001I 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. >> [clears throat] >> Uh item three, recognize our high school robotics team as they go to compete for their first robotics world championships. >> So we are excited about our robotics team. Uh but given tonight we didn't also want them to get stuck traveling back and forth. So we are uh going to have them come back um to another board meeting and recognize them. Uh but we are super excited that uh they qualified for worlds and um it's really a lot of years. It's one of those quiet uh you know programs that we have that really does amazing things and so we're we're hopeful we'll
002get a demonstration here for you guys but uh we'll we'll do that at a later board meeting but uh good luck to them uh as they go to worlds in Houston and um we we wish them wish them well and congratulations as well. Uh, item four, discussion and action to administer the oath of office and to seat Lisa Yates as board member for seat number one. >> All right. >> Can you read it? I'm sorry. >> What? >> Can you read it? >> Oh, >> yeah. Just read the top one. [snorts] >> I don't put my hand on a Bible. [laughter] Okay. Um, I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution and the laws of the state of America and the Constitution and laws of the state of Oklahoma and that
003I will faithfully discharge according to the best of my ability the duties of my office or employment during such time as I am Bethany public school board member. >> All right, your service. >> Thank you. Now I'm seated. >> Yes. >> All right. Um [clears throat] item five, reorganization of the board of education in accordance with 70 OS section 51-19. >> So this is something we do every year, but um it's just something that we'll put on the agenda. And um I think uh historically you guys have done two-yearish rotations. So, um, this would just be a motion to basically do the same thing. >> Make a motion to reorganize the board as follows. >> And then you'll say like Chad Jaggers as president, Kent Wallstead as vice president, Lucy Yates as clerk. >> Okay.
004To Chad Jaggers will remain as president, Kent Wallstead will remain as vice president. Morgan, >> remind me your name. >> Last name. I don't know. I rer remember remain as the you are the uh >> I'm the member >> as a member and I'm >> Ly H will be the clerk >> the clerk and Angela Palmer will be a member correct >> thank you >> we have a second >> second >> no roll call vote >> um W >> yes >> Jaggers >> yes all right items Six, consent agenda. Uh 6A is to approve the minutes of the March 10th, 2026 regular board meeting. 6B [clears throat] is discussion and possible action to approve the following contracts agreements for fiscal year 26. Uh A D Massie consulting contract. B all for fun contract. 6 C
005discussion and possible action to approve the following contracts agreements for fiscal year 27. A OSP contract high school. B lob deck draw drug testing agreement. C physical therapy services contract. D Oklahoma rehabilitation work study agreement. E Kellogg and sovereign rate filing. F. United Systems -ate category 2 internal broadband contract. G. United Systems -ate category 2 internal connections contract. H. United Systems category 2 basic maintenance contract. I D Massie consulting contract. JTLE contract for fiscal year 27. K. Image net agreement [clears throat and cough] 6D is discussion of possible action to approve the following out of town/out ofstate slashout of or overnight trips. A Martinez AP summer institute for June 22nd through 25th of 2026 in Taloqua, Oklahoma. B special education professional development June 27th through 30th 2026 in Dallas, Texas. and C band van [snorts]
006trip to Florida April 16th through 19th. Uh 6E approve the additions to the following activity fund account. One, baseball 805. Two, athletic director 819. Three, band 9003. Four, BHS cheer 905. Five, class of 2028 911. 6 elementary fund 913. 7 palm 940 and lastly 6F approve the financial fund reports. >> Okay, so on the financials activity fund [snorts] um our balance is pretty close to our starting balance. Nobody's in the negative. Um not much more to talk about there. It's we're we're doing good in activity fund on the function summary. Some stuff I would talk about here is right now we're encumbered for 17,480,000 if you add encumbered and expended. Um we're kind of looking at we're definitely looking at finishing up the year and making decisions on what we need to do. What I
007would say is [snorts] I'm projecting out that our carryover we're going to have to have a carryover of about 3.8 8 million or less. Um because there's a you can only carry over so much. >> And so that's the number where we're at and we're probably going to have we're definitely going to have some money to spend on certain things here as the months go. [clears throat] So we're doing really good financially. One thing I would add there is there is a law right now. I think they ran it last year too to do away with the carryover penalty. >> We're kind of monitoring that. Don't know what'll happen and exactly when the effective date would be if they do pass it. Like I said, I think they ran a very similar bill last year
008and it it didn't pass. But you have to watch these things and just letting you guys know what what's going on. >> I do think it's gaining ground more so than last year. Last year there was some back and forth on ideology of that. This year it seems to be shifting a little bit more towards kind of giving that freedom to districts, but we'll see. >> How how would you all feel about that? What would what would be your thought on it? >> I'll let you start. I I would say I I think you have to spend money on education for the children. I think you want to set an amount to where this is what we're going to try to carry over every year because something might happen like the roof where you know
009if you had to spend $2 million on a roof you would not want that to completely deplete your savings and then I think you try to stay around that amount is is one thought. Um it's going to fluctuate um just because different years you need different [clears throat] things. Um, but you can you can let it build up a little bit to spend on on different stuff, too. But I think you you go in with kind of an idea of this is what we think is a good safety net as far as if if anything big did happen and we had to spend a lot of money to keep the school running, we would still have a a safety net after that to build it back up to where we want to be yearover-year. >>
010Yeah. So, and I'd just add to that, you know, in our situation where bonding is a tricky thing and and we can't bond for a whole lot, you you would like to be able to save for some bigger facility needs that would take years to build up. The political issue with that is as districts do that based on their individual needs, all of a sudden the state uh legislators are going to look at those funds being really really big and growing and say they don't need any more money. Look, they've got all this money sitting there. So that's and that's been the the balance of where where people have talked about it is yeah individually we feel like we could manage that very well [cough] and build to [clears throat] some bigger projects >> but
011there is a risk also of it being viewed as man look you've got all everyone has all this money just sitting there spend the money before we're going to give you any more even though that's not exactly what's playing out. So, um, so I I I would love the flexibility, uh, personally, uh, but I would hate for that to be used against establish. >> Is that money earmarked in some way or is it just money to be spent however we want to? >> It is earmarked like you [clears throat] get funds for textbooks that you you can carry [snorts] over and eventually have to spend it. >> Um, so different things like that are earmarked. I think to give you a historical perspective, and it's been a while since I looked at it, but in
012the past, and I'm talking probably five or more years ago, I think the carryover ran around 1.5 to twoish. Um, I would think now with what everything cost and stuff, um, you know, it really depends on what revenue you're bringing in on on what you can do and what you can carry over, but that would be I mean, you wouldn't want it to be any lower than that just because things cost so much. Um, and if if there was a big event that you had to >> roof is a good example. I know we just replaced it, but you know, after so many years, you're you're footing the majority of the bill for a roof after it's been depreciated so many. And so that's a big capital outlay that >> Yeah. But not for a
013while. >> Yeah. Not for a while. >> You just did it. >> Not for a while. >> I'm just using I'm just [clears throat] using that as an example. >> I would think that would be one [snorts] of your biggest expenses. The >> roof. >> Um I'm assuming insurance cover a >> you know something catastrophic happening. >> Yeah. I will say too, you know, it's sorry. It's nice to have that u a little bit more. We've talked about since we've started with some investments that are, you know, turning out anywhere around 100,000 or a little bit over 100,000. So, if we have that money built up, you're making more on those investments, which in turn is just that kind of free money that is not in the budget to some degree. So, if you whittle
014that down, you're just going to be getting less on those types of investments. So for us, you know, that that that's a big that's a big amount of money, you know, to to utilize. So this there's been this year so far. >> We have the freedom to do that. We have the freedom to invest how we want. >> Well, not how you want. Not just however you want. So this year we've earned interest in 190,000. Basically, you can't have it in anything that's at risk. You know, you can have it in like a CD um that is FDIC insured and stuff like that. you couldn't go like stocks or >> Yeah. >> you know. >> Um so there there are some limitations but you can and what ours is in is a CD. >> Yeah.
015>> And a and a [clears throat] a money market. We have a setup where we've got a a good chunk in a CD that higher that earns the highest interest rate. And then you need some funds to be liquid. So, we have a money market that earns less, but you uh you know, it's a sweep. It sweeps in and out because we have set what we want in our actual checking account >> every day. >> And then, um I mean, you don't really earn much on your checking account. So, that's kind of the way we've stairstepped it. So, you talked about a carryover penalty. Is that a dollar threshold or percentage of budget threshold or what? >> It's uh I think it's 17% and then they back out federal funds. So I have an Excel
016that does the does the calculation. Um so I say 3.8 and I'm I've done a projection on what I think revenue is going to be. So it's 17% of revenue. So it could fluctuate. It's you're not going to be exact, you know, but >> but at this point you've got a pretty good idea, right? [snorts] >> A pretty good idea. Yeah. >> Um so a question I have, when you um when we carry that over, does it carry over from year to year? So if I I carry over 3.8 this year, and so by the end of next year, I still have 2.4 of that left. Does that add on to whatever I'm carrying over? Um, >> can you say that again? >> Okay. [laughter] >> Like it's like building on top of Yeah. So
017basically, >> so my savings account if I if I have 2.8 this year and I've got 1.5 next year, but I don't use, you know, more than two. I still have some left over from this year that carries over into next year and the year after. >> So I I would say let [snorts] me say what's going to happen. And I think that'll answer your question. So last year we carried over about 4,320,000. >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> Um at the end of this year kind of our target is 3.8 and that's it's 3.8 [clears throat] total. >> So you may use some of that. You >> you will use some of that 4.4. Yeah. >> So it's not you're not adding them together. >> Okay. Right. If that's the question. >> So you'll spend
018600 as I spent part of that 4 million that carried over. Correct. I spent part of it because I'm able to spend part of it. >> Yeah. >> Throughout the year. >> So the way they would show it and it's it's shown in our financials in like when we do the budget in October is, you know, you're expecting revenue of [clears throat] around 17 million plus you carried over 4.4. So that's a total of 21.4, >> right? >> And everything's based on that 21.4. I see. We're going to use, you know, say we use 17.5 and then [clears throat] we've got, I think I did the math right, 3.9 >> left is kind of how it works. So, you're taking 21.4 [clears throat] minus you're trying to hit, you know, 17.5 or whatever that number
019ends up being to work out to the the correct carryover. >> I see. So, the bill that is before the legislature, it wouldn't take effect for this year. Um, you know, because it's got to pass by the end of May. Probably won't pass till the very end of May. Sure. When all those things do. >> Um, and so it's not going to be retro. I mean, it's not going to affect this year's carryover. It may start >> in June, which maybe, >> right? >> Yes. Um, >> it may may have we may have one more year, >> right? >> Yeah, >> probably. So probably more likely that. Yeah. >> Yeah. What I would add to that is you get one year's grace as far as you don't get penalized the first year. Oh, I see
020that you don't I I mean I don't think you want to >> right >> be in that position, >> right? >> But so strategically you could be but >> Okay. >> Yeah. The good thing about that too is um typically in that situation you're going to be looking you know a lot a lot of people spend down um you're not going to do that with personnel that's going to be ongoing cost but you're going to do that with spendown. So maybe there's some facility needs or some upgrades that you've been kind of looking at but wanted to be sure this would be the kind of time of year to look at those lists and say okay we need to get down to this number what would we want to improve to get there and kind
021of be a onetime expense thing. So we're kind of in that stage as well. >> Yeah. I I would say as far as the bill goes, there's arguments for and against and and there's good arguments both ways. >> There's good arguments both ways. >> Y >> um and then the last thing on the financials, I would talk about our our board tracking sheet. So, this is kind of what I used to project revenue. Basically, what I [snorts] did is take [clears throat] what we've collected so far and then looked at what we collected past that point last year and added it on. I think that's the most accurate you can get. But you'll see on the board tracking sheet in in some areas like interest, we're we're starting to get to the point where if
022it's positive, we've overcolcted. And there are areas where we we know we're going to collect that exact amount like foundation and and instead of aid, that's what the state gives us every year. And that calculation's done um you know around September and then they adjust it in January. So certain numbers we know it's it's pretty much going to be that exact amount. Um, [cough] and then I think a lot of these will overcolct on federal funds. Um, I I know we're going to overcolct on some and there may be some that it's going to be close is what I would tell you. So, but total I I think we're going to overolct. Any [snorts] questions on the board tracking sheet? help me understand for 4210 a little bit more disadvantaged students. >> That's title one.
023>> Okay. [snorts] >> Um and so our elementary and middle school are are title one and you can use that. You know, basically it's saying they're it's based on how many students you have to have over if over 35% of your students are on um the national lunch program. then you qualify for title one and that's just additional aid to help do different things like um we do some teacher aids out of there. We buy some software out of there to helping you know help out with their learning and [clears throat] stuff. >> Thank you. Any any other questions? [snorts] >> I don't have any. Should I make a motion to I I will make a motion. [laughter] >> Not should I I will make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >>
024Roll call vote. Um >> W. >> Yes. >> Yates. >> Yes. Okay. Item seven. Seven. Approve the general fund non-payroll incumbrances for fiscal year 26. Uh number 467 through 509. Uh 52,612.54. The fiscal year. Yeah. Am I right? Yeah. The fiscal year change orders for general fund $8,1849. The general fund payroll uh number 70,000 through $70,637 of 13,414,257.36 in the fiscal year 26 building fund non-payroll number 24 of $94,1992. [snorts] So, you know, there's some bigger POS in here and and you know, there will probably be some more bigger POS as we end out the year. I think um there's definitely two that I would talk to you guys about. 481 to the carpet store, our indoor um out at the facility. Yeah, >> it's the floor's been bubbling up and stuff >> and it's
025it's in pretty bad condition. It's um probably a trip hazard. >> Yeah, it's a trip hazard. >> And the floor needs to be replaced. And so that's that's what that is there. >> I know we we replaced the floor out there one time. We put in a whole new floor out there. Is that the same >> flooring we in the weight area or something? >> So we put in inlays where the weights are. >> Yeah. This is the flooring around that. So the inlays are in good shape, but the the flooring that had been there for man and we tried to go back and I don't know 20 plus maybe closer to 30 years. I don't >> I think the number a long time >> I was told was 20 years. >> 20 years. Okay.
026So So this is the flooring not the inlays. And so this would be the flooring around the inlays. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. Um, one more in general fund and then obviously if you if you guys have any questions um, I'll answer them. Uh, on 508 to ImageNet Consulting, we are required to have shot clocks in basketball now. And so, um, that's [clears throat] what that is, is you have to have them. Now, if I believe they this year, um, >> next next year it'll take effect. >> Next year it'll take effect. Yeah, that's what I meant. >> And then out of building fund, the big PO is PO24. And this is what we discussed last board meeting, but last board meeting was a little hectic with the weather and stuff. um the the video board
027for the high school gym and that's also from Imagenet Consulting for 94,000. >> So with that I'll say [clears throat] you know we we looked at a lot of different options for this. Um this is a company that we also use for our copers. Um just happen to use them for that. Uh we did look at a lot of other options and a lot of qual different quality of boards. Um there's pixels and all kinds of things you can look at. Um, so we, this would be for uh a board on both sides of the gym. So, a bigger one like we have now and a smaller one like we have now, but they'd both be digital. Um, and this is a I would say middle of the road or above average uh quality. I
028mean, there's you could have gone cheaper for sure. Um, and you could go way way more expensive, but this is a nice nice board for our space and and you know, should last a long time. So, and this is also in connection with uh the the plan we hope to and plan to implement with Mrs. McCann and advertising and all of those things. So, um should have uh a opportunity to get advertising that we can put up there and then obviously utilize per game, volleyball, basketball, um assemblies, um all the things. So, uh, we're excited about this and, uh, also mostly excited, I mean, for me, I know the experience will be nice, but I'm mostly excited about the opportunity to bring some funds in to, uh, spread out to our activities so that the
029cost for kids and families goes down because we're able to pick up some of that fundraising that we're currently having to do to pay for things and and hopefully get some advertising through local community partners. Remind me that that did we approve the 94,000 last board meeting? I just don't see it on here. >> It it was just a discussion [clears throat] item [snorts] and maybe we discussed more the advertising. >> Yeah, this is part of that advert. So So Mrs. McCann is is >> she was going to be that >> Yeah. kind of community liaison or coordinator for that going out to seek it. Um, where we're at now is, you know, you kind of have to commit to having a board as you seek to get those advertising advertisements. So, this is kind
030of that commitment of, okay, yeah, let's we feel like we can do it. Let's [clears throat] do it and start getting advertising. So, >> it was uh number five if you're looking on last [snorts] >> on last month's. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks. >> So, with regard to that, do you ever do like a profit and loss on a particular project like that? like we, you know, here we would have the scoreboard, the shot clocks, [snorts] and then all the money that she raises with her p with her, [music] you know, um, community fundraising that she's going to do, and then you would give us as a board where we're at. >> Yeah. So, I I would compare it kind of to our energy saving initiative that we had with Mr. Mont. Um we
031installed a lot of uh well digital system basically and then a couple different times he's kind of reported [snorts] back. This was a couple month saving now he's done kind of a full year savings and I can't remember the percent but it was 29% maybe off top of my head. Um so >> I'd like to see that I mean in the f you know if we do this um just see you know where we are and offsetting that expense. >> It it's very trackable. I I [clears throat] would say I don't think we've had a project exactly like this where we've been advertised. >> Yeah, we we do have the the Mercy contract, but there was no capital outlay, but you know, [clears throat] profit and loss. >> Yeah, you weren't getting donations for it
032either. >> Yeah. Right. >> Most of it has been done uh at the uh program level. So, you know, basketball does it themselves and they kind of bring in a few banners and things like that. So this will be kind of a new thing that you know kind of bringing in money for all of the programs collectively [snorts] as a as a community. So and we will be tracking that closely because we're also looking at you know creating that opportunity for Mrs. can to be that community partner liaison and >> obviously we want to make sure that that is something that is worth uh worth worth her doing that and so and and she knows that as well that um that's kind of something we're exploring right now and if it goes really really well
033then >> it's justified to keep going and if it doesn't go well then we probably need to rethink things. So Right. >> Yeah. That's great. We will we will report back um you know through the years how how that's going. >> Yeah. and it's all going into one activity account so it'll be really easy to [clears throat] >> make a motion to approve the incumbrances as presented. Can I ask a question first? Sure. >> Sure. >> Uh the other [clears throat] thing I saw was the quantity of Amazon purchases for like office supply related things. Do do we not have a local office supply vendor that uh keeping the local money more local uh for something like that or is it just a convenience or what? >> Um I don't know if in the past
034I know in the in the recent past what people like to use is Amazon a lot. Mhm. [clears throat] >> Um and as to the kind of the mass amount here is we we tell people have your POS in before April 1st. Now that's there are going to be POS after April 1st. >> Sure. >> But because we're trying to start closing down and seeing how many POS are going to be closed down and what amount of you know expenses we're not going to have to see where we can use it in other places. But I in the recent past I would say we've always used Amazon and I think people like it for a convenience thing. We have used Office Depot. I think some I think the Office Depot store we particularly use actually
035closed uh for paper and stuff just cuz I think they had a little better deal depending on the time. Y [snorts] >> second. Roll call vote. >> Waff, >> yes. >> Gates, >> yes. >> Riner, >> yes. [clears throat] >> Yes. >> Uh, item eight, discussion and possible action to approve the revisions to the following board policies. GFB complaint procedure parent and staff DR1 salary schedules. >> So, the first one, uh, the complaint procedure for parent staff. uh you know we realized we've we've talked about this a lot about you know it's important to go through the proper channels and proper steps. What we have realized is we don't actually have that in writing anywhere. So yes it's our philosophy and yes it's something we will encourage parents to to go through the you know
036appropriate steps up the chain if you will. um but we didn't have anything to reference and we didn't have it in uh handbooks but because we didn't have it in policy and so this is just putting our philosophy of what we already tell parents hey you know start with the teacher then if that doesn't work out then you know go to a principal if that doesn't work out then go to the superintendent and then always at the end of the day um you know if I have a a something I'm not able to resolve with a parent then I would encourage them to you know seek out the board and and uh go that route too. Um that part is actually not in here due to some personnel um factors that could come into play.
037So um and and the best I could describe that if if a complaint is about a specific teacher um that is potentially going to become a personnel issue for that teacher, then the board shouldn't hear that complaint until it gets to a due process situation. So OSSBA recommended to us that we not put that in here, but [clears throat] that I just communicate with that parent. And obviously the email is on the website, too. So they always can email you guys as well. But >> but I would take that based on what the complaint if it's, you know, the the grass is too long, you know, then obviously I would say, you know, this is something we can't resolve, go to the board. That's a silly example, but but if it's something where I know
038a teacher's position may be in jeopardy, then I wouldn't recommend them to go to the board at that place because [clears throat] there may be other steps in in the works that you guys shouldn't necessarily be a part of until it gets to that level. So, um, but otherwise, it's pretty pretty standard to what we practice. It's teacher teacher or coach, then principal or their direct supervisor, then principal's direct supervisor, which is me. Um, so on and so forth. So, And then the other any questions about that? >> I I I have a question. So, do you have difficulty with parents um abiding by this procedure? >> Well, actually, I was I was going to say no, not a lot. But I will say in Bethany in particular, it is a little bit tricky because
039so many people know so many people. And just as an example for me, you know, I was an elementary principal here for a very long time. Um, I have, you know, friends and my kids have friends and so it's real easy for somebody to walk up to me very casually and have maybe a non-casual conversation, you know, where it it does get a little more technical. And so, if you're drawing the lines of uh family, friend versus superintendent, and I have to very carefully separate those roles. >> Well, uh, that would be an example of where this can get blurred a little bit. Um, and in Bethany, that happens a lot. Do I >> How does this help you? So if if a any parent comes to me and says, "Hey, I have a problem
040with teacher A," my first question is in practice uh is, you know, have you had a chance to talk to the teacher about that? Now, typically it's going to be a specific issue. So let's say it's a grade. Hey, my kid has a D in this class and the teacher hasn't posted the grades in three weeks. Let's just make up an example. Well, my first question to that parent is going to be, "Have you had a chance to talk to the teacher about that?" And if the answer is no, then I'm going to say, "Okay, you really need to talk to them first because they're going to know the most information about that." And that's in in practice, that's what we'd want to if now >> and you would do that today. >> Today, I
041would do that. So, so in practice, we're already doing this, right? >> But if that parent said, "Well, I don't want to talk to that teacher. I I just want you to fix this." That's where we didn't really have anywhere that it says that's actually how it's supposed to work. Then it's just me saying that's how I want it to work versus them wanting to do that or not. So this gives a little more teeth to that of like no you really do need to go talk with them first and then you know just go through that channel. So it it hasn't been a real issue of anybody really saying well I'm not going to do that or but it does come up where again they just want to jump to the people they know
042as opposed to going through those steps and most times whenever they go back to that teacher they maybe learn some information that they weren't aware of because there is very specific and certainly I don't have that information so it is definitely best practice and this just gives both the principles and myself uh and honestly the teachers an avenue to say we really do need you to go through the the proper communication step so that we can get the right information to you and and then if it doesn't work you know you're not satisfied then we just keep working it up. So and we will then we will add this also to student handbooks as well just to let them know that this is what we would hope that would happen. It's just good communication and
043so we're just able to say yes, it is also policy that you follow that not just we prefer you to do that. Any other questions about that one? Okay. And then the next one is uh just salary schedules. Uh we've recently kind of come across uh you see that top line, the first line of that is what we had. Now, when we change policies, this is probably one of those things that got tweaked a little bit. Maybe intentionally, maybe unintentionally. I would say probably unintentionally. Um, the first line of that is something that was what we had in place. What we've learned is that that can be very limiting in as you're looking to recruit and hire. So, what that says is basically uh we will look at a teacher's credit for years of what
044the state department of education will credit. Well, there are times where that can vary a little bit. In the example of uh say for example, there's a teacher that comes out of state and let's say we need a physics teacher that are hard to some of those hard to find positions. Well, right now as our policy is written, we would be stuck to we can only give you credited years for what the state department deems is appropriate. So, as an example, if they worked in uh another state for 10 years, but our the state department only gives them five years, but they're saying, "Well, I can go to your school or I can go to another school, but the other school their policy allows them to give those five extra years." Um, our policy wouldn't
045allow that. And so, we could not um make that adjustment to try to get that teacher here u based on those years of experience. that again we'll have to use logic and and honestly we would use it very sparingly anyways because typically those years are going to match up pretty well. >> But we also uh my my thought is we don't want to limit this board's ability to say here's a very hard position to find and with the correct logic and and it makes sense if we really want this good teacher then we might be able to give them years experience for things that they've done outside of that. So, um, and and we kind of have seen that a little bit where other districts policies, I I looked at a lot of different districts
046policies and about half of them have something like this that we're looking to change and about half of them have it kind of like where what we have it at. One allows a little more flexibility to possibly recruit and hire good people for hard to find positions. One is very black and white. There's positives and negatives to both. Black and white is black and white. The thing that I would be worried about and the reason I'm recommending this change is I think there are going to be some circumstances where if you have a position that's hard to find and you know your best top candidate uh is someone that you want and you're talking about about a matter of 5 years experience, 10 years experience, 15 years experience and it makes logical sense. I think
047we would say we would we would much rather pay, you know, a difference of $3 to $5,000 on the steps to get that person here than have them go to another district because our policy is black and white and says we can't do that. And and I and so that's that's where but again, we would want to use that sparingly because um obviously you you want good people, but you also want to be wise financially. And so that would just be case by case basis as well. So speaking from ignorance on this, you gave the example of going from out of state to instate. >> How does that work? If somebody teaches at SNU for 20 years and wants to come across the street, >> are those one to one or is that >> I
048I think I Well, you want to go ahead and >> I I would say the state department >> only gives you years for years that you have been a teacher in a public school in Oklahoma. >> Okay. >> K through 12. This would give you the freedom to say there is a math teacher at SNU that now wants to teach at Bethany and then you have the ability to credit those 20 years of service as like for like >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. We we would also look at things like TRS uh teacher retirement system. >> Okay. >> Because those things don't always match. So someone may have credited years in teacher retirement system but the state department doesn't acknowledge those as he said as teaching years and so sometimes you have variances that way
049also. Um it's just a I guess to them it's a very black and white system as well, right? What what they're willing to credit there's you know five years of out of state things like that. So um and and so what our current policy says is we're basically letting or or having the state department of education dictate those years to us. The good thing about that is it's very consistent. It is what it is and that's what it's going to be and um it it's good in that way. Um, the bad thing is if you get in a situation where you really need, you know, you really want say need, you really want to hire somebody who's good and you feel like is the right person for the job. It gives you a little bit
050more room to maybe, you know, kind of negotiate those years to get them to a place where and the biggest reason for the change I would say is because our competitors surrounding us have policies like this. And so if we are truly um recruiting the same teacher and they're that good, we will lose a lot of the time because they're going to go make 5,000 more because that district saying well we'll give you those 10 years where we are black and white stuck saying we have to we can only give you say five. And I just my fear would be I I don't want to lose those battles because this this is really about putting people in front of kids and I would hate to lose out on the best person put in front of
051kids because of the state department saying well they get this many years and another district having a policy more like this. Have a motion. >> Make a motion to approve board policies. GFB complaint procedure parent uh to staff and DE- R1 salary schedules. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Walter. >> Yes. >> Gates. >> Yes. >> Reiner? >> Yes. >> JS? >> Yes. Uh item nine, discussion of ongoing operational replacement plans and potential upcamp upcoming projects. >> So about this time last year, we uh uh reported to the board a plan to kind of keep up with some uh larger expenses that would come up. And um you'll see this is a very uh similar plan to that. The reason we have this on here today is just to kind of report to you
052guys kind of where we're at on this plan and and keeping up with this plan. Um, it's great to have a replacement plan, but only if you stick to it. And so, um, I may let Mr. Jasper kind of talk you through some of these things and I'm happy to to follow up as well. But, so we would be on fiscal year 26. Uh, and just kind of want to report back like some of the things that we've been able to do to stay in line with this plan. >> Yeah. So, this plan is is really I did not make changes because it's it's a good plan. Um, what I did do is go estimate the or we had better estimates of what the cost is going to be for FY26. And so I did
053update those amounts. But I like you guys being able to see what we've done in the past and and I'm going to go through this and kind of say these are things we did off the operational plan in the past. And then these are things that were on it for FY26 that we're planning on doing or we don't think we need. and and this is what we think we're going to do instead. So, for FY25, we ended up being able to do all of that. Um, I think there were a few miscellaneous repairs, but other than that, we did get two buses. We did replace 12 HVACs. We did strip down and redo the west parking lot, student desks. We did a lot of technology devices. And what I would say on this plan is
054these are things that if you get behind on that you can get in a really bad situation. For example, we have um my Mr. Mont is not here but he said we have around 110 HVACs and they have a estimated useful life in between 15 and 20 years. So if you divide that out, it's anywhere if you had to replace you'd have to replace anywhere from 5 to seven a year if you were going to add that if you're going to divide that out over 15 or 20 years, right? And so and most of the ones we're planning on doing are, you know, 15 or 20 years old and need replaced, but you also, if you're having problems with them, it's something I think you want to stay on. um because you don't want to
055get to a point where you're replacing 50 HVACs in one year is what I would say. And so that's that's why we want to have a replacement plan. So for FY26, number one, we got a new people mover this year for special services. It has, you know, the ability to u people in in like a a wheelchair. It has that wheelchair access and stuff. So, we've already done that one. Other ones we're looking at are the north parking lot. That's 345,000. It is a complete tear out. And also what we've looked at is removing that curb. >> Yeah. >> Since we're >> I fell in that parking lot, >> not too >> all the way down >> on a crack. Was it like a crack? Yeah. Yeah. It's bad. >> And you know, I've had
056many conversations with Mr. Mont. He said, "You know, at some point it will have to be replaced." >> And right now we have have the money to do it and you don't want to get to a point where it's a big expense. You don't want to get to a point where you're stretching money to do it if if we can't carry over as much money in the future. And so that's the thinking one I'd say >> and the strategy behind that. >> I'll add one more thing to that too. Originally we had looked at I mean even last year that price would have said around $200,000. um that obviously has gone up now, but part of that too is we [clears throat] always have the option of resurfacing, but Mr. Mont said that our parking
057lot has deep deep cracks in it. And if you just resurface, it's just a matter of time before those come back. So, it's a difference of, you know, a 5-year fix and then you're right back or this uh from what I remember him telling me is more like a 15 to 20 year fix. So, it should be >> much better. And so for us, we feel like it's better to go ahead and do the 330. I think it's 330 is what we're looking at. >> Yeah. 335 or 345. >> I I overestimate things. >> That's good. [laughter] We like that about um we feel like it's better to do that and get 15 to 20 years because again, we have other things we want to be spending money on and so we don't want to
058keep worrying about this every few years. So that that would be u something that we [clears throat] would look to do. Uh the next one is HVAC which is we have some bids on this board meeting. It's a little less than 105. Like I said, I like to overestimate just to be conservative. Um priority 4 is a new bus. We do not think we need a new bus. We got two new buses last year. What we're looking at there is our our [snorts] van fleet really needs some some updates and um not sure if we'll will go vans or other eight passengers, but that's kind of what we're looking at there as far as doing that technology devices. Um we use the kids can check out Chromebooks and those Chromebooks. We live in an age
059where you have to have the ability for kids to use computers. I would say Chromebooks, they don't last as long as other computers. You you can't buy on mass Macs. So, I would say that that's what you run into there. And then student student desk, we always want to try to make sure and I think we're doing a lot better, have done a lot better on making sure our desks are in good condition, but there's still some out there that need um need replaced. And then there's just a few more, I think, rims where there's some carpet that we're looking at replacing. And then I'll take take any questions. >> One thing I'd add to that before we have questions, um, if you look to fiscal year 27, you'll see like a security vehicle there.
060We were able to do that. So there are some, maybe that's the only one, but well, obviously the HVAC units, we we did a lot more than the the original plan of two. We did nine because we need to and we can. Um but then the security vehicles, there are some things that we're even looking ahead to uh if we can and it makes sense. So, uh just a couple things there. But >> yeah, [clears throat] >> and this isn't an action item, so >> Okay. >> Uh item 10, discussion and possible action. Amm mechanical bid $11,500 to replace nine HVAC units for the sixth grade hallway and other middle school rooms per request for proposal bid results received Monday March 30th of >> of these three uh that that bid amm we've used them
061in the past correct >> or we've used all of these folks I believe in the past Last year, last year we used hardesty. >> Okay. >> I think we've used AMM for some other stuff. >> Okay. >> Um but last year the HVACs were hardesty. >> Why is theirs not separated out twin face bid and alternate? >> I don't believe they turned in a bid for I think we did a bid for six and additional three. Um and I think they turned in just a total bid. They just wanted to do nine. Mhm. >> Um, >> so the so the base bit is the six and then the alternate bid is the three. They they just bid it all together and didn't separate it out. >> Does that impact decision [clears throat] making as far
062as like if chose to only do six since they did not turn in a price for the base bid >> or is it recommendation to just do the nine? Yeah, the the rate finishes. >> Yeah. >> Have we had good experience with the movements? >> Yeah. I mean, so the the bid is not always just lowest price. It's also just best bid. And so we feel good about the quality of work and the and the price combined. So, but we could take in in theory, you could take a higher bid if you feel like it's a better bid. So, >> so with sorry for all the questions new stuff. Uh, so with your RFPs, is it lowest most qualified and what are the criteria that the school has for that? >> This is where we
063need Mr. Mon here. [laughter] >> We really do. He's the one that's done bidding in the past because he worked for college and stuff. Um, what I would say is we've used them in the past and they've done quality work and it's it's the lowest bid and so I think that's why he would recommend it. But >> yeah, I I would have to defer to him because he he I will say he does as good a job as I think um we've had in this process. I mean, he he he knows he knows how it works. He knows the proper way to do it and he he definitely does it that way. So, um, am >> uh, I make a motion to approve AMM mechanical bid to replace nine HVAC units. >> Second. Roll call
064[snorts] vote. >> Wste, >> yes. >> Yates, >> yes. >> Riner, >> Yes. Item 11, discussion and possible action on the 2026 2027 temporary financial appropriations. So on the temporary financial appropriations, this is something you have to do every year. It's based on the numbers you see are based on the estimate of needs that we had in the fall. And you know, basically you guys vote on it and then we take it to the the county board. And this is what allows us to start encumbering and spending money next year before we've approved the estimate of needs in the budget. I make a motion to approve the 2026 2027 temporary appropriations. >> Second roll call vote. >> Wall staff. >> Yes. >> Gates. >> Yes. >> Riner. >> Yes. >> Jaggers. >> Yes. Item 12,
065staff reports. So, appreciate you guys uh allowing staff to uh be gone today. You see their reports there and if you have any questions, we'd be happy to answer what we can. But, uh busy time of year, I know that they've got a lot a lot of things going on. So, put [clears throat] some good highlights there, too. >> On the subject of busy time of year, you know, it's April 14th. It's tax time. And I was just thinking, you [laughter] know, >> a year ago I I know when I would be getting home at night and so thank you for hiring me. >> Hey, we're glad [laughter] you're here. We're glad you're here. >> Glad you're here. >> Yeah. >> Uh item 13, proposed executive session. >> 13A, vote to convene or not to
066convene. Make a motion to vote to convene into executive session. Second roll call vote. >> Staff, >> yes. >> Gates, >> yes. >> Ryder, >> yes. The record reflect that the board voted to enter into executive session at 6:53 p.m. and returned uh from it at 7:59 p.m. The board discussed only agit agenda items number 13, employment of employees. No votes or actions were taken. Only the board and the superintendent, Dr. Ruben Bellows, were present in the executive session. Uh item 14, discussion of possible board action on the resignations of employees in addendum A as authorized by 25os 307B1. >> I make a motion to approve the resignations of employees in addendum A as authorized by 25 OS 307B1. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Wad. >> Yes. Gates. >> Yes. Minder. >> Yes.
067uh discussion and possible board action on the hiring of employees in addendum B as authorized by 25os 307B1. >> Uh make a motion to approve the hiring of employees in addendum B as authorized in by 25os 307B1. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> All yes. >> Gates. >> Yes. >> Reiner. >> Yes. Uh item 16, discussion and possible board action on the hiring of employees in addendum C as authorized by 25os 307B1. >> Make a motion to approve the hiring of employees in [clears throat] addendum C as authorized by 25os 307B1. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Walad, >> yes. >> Gates, >> yes. >> Ryder, >> yes. >> Jaggers, >> yes. Uh item 17, discussion of possible board action on the hiring of employees in addendum D as authorized by 25os307B1. >>
068I make a motion to approve the hiring of employees in addendum D, pending background check as authorized by 25os section 307B1. >> Second roll call vote. >> Waff, >> yes. >> Yates, >> yes. >> Reiner, >> yes. >> Jaggers, >> yes. Item 18,formational items. >> All right, so we have no school on Friday, April 17th. That's also a long night. We'll be watching the weather for that as well, but looking forward to to that day and and that evening. Also, the all school musical is coming up April 23rd through the 25th. Uh great tradition in Bethany. Looking forward to that performance. Um Running Through Roadblocks was moved to April 30th, so that's uh coming up. Staff appreciation week is May 4th through the 8th. high school decision day. Uh we're excited about uh hearing all
069the decisions our seniors have made to uh venture out into a lot of different uh paths that they may have chosen. Um so that is May 5th and um if you have an opportunity to come to that, we would encourage you to do that. It's it's a fun fun day to kind of see and and let other kids see decisions kids are making as seniors. And um hope >> is that like in the gym? it is in the gym and they get to kind of they kind of announce you know what kids are going to what college or employment or enlistment. Um it's it's it's fun. It's kind of a a change from awards that we've done in the past and it just recognizes >> you know the different paths that kids can take these
070days and uh it was a lot of fun last year and look forward to it again. And then um we have Bethany Middle School award ceremony on May 11th. So look forward to celebrating our middle schoolers. >> Item 19, board member comments. >> [clears throat] >> Item 20, uh, superintendent report. >> Very good. I'll be quick so we can, uh, get our cars out of the weather, but, um, home stretch of the year, so it's a, a busy busy time of year as we all know. Uh, we do have testing season coming up, so appreciate all of our test coordinators, um, and getting that organized. also uh just want to uh uh encourage our kids for uh all their hard work and uh you know just encourage them to show that as they take their
071tests uh here at the end of the year. Um we also have SWAT week that just uh occurred and I want to say thank you to all the coordinators of that and student leaders. Um just a great cause and a great community event. Um again want to congratulate our robotics team and wish them well um as they travel to their competition. Um we also uh are looking forward to staff appreciation week. Thank the [clears throat] foundation for um helping us to uh honor teachers um by giving them some sweet treats uh during that week as well. Um we also uh just want to thank all of our teachers, principles, um and anyone else who's involved in um hiring committees. uh we like to hire in uh committees and get collaborative decisions and that helps us
072to to hire great people but we also know that takes a lot of time um for those individuals spending usually after school staying a lot of times it's a couple to a few more hours to interview each individual person and then helping us to to make good collaborative decisions. So, um it's something that's very important to uh the philosophy of how we want to do things, but we do know it takes time, uh additionally away from their families and so appreciate their commitment to that and and just really excited about the uh decisions that they're making as far as our hiring goes. Um, we also uh have heard tonight in a lot of the requests a lot of teachers who are uh signed up to go on to PD opportunities and again a lot of
073those are outside of contract hours and um yes we are paying for them to go but they also have to make that commitment to be willing to take the time to go do that and so um appreciate that they are willing to go grow themselves in that way and uh better themselves for uh for our school and for our district. So, we certainly appreciate them as well [cough] [clears throat] and uh looking forward to a great end of the year and uh coming up on graduation which uh is really important for a couple of us in particular uh in this room but um so looking forward to to getting to that as well. That is my report. >> All right, item 21. We are adjourned. All right, >> thank you everyone. Thank you. >> Good
074day.