, EMT and cosmetology programs across the technology center system. Reed said the technology centers account for roughly half of full-time enrollments in the system and that many short-term adult training opportunities are also offered through center partners.

Kahl provided contest and result details: about 2,346 contestants at state conference; roughly 3,000 participants at the weekend events; 266 competing teams; and 33 national gold medals brought back to Oklahoma. She also said 124 students received SkillsUSA technical certificates (skills point certificates), and the state organization is expanding partnerships, including corporate sponsorship by Ditch Witch for a welding competition.

Board members were told the state conference occupies the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa and uses additional partner sites as the event has grown. Presenters asked board members to consider attending future state events in April and noted the competitions are intended to connect students with industry and local employers.","At the State Board meeting SkillsUSA state advisor and CareerTech staff presented enrollment and contest results: SkillsUSA Oklahoma claims about 18,000 members, a large state conference with nearly 3,000 participants, and 33 national gold medals returned to the state.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6509907,"Oklahoma CareerTech: $7 million in federal adult-education funds held up; short-term Pell will widen aid for short training",874,556890,1431455,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873&start=556&end=1431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5419091-f70d28fa057ce4d7c1f39e4142cba873/thumbnail_556890.jpg","/articles/6509907/Oklahoma/Oklahoma-CareerTech-7-million-in-federal-adult-education-funds-held-up-short-term-Pell-will-widen-aid-for-short-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6509907-31a453b6aa43ce03b57c997cc07be928/orig.mp4?Expires=1771095067&Signature=mKG~b3vyLD6YyUR0wOZrpw4LYEpad~2TeARp2oZFQbS7OFXbL9VgaYyj09sp0X689LQ4qDDYQetvAQO~2X3-IqP93hpe1ZQzrOn7fjZAjZ-zf~RHnzRLQZVgmP~cRorKdwg29q~uYf-uGP9yLfYtXzFBO~MjyVnMOD4O8sszoB6VwOuZmKztaDd7Ok4OVQlxgd5LzHuIFYgoOW-bFHiMLf~Kz0YIBghlgoD42qkeQG5BESnUtF-wnqf4hWtnQyfyQZ1gBUSapjnYUDZSA7znyHlJA8oofN56u~BZhsaCvBxUDfURtdN8ZASYrZuTL1AtYXfGvAfPDJvOZhyei7eQgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the State Board of Career and Technology Education in Stillwater, Director Hagan told members that about $7 million in federal adult-education funds that was due July 1 had been held up, putting 30 state-run high-school-equivalency programs on pause.

\"Adult education is a hot topic right now because the Trump administration has held up payment on adult education... $7,000,000 that was slated to come to us on July 1 did not,\" Director Hagan said. \"So 30 programs across the state that we operate to help people get their high school equivalency are on pause right now.\" He added, \"I still think it will come, but I don't know exactly when. By August 9, we should have some definite answers.\"

The delay affects programs Oklahoma uses to help adults obtain a high school equivalency. Director Hagan said the federal grant is the only source the state currently uses to support those adult-education programs and warned the state would have to make changes if the funds do not arrive. \"We have almost 300,000 adults without a high school diploma in Oklahoma,\" he said, noting the federal grant is the primary mechanism to address that gap.

Separately, board members were briefed on new federal rules expanding Pell Grant eligibility to shorter programs. Director Hagan said the change will allow the agency and accredited career-technical programs to offer shorter, Pell-eligible training for adults. \"Now that they will be eligible for financial aid where they weren't before,\" he said, \"we hope programs such as truck-driver training can become financially accessible for more adults beginning in 2026.\"

Director Hagan said not all providers will be able to immediately participate because programs must meet accreditation requirements. He also noted parameters for the new short-term Pell program being discussed at the agency, including program-length windows and hour thresholds for eligibility.

Board members did not take formal action on either issue during the meeting. The director said staff has notified the legislature and will provide updates when federal guidance is confirmed.","At a State Board of Career and Technology Education meeting in Stillwater, Director Hagan told the board $7 million in federal adult-education funding slated for July 1 was delayed; board members were also briefed on short-term Pell eligibility that will make shorter career-training programs Pell-eligible for adults.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board votes to terminate employee after executive session; record shows executive session times

Board ratifies midyear personnel report and pay-band adjustments

SkillsUSA Oklahoma reports membership growth, national medals and expanded industry partnerships

Oklahoma CareerTech: $7 million in federal adult-education funds held up; short-term Pell will widen aid for short training