001[Music] Good evening. Welcome to the Guthri public schools board of education meeting for April 14th, 2025. Can we have a roll call, please? Davis here. Gerard. Smemedley here. Husky here. Flag here. Pearson here. Schroeder here. Mr. President, we have a quorum. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. As we begin this meeting, let us pause for a moment of silence. Thank you. Item six, recommendation, consideration, and vote on reorganization of the board, including all the positions. Mr. President, I would like to nominate President Tina Smemedley, first vice president Jana Pearson, second vice president Gail Davis, clerk Matt Gerard, and deputy clerk Ben Husky. Second.
002We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call. Davis, yes. Smmedley, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Schroeder, yes. Six eyes, zero ns. Okay. Musical chairs. take your name. Your name. I don't want that. You had all that you want. Oh, will you have enough cord? Oh, yeah. I've got well but you can stay there for that for that. Yeah. I'm coming. Huh? You want to come see? Yeah. Don't I have to come over there? She's She's secretly going. Do I have a choice? I got to get all my stuff. Sorry. And I can help you. Yes. Yeah. Matt Matt. Okay, everybody settled in? Um, okay. Agenda item number seven, presentation of state champion wrestlers. We were going to have this happen and some things have happened where they cannot be here
003tonight. We will try to do this in May. Okay. Recognize them then. Good. Agenda item number eight, presentation of employees and student of the month. Mr. Hancock of the board. Um had a had a great time. I must say that with rain outs and scheduling conflicts this month for uh student of the month, the pictures and trying to get with uh with uh Blake didn't occur. So, we will I'll come to you in May with both April and May's student of the month. Uh, next for uh support, we have Mr. Robert Hall. He's uh in the junior high uh cafeteria. He's been there a while, retired, I guess, and then come back. And uh so he was uh nominated by Miss Denica Bickle. Um she had wonderful things to say. He was excited to receive
004it. Um, of course he kept saying I couldn't do this without without the other people in the uh in the cafeteria as well. Um, even whenever uh I went back to get his paper, get him the paperwork and things like that, uh, he was still right there and he was like, "It's y'all. I'm just here." So, um, he was excited to receive it. Next would be our uh certified employee of the month. Um, this uh this award usually it goes to an individual. We had a individual who was semi finalist with them but uh she chose to just go ahead and give it to her team and that's the coder elementary school um for their hard work and dedication in the process of moving from one building to the other and the smooth transition. So
005congratulations to uh Cal Elementary and there many nominations for certified employee. So that's what all I have. Thank you. Um okay. Agenda item number nine, comments to the board by citizens register registered to speak. We have none. Uh comments to the board by board members. I just like to say real quick, Chris, thank you for the job that you have done as our past president and leading us in in the right direction. And Miss Smidley continues his charge. Thank you. Agenda item number 10, superintendent report. Thank you, Madam President. Uh it's been a while since we've met. It's the calendar has been uh this is an odd time because it seems like it's been, you know, almost a month and a half since we've had a board meeting. So, I've got a lot of things
006to to cover. Um there's a lot's happened since we last met. Uh, and u I want to start with something that's that's kind of it's it's hard for me to to think about, but uh something I think needs to be said is March 24th brought sorrow to our district and especially Upper Elementary with the loss of a student blessing Parson and longtime teacher Charlotte Mitchell. all uh that's what we came back from spring break to and u we dedicated staff from other buildings during the days following the loss to deal with the grief and process the events. Um, and I know uh uh we we uh intentionally uh provided a memorial service for Miss Mitchell uh because the family um it was her wishes to be uh for her funeral to be in Mount Olive
007and that facility was just not realistic for the number of lives that she touched that would want to attend. And so we uh we orchestrated that. Uh I had a lot of help and uh for uh and I was able to do a lot of it from home before I could get back in the saddle again and um feel fortunate that the family was uh on board with that as well. And I also spoke at at her funeral at Mount Olive. Uh Charlotte was a truly a a beacon and the thing that I I think about with with Miss Mitchell, she was a steady hand in that building when things were difficult in education. the younger, less experienced teachers looked to her for guidance and and had respect for her and and that's uh uh
008and then then all of the all of the students that she touched their lives. A lot of that came out in both memorial service and funeral. So, and then um today uh I'm I'm saddened to report the loss of Mike Monahan uh who passed away yesterday. Uh Mike was an integral part of our community as a reporter for the Guthrie News Leader and his tireless work to carry the story of our students will be greatly missed. U you know I uh Mike was uh you know when I first got to town, Mike was u very uh very much on the ball, very uh into uh covering the school district and also covering it from an athletic perspective. So he covered these board meetings. Um Mike fought a long hard fight with his health. Um, when
009I got to town, he was umpiring softball games and as his health deteriorated, uh, he was wheelchair bound, but he never let that stop him from being in that chair at a ball game and taking pictures of our kids. And so, um, and I, Mike was the, uh, was the consmate newspaper guy. And there's those guys are few and far between anymore. And so uh he will be missed and I I will miss him as well. Um much appreciation to the cural staff and crossing construction for the work in moving buildings over spring break with a smooth start in the facility. Uh I was there this morning when Mr. Hancock made the presentation and uh to to Miss Cotton, uh I truly appreciate all of the work that you did and all of the uh
010all the burden that you shouldered with that because moving a building in the middle of a school year is not an easy task by any stretch. Um, and as smooth as you made it, uh, it made it where the kids didn't know any different and we just did it. And, uh, and kudos to your staff because they were, uh, incredibly professional and they put the kids uh, at the forefront of this and made sure that they didn't lose instruction. And now we have a a great facility. And u and then today we saw the beginning of u the demolition of the old building. The site will truly take on a new look and very quickly because uh if they get as much done tomorrow as they did today, there's not going to be much left
011except a pile of of rubble that they're going to have to haul off. And so uh truly truly a a special time for our district because of the of the visibility and how much more improved that facility is than what we were uh what we left. On April 1st, the Guthri Educational Foundation distributed 44 grants to teachers in our district totaling over $30,000. And also each building teacher of the year received $850 for their classroom supply supplies and each building received an additional $1,000 for their use from the foundation. On April 4th, we celebrated support staff appreciation day. Thanks to the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce and our education and workforce development committee for their work on that event. Miss Walters and Mr. Hancock uh did a a lot of yman's work in preparation for that
012in order to make that happen uh and go smooth on that day as well. Um on the 10th uh the educational foundation also they hosted are you smarter than a fifth grader and it was a tremendous success. A lot of fun was had. We had several tables that were sponsored uh by businesses in town that then provided those tickets to our teachers so that they could enjoy it. And uh uh reminder that both inclement weather days were used. So we were in class on the on April 11th and we will be on uh this Friday as well. And um graduation is scheduled for Friday, May 16th at Jalma Stadium. And we will begin the ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. And I will get you uh obviously all of the uh we'll do what we normally do
013where we get you the an update of all of the events going on uh leading up to that because as you all know, you're invited to many of them. Um, and they are they come fast and furious uh from the 1 of May until uh until we uh get graduation over with. So that's my report. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Simpson. That was a lengthy list and I had shoulder surgery along the way. Yes. Well, we're glad you're back. Uh okay. Agenda. Agenda item number 11, consent agenda. Madam President, I'll move that we approve the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Um, roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Sharter, yes. Medley, yes. Six eyes, zero names. Agenda item number 12, business agenda
01412A. recommendation consideration and action upon contingency modification number nine for crossland construction. This is pages 48 through 51. We talked about u this in the um in all the committee meetings. But essentially um as we get closer to the end um obviously the the number of items is going to get smaller and smaller on things that we're changing. But this one is actually two months worth of it because we missed a uh crossland. We were we were struggling with some pricing on one item and it didn't get in last month's uh uh agenda. And so we're we're approving two months for it. It's uh 56,19195 is a total uh for this and we are still well below the uh contingency to the tune of uh uh 480,000 less. Uh some of this was um the
015largest item that we have on here is a um a playground fence and a drainage change in the playground. And it will uh and Lane's not going to be here tonight, but I can explain if you have any questions. I think we talked through most of it, but there were some modifications that we wanted to make given the elevation change from 19th Street uh to where the school sits so that we make sure that we can have proper drainage in the event of uh the hundred-year flood that comes every few years that we seem to have. So, uh, and, um, really pleased with all of the things. Some of this is is are items that were caught due to us choosing the construction management method and allowed us to to make these changes on the
016fly. So, I would recommend approval and be glad to answer any questions. Madam President, I move that we approve contingency modification number nine for cross lane construction. Second. We have a motion and a second. Uh, any discussion? Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Schroer, yes. Medley, yes. 6. Agenda item 12B, recommendation, consideration, and action to ratify the agreement with BSN Sports LLC for purchasing and supplying athletic apparel and footwear to Guthrie public schools for 2025 2026. This is a renewal of the uh we have a five-year agreement that we bring to you for uh ratification annually and this will be year number three. Uh would recommend approval. Madam President, I make a motion that we ratify the agreement with BSN Sports LLC for purchasing and supplying athletic apparel and footwear
017to Guthrie public schools for 2025 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second. Um, any discussion? Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Schroer, yes. Smmedley, yes. Six, zero names. Agenda item 12 C, recommendation, consideration, and action upon always changing and growing up presentation for fifth grade students at Guthrie Upper Elementary. This is our annual um uh approval of the u of the required sex uh ed uh changing body uh presentation. That is an opt in and Miss Walters will be glad to answer any questions if you have them. Do we have a motion to approve? Madam President, I move that we approve the always changing and growing up presentation for fifth grade students at Guthrie upper elementary. I'll second that. We have a motion and a second. Uh any
018discussion? Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Yes. Pearson, yes. Shredder, yes. Smidley, yes. Six, zero names. Agenda item 12D, recommendation, consideration, and action upon request for special education students to attend the state of Special Olympic Summer Games, uh, May of 2025. We bring this to you annually, uh, for the board approval. Um, we're we're actually going to have some of the students from Fogerty attend uh, but they're not staying overnight. It's just school and the alumni stay overnight. Um, and this is all done with fundraiser money, but we always want to run this one through the board. We would recommend approval. Madam President, I move that we approve the request for special education students to attend the state Special Olympics summer games May 2025. Second. We have a motion and a second. Uh, any
019discussion? Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Shredder, yes. Medley, yes. 69, zero names. Agenda item 13, proposed executive session for the purpose of discussing employment of personnel, FMLA requests, resignation, separation from employment, and transfer of position requests. All is set out on the personnel reports, extra duty assignments, employment of career and probationary contract teachers as listed for 2025 2026. and discussion of teacher negotiations for 2025 2026. Disclosure of which information would violate the confidentiality requirements of state andor federal law all pursuant to 25. [Music] Okay, we will um let's see. Agenda item 13B acknowledge board's return to open session. Only items in uh agenda item number 13 were discussed in executive session and no votes were taken. This shall constitute the executive session minutes. Agenda item 14, vote on action
020as set out on the personnel reports. Madam President, I make a motion we approve the personnel reports. Second. Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag. Yes. Pearson. Yes. Schroeder. Yes. Smemedley. Yes. 6 0 N. Agenda item 15. Action upon recommendation extra excuse me. Recommended extra duty assignments. President. I move that we approve the extra duty assignments. Second. Roll call, please. Davis. Yes. Husky. Yes. Plag. Yes. Pearson. Yes. Shredder. Yes. Smoothly. Yes. Six. Agenda item 16, action upon recommendation to employ career contract teachers as listed on schedule A for 2025 2026. Madam President, I move that we approve the career contact contract teachers as listed on schedule A for 2025 2026. Second. Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Plagg, yes. Pearson, yes. Shredder, yes. Smidley, yes. 6 I z item 17, action upon recommendation
021to employ probationary to career contract teachers as listed on schedule B for 2025 2026. Board members, I am uh giving you a revised schedule B uh for you to act on this evening. Madam President, I make a motion to employ probationary to career contract teachers as listed on the revised schedule B for 2025 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second. Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Schroer, yes. Smidley, yes. Agenda item 18, action upon recommendation to employ probationary contract teachers as listed on schedule C for 2025 2026. Madam President, I move that we approve the probationary contract teachers listed on schedule C for 2025 2026. Second. We have a motion and a second. Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Smmedley. Yes. 6. Agenda
022item 19, recommendation, consideration, and action on the hiring of a new district director of special education. Um board members, at this time I would recommend uh for employment for the effective June 1st for the 20 and also for the 2025 2026 school year, Dr. Fen Webster to be our new director of special education. So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. Roll call, please. Davis, yes. Husky, yes. Flag, yes. Pearson, yes. Schroer, yes. Smmedley, yes. Six, zero names. Agenda item number 20, recommendation, consideration, and action to accept any resignations offered since the posting of the agenda. We have none. Agenda item 21, discussion of possible action on new business not known about or could not have kn been reasonably foreseen at the time of the agenda posting. We have none. Agenda item 22.
023So moved. Second. Roll call, please. Davis. Yes. Sorry. I guess I'm the only one. Yes. Please. Schroeder. Yes. Smidley. Yes. Six eyes. Zero.