ryan walters

[cowboyinexile]

Former State Superintendent Ryan Walters handed out two more five-figure, taxpayer-funded “performance bonuses” to top staff in his final days in office, including one to a press secretary who had only been on the job a matter of weeks.

Records: Walters paid assistant, press secretary massive bonuses during final days in office

https://kfor.com/news/local/records-walters-paid-assistant-press-secretary-massive-bonuses-during-final-days-in-office/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANvHK9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHiklAM33hDlt3oU2E95LEvd82D-qn22Fp_EI_7Ydq1aldMN3k3H40SIPLPLl_aem_nkNFnooSWqBkhvChzp2ryA

Jeez. He was just handing out money like Halloween candy. How was this all missed when it was going on?

 

[Stillwater Townie]

Jeez. He was just handing out money like Halloween candy. How was this all missed when it was going on?

Not all of it was missed. When it was noticed apparently nothing was done about it.

From article:
Walters was no stranger to handing his staff unexplained payouts. In April, News 4 reported Walters gave former communications director Dan Isett a final paycheck for more than $75,000.

“It is appalling to see a payout this size effectively creating a golden parachute for somebody who’s separated from an agency for unknown reasons,” Rep. Andy Fugate, D–Del City, told News 4 in April.

 

[cowboyinexile]

Not all of it was missed. When it was noticed apparently nothing was done about it.

From article:
Walters was no stranger to handing his staff unexplained payouts. In April, News 4 reported Walters gave former communications director Dan Isett a final paycheck for more than $75,000.

“It is appalling to see a payout this size effectively creating a golden parachute for somebody who’s separated from an agency for unknown reasons,” Rep. Andy Fugate, D–Del City, told News 4 in April.

Ok so people might have known what was going on and just didn't care.

Is it common for state employees to get 5 figure termination bonuses? This seems appalling to me but if its a common practice then maybe that explains it a little. Without any other information it seems highly unusual and potentially illegal.

 

[CowboyJD]

Ok so people might have known what was going on and just didn't care.

Is it common for state employees to get 5 figure termination bonuses? This seems appalling to me but if its a common practice then maybe that explains it a little. Without any other information it seems highly unusable and potentially illegal.

It is highly uncommon for state employees to get ANY termination bonus or really anything other than a COBRA insurance notice and payment of any outstanding annual leave due.

The only time I've ever seen something like this during my 20 years as general counsel for a state agency (before I became a prosecutor) was if there was some kind of a pending or threatened lawsuit surrounding the employment.

 

[cowboyinexile]

It is highly uncommon for state employees to get ANY termination bonus or really anything other than a COBRA insurance notice and payment of any outstanding annual leave due.

The only time I've ever seen something like this during my 20 years as general counsel for a state agency (before I became a prosecutor) was if there was some kind of a pending or threatened lawsuit surrounding the employment.

Your first paragraph is what I figured. State jobs are about stability and good health insurance (or at least they used to be). Its not like private industry where you can see a compensation package if you leave through no fault of your own.

Your second paragraph-that seems beyond shady if it happens alot and it seems like everyone in his circle got something when they left. I saw Walters as an opportunist but considering this he may be more like Trump than anyone realized when it comes to grift. The state really needs to do an audit of the DOE during his time running it.