OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
 
November 12, 2021

Deborah A. Gist
Superintendent, Tulsa Public Schools
gistde@tulsaschools.org
Via Email

Dr. Gist:

Thank you for your attention to the important matter of bringing Tulsa Public Schools into
compliance with state law regarding mask mandates. I have heard from several parents that TPS is
now honoring their opt-out requests, and I appreciate your diligence in resolving the issues in your
administration with honoring those requests.

Unfortunately, it appears to me that TPS has not yet fully entered into compliance with state law. As
of today, your website still insists that parents must use TPS forms, which violate state law by failing
to allow for religious exemptions or all personal exemptions and by imposing additional requirements
on parents that exceed state law, such as delaying the opt-out or requiring some assumption of liability.
Your website even asserts that TPS might not comply with state law for opt-outs received after
September 17. Based on your efforts to comply with state law so far, it is my sincere hope that this
was merely a mistake.

I have also been troubled by reports from parents of TPS still mistreating them when they seek
exemptions. I understand that principals at several TPS schools are under instructions to direct parents
exclusively to TPS forms and to not honor other opt-out requests. One principal has even informed
parents that opt-out requests will not be honored until the school is given approval by TPS for that
particular student. More broadly, TPS staff continue to tell parents that personal exemptions are
disfavored and have even warned parents that their opt-outs will be disregarded or delayed if they
assert personal reasons as the law allows rather than following the additional requirements of TPS
forms.

I am requesting your personal assurance that these hostile actions were not intentional and that you
will immediately bring TPS into compliance with state law. As I stated before, I believe our public
schools should model compliance with our laws.

Please confirm that these conditions are corrected and that you have assured compliance at all schools
in the District.

I understand that TPS is a large school district to manage, and I appreciate your continued efforts in
this regard. Please provide the assurances I requested no later than November 19, 2021.
Sincerely,

JOHN M. O’CONNOR
Oklahoma Attorney General

CC: Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education c/o Sarah Bozone, Board Clerk
(via e-mail at bozonsa@tulsaschools.org)
Stacey Woolley, Board President (via e-mail at wollst@tulsaschools.org)

313 N.E. 21st Street · Oklahoma City, OK 73105 · (405) 521-3921 · Fax: (405) 521-6246