CCOSA Report

This reprint of a 30th anniversary article originally appeared in the February and March 2005 editions of Better Schools.

Three decades ago, several principals and superintendents met in Oklahoma City to discuss the future of their associations. Probably no one would have guessed that decisions made that day would change the course forever for the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators, Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals.

“As we begin 2005, we celebrate our 30th anniversary year. We are thankful for the opportunity to reminisce about our history and celebrate our accomplishments and milestones,” Randall Raburn, CCOSA and OASA Executive Director, stated. In the past 30 years, Oklahoma educators have faced many changes in public education. CCOSA has been an integral part of this process working closely with administrators, legislators, educators, and the public,” Raburn said. “To really appreciate our present, we need to reflect and understand our past.”

Administrators Propose Changes in Association Membership

In October of 1972, gathering in a room in the Oklahoma Education Association headquarters, a few superintendents and principals from across the state discussed the feasibility of some type of joint organization for all school administrators within the framework of the OEA organization. (At that time, the superintendents’ and principals’ associations were under the umbrella of OEA.) At the committee meeting, the administrative leaders proposed the umbrella name to be the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration. Some of the leaders at the meeting included Gene Mauk (chairman), Woodrow Jack, Larry Burdick, Elmer Butler, Don Hoopert, Ira Little, John Martin, Max Skelton, and Bill Smith.

“In the spring and summer of 1974, I remember discussions heating up among administrators that it was time to withdraw from OEA and become a separate entity,”

Larry Burdick, 1973-74 President of OASA, stated. “We addressed such issues as OEA and NEA membership, negotiations, administrative leadership, and problems and concerns that were affecting administrators across the state,” Burdick, Superintendent of Pryor Schools, said. Although not all administrators were in agreement at first to withdraw from OEA, OASA was the first to drop out in May of 1974. Gene Mauk, Enid High School principal, was CCOSA’s first chairman. “In time, we could see that it was best for us to have our own identity,” Burdick, Pryor Schools’ superintendent for the past 37 years, stated.

At the June 1974 conference, Jerry Doyle, Superintendent of Moore Schools, was elected chairman of CCOSA and in July of 1974, CCOSA moved in to share offices with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. In August of 1974, OASSP was the second association to drop out of OEA and join CCOSA. Although OAESP had not yet dropped out of OEA, CCOSA extended membership to the elementary principals and assistant principals.

CCOSA Forms Corporation;

First Executive Director Hired

CCOSA came into its own thirty years ago in January of 1975 when it became incorporated and hired its first Executive Director, Harvey Reimer, who had been superintendent of Hobart Public Schools. In March of the same year, the Oklahoma legislature officially recognized CCOSA as the organization representing school administrators in Oklahoma. The State PTA also recognized CCOSA.

Recalling those early years, James Sandage said, “We were moving pretty fast to get organized and formulate our own identity separate from OEA. It was a rewarding experience to work with so many excellent administrators who helped us in the beginning,” Sandage remarked. In July of 1975, with the help of an $8,000 grant from the National Association of Secondary School Principals, James Sandage was hired as Executive Secretary of OASSP and Associate Executive Director of CCOSA. Sandage had been serving as principal at Taft Middle School in Oklahoma City.

In October of 1975, CCOSA (under its new incorporated name) held its first convention in Oklahoma City for school administrators. In November, the first issue of CCOSA’s newspaper, Better Schools, was published for the membership. James Sandage was the first editor. “The format hasn’t changed that much over the years, only the news stories,” Sandage said. Sandage, who retired from CCOSA in June of 1989, commented on CCOSA’s evolution during his 14 years on the job. “We grew not only in membership, but CCOSA became a prominent professional and influential organization across Oklahoma,” he said.

He recalled when OAESP, the last association to break off from OEA, finally joined CCOSA. “In 1976, the Association of Elementary School Principals of Oklahoma (AESPO), a constituent of CCOSA, was organized.” Sandage was named executive secretary. Elementary principals were invited to join. In 1976, OAESP still retained status as a department of OEA. Three years later (November of 1979), OAESP, having previously dropped out of OEA, merged with AESPO. The organization’s new name was OAESP, which became the third organization under the umbrella of CCOSA.

2009-2020 OAESP and OASSP leaders, including Rod Maynard, Tanya Jones, Christi Roach, Natalie JohnsonPapageorge, Steve Wlodarczyk, Gary Webb, Randy Rader, and Trent Swanson with Gov. Mary Fallin and Congressman Tom Cole in Washington, D.C.

In addition to Mauk and Doyle, other CCOSA chairmen during those formative years in the ’70s were A.H. “Pete” Rhames, Burns Flat superintendent; Howard Wright, Velma-Alma principal; and James Payne, Tulsa East Central High School principal.

School Districts Face Challenges; CCOSA Assists Membership

“During the 1970s, some larger school districts were challenged with teacher negotiation disputes. CCOSA was able to offer advice and help school districts in addressing these issues,” Larry Burdick said. In June of 1978, CCOSA retained Ronald Day as CCOSA’s general counsel.

Several educational organizations joined alliances with CCOSA. The first organization to become an allied association was the Oklahoma Association of

Educational Office Personnel in 1978. In 1980, the Oklahoma Career Education Association and the Oklahoma Directors for Special Services also became allied associations.

Harvey Reimer, who had been the first executive director, resigned in January of 1981.

James Sandage served for six months as acting executive director until Pete Rhames was hired as executive director in June of 1981. CCOSA’s membership that year was 1,597. During Pete Rhames’ leadership reign in the early ’80s, the Oklahoma Educational Consortium became a constituent association of CCOSA and the Professional Development Committee was organized.

“OASA, OASSP, and OAESP have become very viable organizations over the years, and one of the biggest assets has been in the area of professional development,” Larry Burdick said. “As a long-time superintendent, I have seen the value of being a member of CCOSA, OASA, and AASA. Professional development has helped me and my colleagues address so many issues in a more professional manner. CCOSA offers support for new administrators through its mentoring program and training, as well as training for veteran members,” Burdick said.

CCOSA programs and services for members grew during the 1980s. One of its goals was to be more actively involved in legislative decisions affecting education. In 1980, Leo Mayfield, former superintendent of Putnam City Schools, was the first person hired to work on CCOSA legislative goals as well as lobby during the Oklahoma legislative sessions. Mayfield, who is 91 years old, recently reflected on his days as superintendent and involvement with CCOSA. “When I was first superintendent in the 1970s, I was able to make most decisions affecting salaries, budget, employment, and other issues. But later on, the laws changed to allow negotiations between teachers and administrators. The negotiations process changed the way we did business,” he said. Mayfield spoke highly of his involvement with CCOSA and lobbying at the capitol. “I finally had to quit CCOSA because it was taking too much time from my retirement and golf game,” he said jokingly. “However, I will never forget the friendships made through my association with this organization.”

When Mayfield resigned from his legislative duties in 1985, Rhames assumed that role as lobbyist for CCOSA. In 1982, the Legislative Action Committee was organized and in 1983 the new Legal Assistance Program was adopted. In September of 1983, David Autry was employed as associate executive director of CCOSA and executive director of OAESP. He retained that position until September of 1985. In the summer of 1986, James Burnett, a former principal at Putnam City, replaced Autry.

In January of 1989, Jim Sandage retired from CCOSA. In February, J.B. Flatt, Ardmore High School principal, was hired as the new Deputy Executive Director of CCOSA and Executive Director of OASSP. “One of the first important milestones I remember in my new position was our purchasing property at the corner of 28th and Lincoln to build our own building,” Flatt said. “This was an exciting time for our organization.”

In January of 1991, Pete Rhames retired as executive director. He was replaced by Gerald Hoeltzel, who served until June of 1991. In July of 1991, Gene Keith was hired as CCOSA’s Executive Director. During Keith’s leadership at CCOSA, CCOSA had its first joint convention with OSSBA in 1991.

A poster advertising the OSSBA/CCOSA Golf Tournament featured caricatures of OSSBA Executive Director Dr. Keith Ballard and CCOSA Executive Director Dr. Randall Raburn.

Association Hires Full-Time Lobbyist; CCOSA Gains Influence at Capitol

Leo Mayfield resigned from his part-time legislative duties in 1985. Randall Raburn, President of OASA at the time, talked to Michael Barlow about becoming the lobbyist for CCOSA. In 1986, Pete Rhames hired Barlow as Director of Government Relations. Barlow, who had left Oklahoma City Schools to start his own consulting firm, Barlow Education Management Services, began immediately to work with legislators on education bills. “The association was growing. It was timely for someone to focus on legislation affecting education and school administrators. I believed it was time to hire someone full-time to make that happen,” Randall Raburn said. “As president of OASA in 1985-86, one of my goals was to work on lifting the cap on retirement. During that year, we all worked hard on this issue,” Raburn said.

Michael Barlow added, “It was an uphill battle, but our greatest accomplishment was getting legislation passed to lift the cap on retirement from $25,000 to $40,000. It was a grassroots effort with school administrators across the state influencing their own legislators,” Barlow noted. “Ironically, one of our major opponents was the Oklahoma Education Association. We tried to convince OEA that eventually this would help all educators, not just administrators. In retrospect, we were on target. It has helped all educators,” Barlow said. He remembered the last night of the legislative session. “With the clock covered, legislators were furiously working through the night. Finally, about 4:30 in the morning, the bill passed. It was a great victory for all of us.” Shortly after the vote, Barlow made a phone call to incoming president of OASA, Joe Ogle. Ogle was surprised and shocked that it passed. “I can’t believe it,” he told Barlow. Raburn added, “It was rewarding to see this goal accomplished.”

During the late 1980s, Barlow said administrators were seeing the benefits of building strong relationships with their legislators. “We were making headway at the capitol, because of the concerted efforts of our administrators working closely with their senators and representatives,” Barlow remarked. What’s changed in the last two decades? Barlow answered, “The issues haven’t changed, just the process. Years ago, teachers, support personnel, and administrators frequently had opposing viewpoints on legislative issues. That hurt all of us. Today, in most cases, all the education organizations work together on issues affecting education. Through the Education Coalition, we have a greater impact with better results. This is a more positive approach.”

Groundbreaking Ceremonies Held for New Building

On a cold day in December 1993, the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration celebrated one of its most historical and significant moments, the groundbreaking for CCOSA’s new building. School administrators, CCOSA staff, executive board members, and dignitaries gathered together at the new site at 2901 N. Lincoln for the groundbreaking. It was a new day and a new era for CCOSA with a bright and promising future on the horizon. A year and a half later, CCOSA’s new building just north of the state capitol was completed. The staff moved in the new CCOSA building in June of 1994. “Moving into our own building truly gave CCOSA its own identity and more visibility,” J.B. Flatt said. “Although we were already very involved in the political process, we became much more accessible to everyone at the state capitol, State Department of Education, and other agencies in the vicinity,” Flatt said.

Dr. Raburn Named Executive Director in 1995

In June of 1995, Gene Keith resigned his position. Dr. Randall Raburn, Superintendent of Edmond Schools, was named the new Executive Director of CCOSA and Executive Director of OASA in August 1995. “For the past 10 years, I have enjoyed the challenges of this position. It has been rewarding to work with school administrators from across the state, who are dedicated to their profession and to public education in Oklahoma,” Dr. Raburn said. He recalled CCOSA’s integral role in defeating State Question 669 and the funding crisis in education a few years ago.

In June of 1998, James Burnett retired from his position with CCOSA and OAESP. Dr. Sandy Wisley, Superintendent of El Reno Schools, replaced Burnett as Associate Executive Director of CCOSA and Executive Director of OAESP. Dr. Wisley was the first woman to be named to an executive director’s role within the organization. “Our professional development program really grew under Burnett and Dr. Wisley’s leadership,” Raburn said. “We have a great staff here at CCOSA who all are dedicated to serving the membership of these associations,” he added.

“It is an honor to work for such a professional association with so many outstanding administrators,” Dr. Wisley said. She added, “I have had the opportunity to travel the state from Guymon to Idabel and from Altus to Afton to attend district administrative networking meetings, and it is so very rewarding to meet administrative leadership of such high quality in our schools and districts in Oklahoma.” She noted that CCOSA has grown by providing administrators with cutting edge, current professional development for new and veteran administrators. “The cooperative atmosphere in our state with all three associations working together is rare compared to other states. This united effort fighting for the best education for our students is admirable,” Wisley stated. CCOSA’s total membership count for 2004-05 is 2,312 members. OASA has set a new record high this year at 676 members. OASSP has also set a new record for membership at 880. OAESP’s membership this year is 787. Thirty years ago, the total membership count was approximately 950 members.

Looking Ahead at CCOSA’s Future

“We are very proud of the growth we have seen in our organization over the last 30 years, Raburn said. He added, “In its thirtieth year of existence, CCOSA has reached its highest membership and is a financially secure and stable organization. We have accomplished many of our goals and look forward to a very promising future for our membership and the organization.”

One of the organization’s major goals achieved was becoming the number one provider of quality professional development programs for school administrators. The organization has had significant influence on education in the state. “In addition to all of their regular duties as a school administrator, many school administrators across Oklahoma are influential leaders in their communities serving on numerous boards, organizations, and committees,” the executive director noted.

CCOSA has been instrumental in the creating of the pooled investment program, the Oklahoma Education Technology Trust, a group purchasing program, a procurement card program, and the Oklahoma Educator Recruitment and Retention Program. “The achievements are the results of the efforts, dedication, and leadership of many individuals who had a vision for CCOSA and gave time and energy to achieve that vision,” Raburn said. ■