Representative Melissa Provenzano

D

District 79

Hi, I’m Melissa Provenzano and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 79th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Minority Leader

59th Legislature

Assistant Minority Leader

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Oct 29, 2024
Recent Posts

Blancett, Provenzano, comment on LOFT report of OSDE spending, communication failures

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democrats and members of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency Committee Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, and Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, released the following statements after the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) presented their findings in an investigation into disbursements made by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.  The report by LOFT found major concerns with delays in service and disbursement of funding as well as poor communication by OSDE in their role of supporting Oklahoma public school districts. “The continued lack of accountability from the Oklahoma State Department of Education further emphasizes the State Superintendent’s willful negligence. This puts our school districts and our kids squarely in second place to his own self interest,” Provenzano said. “We have a state agency head unwilling to commit to improving service to schools. We have a state agency head unwilling to share how he plans to spend unused payroll dollars. The repeated calls by the public to ‘Do something about Supt. Ryan Walters,’ continue to go unanswered.” Rep. Blancett says effective management of a multi-million-dollar state agency needs to be established. “The State Superintendent says the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s objective is to ‘shrink government,’ but the objective should be establishing OSDE’s ability to effectively manage a multi-million-dollar state agency for a functional education system,” Blancett said. “I come from a business background, and if you had a CEO whose chief staff could not communicate effectively either internally or externally with primary stakeholders, they would be fired. My question is if OSDE is unable to effectively create a functional working relationship with school districts and the legislature, how can we possibly expect success to happen in schools for our kids? We need leadership at OSDE who have the capability and humility to take a step back and be willing to partner with the legislature to improve this system. If there is an inability for OSDE to acknowledge they can do better, that is a serious issue.” -END-

Oct 24, 2024
Recent Posts

Provenzano named one of 50 Women Making a Difference

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, was named one of Journal Record’s “50 Women Making a Difference” for 2024. The ceremony was held on October 10, 2024, and honored over 50 women for their outstanding leadership within their community. The Journal Record says nominees for this award are selected based on significant contributions to business, civic engagement, and community service in Oklahoma. “I’m honored to be in such powerful company with other women committed to tackling the tough issues in our state and making it the best place to live, work and grow,” said Provenzano. “There’s nothing that we can’t do when we work together.” According to The Journal Record, The Woman of the Year program aims to highlight women who use their influence and resources to uplift others and drive positive change in Oklahoma. -END-

Oct 15, 2024
Recent Posts

House Democrats respond to Oklahoma grand jury report of misspent pandemic relief funds by State Superintendent

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Democrats responded to an Oklahoma Multi-County Grand Jury report finding significant mismanagement and misspending of the Governor’s Emergency Educational Relief (GEER) Fund. “This report highlights what happens when those in power choose not to hold themselves accountable to hard working taxpayers,” said House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. “Knowing there is a severe lack of training on management of public funds and consequences for mismanagement of public funds in state statute, the State Superintendent and Governor were emboldened to misuse money meant to help Oklahoma public schools. Improper management of finances is completely avoidable, and as leaders in our state, it was the responsibility of the State Superintendent and Governor to put mechanisms in place for accuracy, accountability, and transparency when spending public taxpayer money. They continue to fail our teachers, students, and families – and this multi-county grand jury report couldn’t be clearer on that.” Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, says internal controls to protect from corruption were ignored. “After four years of asking for an investigation into the abuse of GEER funds, today we learned that the officials charged with transparent disbursement of these dollars disregarded internal controls designed to prevent corruption,” Provenzano said. “We learned that whether or not Oklahomans got access to GEER dollars may have been based on registered political party and voting district rather than established qualifications. I struggle to understand how indifference to state internal controls and federal guidelines is not willful negligence. Corruption comes in many forms. This doesn't pass the smell test.” The report from the Multi-County Grand Jury said while there is not sufficient evidence for indictments, their findings “uncovered deeply troubling practices.” “Oklahoma is responsible for these funds regardless of indictment charges,” said Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater. “We must hold those who mishandled these tax dollars accountable.” Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, says the public deserves better from its leaders. “These were taxpayer dollars,” Schreiber said. “Superintendent Walters' failure to care for and manage them in service to the education of Oklahoma’s kids is harmful to us all. As public servants, we owe the public so much better than this.” Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, says Oklahomans deserve to know where accountability is coming from. “I was frustrated but not surprised by this news,” Menz said. “State Superintendent Ryan Walters is willfully and gleefully burning through millions in taxpayer dollars because he thinks people aren’t paying attention. We are. And every voter in Oklahoma deserves to know who is holding him accountable before they head to the polls next month.” Read the full report  here. -END-