CareerTech posts multi-chapter rule package for public comment, board reviews proposed program definitions and enrollment updates

Gina Hubbard, director of Statewide Outreach, reviewed a package of proposed administrative rule amendments affecting multiple chapters of CareerTech regulations and told the board the rules were published in the register and posted on the agency website. The 30-day public comment window is open through Jan. 15; staff said a public hearing will be scheduled at the January board meeting and final adoption would be considered at the February meeting if no substantive changes are required.

Key proposals she described include: language in Chapter 1 that formalizes director authority to appoint and set compensation for employees at pay band 17 and above and establishes a written grievance/complaint process; changes in Chapter 10 to permit divisions to set shipping and handling charges rather than a fixed dollar figure; Chapter 15 changes primarily tied to Kiamichi Technology Center to ensure zoning compliance when a tech center serves more than 70 public schools and 225,000 electors; new program definitions (full-time secondary program, full-time program, pre-occupational exposure) intended to allow consistent data capture and expand countable services; and Chapter 20 clarifications on family and consumer sciences classes, program approval processes, enrollment caps for certain health-care programs to comply with accrediting-board ratios and adjunct-teacher guardrails.

Board members asked whether any items had generated negative feedback; Hubbard said the package was published the prior Friday and staff had already taken some superintendent-committee suggestions into account and would consider additional comments. She also noted a new online rules system is being rolled out to streamline submissions and internal workflows.

What's next: the public comment period closes Jan. 15; staff will gather comments, hold the public hearing and return a final proposed rule set for board action in February if appropriate.