001I pledge allegiance >> 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. >> Thank you. All right, I see we have quorums. So, we will get started here with the consent agendum. Item 3A, approval of the minutes of the January 13, 2026 board meeting. Everything look correct? Any thoughts, ideas? Anything needs to change? Item 3B, discussion and possible action to approve the following contracts and agreements for fiscal year 25 with main event for the eighth grade field trip. Anything particular on that item 3 C, discussion of possible action to approve the following out of town, out of state, out of state overnight trips. A, high school girls basketball playoffs. B, high school boys basketball playoffs. Item
002C, Kirk Patrick communications conference. >> So, just a quick note about those. The girls basketball and boys basketball, the the thought is where we we think they're going to be close enough that they won't need to stay over and our goal would be that they don't because it's within an hour or so. Um, but just in case there's weather or just something happens where they do end up, they would rather have pre-approval knowing that they have that option. But they we do not intend them to stay overnight. If in fact, we've been trying to limit cost through all activities to keep cost down for everybody. And that's one of the things we've had a lot of discussion about is how far we're traveling, but then also so that we don't have to stay overnight. So,
003this is kind of more of a uh precaution in case something weird happens or something changes that we don't expect, but it's so it's approved before our next uh because it would happen before our next board meeting. >> Thanks for the clarification. Item 3D, approve the additions to the following activity fund accounts. Number one, golf Any questions? >> All right, item four. >> Okay, so starting out with activity fund. There's there's not a lot of of new things to talk about. It's it's hovering right around the same. It's dropped down a little bit, about 40,000 from where it was last month. Um, that's completely normal. some spring sports are starting up and and so they're kind of using their funds to order stuff to get ready for that. All all the accounts are positive though.
004Nobody's nobody's in the red. So everything's good with activity. >> Real quick, we need to go back to the consent agenda and approve the consent agenda because this is outside of the consent agenda. Correct. >> This is the last item. >> This is the last >> approval. Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. >> Proceed. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. >> Um on the function summary report. Um really same thing we're hovering if you add so I'll just kind of go over some things. If you add encumbered which is our our PO's outstanding our purchase orders outstanding and our expended we're hovering right around 7.4 million. To give a little context to that last year we spent at the end of the year around 19.8 million. So, we're doing we're doing really good as far as spending less
005money and and we have to because we don't have these large carryovers from from years past. We got to a point where that had to be spent or we're we just had to spend it. Um any questions so far on that? Then onto the board tracking sheet. I mentioned last month we've started to collect our our property our ad valorum taxes and we've gotten to the point where we've collected most of that. There may be just a little more that comes in throughout the year. Probably you know another 70,000 I would say is pretty close. We may go over that but most of those taxes are collected in the early spring and that's when we start getting them. Um not much there. One thing I would note is we're about to back to the function
006summary report. I' I've told you guys in the past that the building fund got kind of low because we spent the two years worth of of funds on the track project. We are about to it'll probably happen February 14th or 15th is when we usually get our red bud funds will come in. That's usually around 350,000 the first time we receive it and then we'll receive another one in March for another 350,000. So around 700,000. Um most of the other funds we've started to collect um are collecting or that's really the only one. There's just a few smaller ones. Any questions on the financials? >> Do I have a motion? >> Sure. Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. Roll call vote. >> Riner. >> Yes. >> Yates. >> Yes. >> Wat.
007>> Yes. Item number four. Approve the general fund and non-payroll incumbrances for fiscal year 26 numbers 409 through 429 for 17,26.36. the fiscal year 26 change orders for general funds of $14,411.89 and the general fund payroll number 70,000 through 70,616 in the in the amount of 13 million445,528. So, I would just go over a few of the POS starting with 414. I would hit some of the bigger ones. Um, that's a PO to Amazon coming out of our technology budget um just for spare parts to repair um Chromebooks and stuff like that. And you guys, I think have seen those. Every once in a while, we have to run one of those to to get parts. The next one I would I would talk about is PO424 to Marshall Environmental Management. We received a a
008concern about air quality in the in the high school office and we're just doing our due diligence as far as testing that and stuff. We actually have a test from around three years ago and everything was fine. So, we have no reason to be concerned, but it's one of those things where we have to do our our due diligence and and make sure. So, that's what that is. >> Call me. >> Um, >> PO 425 to Sigma Technology is -ate consulting services. I think I'm going to let Adam talk about this because whenever we get into the technology, we're kind of out of my realm of expertise. >> Yeah, that's just a normal one. You probably remember it from last couple years, but Kellogg and Sovereign does our kind of all of our filing for
009-ate. Uh so we have a category one, which is our internet services. So we they competitively bid that every year just to make sure we're getting the the best deal on everything. And then they also competitively bid our internal connections, which is like our switches and access points and stuff like that. So um that's just, you know, that fee is for them to file all that and make sure we're in compliance with everything. and um they put it out for competitive bidding and they help us go through the bids and stuff like that. So, uh we do have a new rate budget. It's a five-year budget. Um I think we have, you know, 300 and some thousand dollars we can spend over five years and our discount rate on that is 50%. So, the federal
010government through the e-ate program pays for half of that. So, we can kind of it helps schools upgrade their u you know their networks without a big cost to to the schools. So, it's a really good program for for schools. So it it saves us a lot of money in the long run. >> Um and the last PO I would talk about is is PO 429 TOSA. >> Um this is paid out of project 613 funds which is federal funds for special services. Um it's a a smaller amount every year, but Heather Williams is going and she's taking some of her staff to the Oklahoma Directors of of Special Services Conference. And that's what those funds are specifically allocated for is to go to professional development. So any questions? >> Number seven. Is that just
011a monthly cost? What is a what's the land? Uh >> um >> that is on the >> on the change order. So >> change orders >> sometimes a kind of weird thing happens. We had snow removal on a PO cuz we were expecting it. >> Okay. the snow removal PO we had was about 3,000. Um, so it was it was ended up being more than we expected. And so instead of putting part of it on that line and then putting the rest on another line to make it cleaner, we just put a new line. >> Okay. >> So, >> and and so Land Care takes care of our snow removal as well. >> They do. Okay. And so if I can ask then, was what was the cost? Is it 8,100 to remove the snow?
012>> Yes. Yeah. >> Or was it the 8100 plus the 3000 that was anticipated? >> No, just 8100. We we put it on a brand new line just to make it clean. >> And that is removing snow and also salting. Correct. >> The the majority of that is the parking lots. >> Yeah. >> So under normal circumstances, we would handle sidewalks in house. We don't have the tools or equipment to do the parking lots. >> Okay. So, we make a decision on on the parking lots based on how much snow we're going to get and what's the temperature going to be, future temperature, and how long is that snow going to stay in the parking lot before we pull a trigger to have >> Mhm. >> a third party come and remove snow from the
013lots. >> Okay, good. Thank you. Any questions about any of the others? I make a motion to approve the encumbrances as presented. >> Second. >> Here in a second. Roll call vote. >> Uh Riner, >> yes. >> Palmer, >> yes. >> Yates, >> yes. >> Wat, >> yes. Item number five, uh discussion of snow day. >> Speaking of snow removal. Um so appreciate the opportunity to talk a little bit about the the week-long uh snow days. Um, and I think this, you know, scenario that we just passed through kind of had a little bit of everything. And so, uh, I I do want to take a little bit of time on this and and really go through a lot of details. I think it'll be good for, uh, the community to hear just all the
014ins and outs of that are that are being considered through all of this. And, uh, and then also for you guys to be able to make notes and follow up with questions as we go or just, you know, after the end to say, "What about this? this, what about that? I mean, even just, okay, knowing, oh, it costs some money to get things ready to to go and things like that. So, um, and what I think I'm going to do is go through a timeline of events and just kind of now I won't probably hit on everything. There'll probably be some details, you know, that I may miss, but generally speaking, it will be, you know, pretty much step by step of these were the thoughts along the way. So, starting with Friday, um you
015know, we we knew based on the National Weather Service and um to clarify that the National Weather Service has a webinar anytime it it may actually be daily, but we get notifications when the weather's looking like it's going to be bad. So, and I say we, it's super superintendent. And then they start having webinars leading up to. So they'll usually have a morning webinar and an afternoon webinar anywhere from a day or two leading up to an event that they're predicting, you know, could be could be bad or whether it's severe weather or snow or things like that. So on leading into Friday, there was a webinar in the morning uh on on that Thursday and they had kind of predicted, you know, whether and they also do a good job of talking specifically to
016certain areas because if you just watch the news, you know, there's a lot that goes into that as far as they they need viewers and things like that. And so and they also talk very generally speaking. So Oklahoma is going to have record snow, things like that. But we've got to look more specific at our area. So we we have uh oh a uh subscription where they they will send us out notices and things through our email. And so on that Thursday in the morning they had a webinar and they kind of said that on Friday they predicted there could be um snow sle ice starting anywhere from noon to 4 on Friday. And so then uh you know but they they kind of said you know there's a chance of that which it's pretty
017pretty wide window. So then at two o'clock on Thursday they said about the same thing and they really it was really hard to predict because the window was so big 12 to 4. And then the one thing that he did say that I think probably scared a lot of superintendent was he said, you know, we're telling our families to be home by 1. So in the meantime of the morning of Thursday and the afternoon of of Thursday, we had been discussing internally about uh early release, like if we get them to school, we we feel like the morning's going to be fine. Maybe we just release it at noon when they're saying it's going to get bad. Well, found out that to do that, to get through lunches, that's really 1:00. So, our earliest release
018time on any given day would be about 1:00 to get through all of our elementary, middle school, and high school lunches, which we would want to do if we're having school. So, that that was a lot of the conversation leading into the 2:00. After the 2:00 and the statement was made, you know, I I would tell them to be in by 1:00. That is when um a lot of superintendent also I will tell you this big districts don't even look at early release uh um because it's way too complicated for them. But for us we probably could manage it a little bit better. By the time we were had probably kind of figured out a lot that everyone was closing at that point. So then you kind of run into a situation where you and
019and and superintendents talk a lot through all this. So um the benefit to us for that is we have families coming from everywhere. So for them to be driving their roads and and giving updates, it's good for me because I can tell, oh, we've got families coming from Yukon and Mustang and Piedmont and Putnham City. And so if they're saying it's bad there, I don't have to drive out to all those places to figure that out. So they they started closing pretty easily, but we there were some of us that kind of felt like gosh, I'm just not sure about that one, you know, like it it could go later. The other thing we do know is that uh history would tell us that if it comes earlier, so if it would have hit about
020noon, it it becomes very chaotic at that point because a lot of parents in the past start showing up to check their kids out. And we've we have seen this time and time again where um even if it's not terribly bad in that moment, it's a constant we need this kid, we need this kid, we need this kid. And so we knew that was a possibility anyways. And then you're always running into the possibility of anytime there's that kind of first weather event, a lot of people, oh, we're going to have early release or late start, which we'll talk about later. They just keep their kids home. It's just kind of a different different vibe to it. But at that point, honestly, it was everybody else was closed. And even for us to consider having
021an early release, uh, we would have been the only ones doing it. And you would hate, in my mind, I'll say this, I would hate to be wrong and the only one doing it. And now we've got people having a hard time getting home because it came at 11:00 instead of 12. And you know, again, you're you're the only one that made that bad decision if that's what turned out to be. Now, what we know is that's not what ended up happening. And that's unfortunate for all of us cuz, you know, we we essentially lost a day, you know, that wouldn't have had to if if it was accurately predicted. So, um let's see. Uh a side note of that of all of that was um while that was being discussed, we had basketball teams
022that were in a tournament that on that Thursday when the weather report started coming out, they had started looking at moving those championship games to the morning of Friday because that was not predicted to be bad. And initially we had said as we as we typically do like if you close school you close activities and and initially I'd even called the other superintendent and said because we didn't know if we were going to be in the championship just yet but as the day progressed we played our games then it started to become clear that that was a possibility. So, I'd reached out to the superintendants and said, "Hey, just so you guys know, if we win and make it to the championship, if we're out of school, we typically don't have activities." And they understood
023that, but they kind of said, "Well, they moved it up, so you know, I mean, we would be willing to play if you guys would be willing to play, but we also understand and we'll respect if you don't." Um, and so that was kind of left lingering at that moment, but I did tell him, I said, "Just just so you know." Well, then they started talking about when the makeup days would be, and it was going to be that following week, which we knew based on the prediction, well, that probably wasn't going to happen either. So, we did kind of switch gears uh late Thursday evening, about Friday morning, knowing that all the predictions were later in the afternoon. Um, our teams at that point had both won, so they were both in that championship
024in the morning, so we knew when they were playing. and again talked to the other superintendent and decided, okay, we will reassess in the morning, but but we we will go ahead and let them play because there's not going to be a makeup time after after this weekend is done, which that turned out to be uh accurate as well. So, so that was a side note and and we typically don't do that. Um I would say uh but in that case tried to maybe use some logic to say okay, maybe maybe in this situation that makes sense. Um, we did have some students at OKMEA in Tulsa. They had left on Wednesday. We were a little bit worried about them being stuck in Tulsa because they weren't supposed to return until Saturday. And so, we
025just kept in constant communication with them. Initially, they had said that they were thinking about leaving earlier Saturday, then it went to later Friday, then it ended up just again through conversation with everybody, they ended up coming back on Friday morning as well. So we pretty much had everybody coming back and uh dispersing then by Friday afternoon. So uh you know as we know Friday came and the weather held off longer than anticipated and um and so that was uh you know unfortunate but then we were into Monday and Tuesday. Uh those days were much easier decisions to make because it the snow had come quite a bit and the temperatures were low, nothing was moving, nothing was going anywhere. Um but that's when we started having to make some decisions about our campus and
026our facilities. We knew that uh the goal was to try to be in as quick as possible. So, at the time of Monday, I mean, we were still optimistic of even, you know, probably realistically Wednesday, Thursday. Um, and so we knew there's no more precipitation supposed to come. Temperatures aren't going to go anywhere. So, we thought if we if we put some if we clear it and put some salt down, gives it a chance to all melt. And so, Mr. Mont uh did a good job of organizing that, getting that done. and uh you know and that does have a cost associated with it as we've learned um and that becomes a challenge because you know you you want to have school but it it comes at a cost but what you can't do is
027you can't um have any ice on any sidewalks parking lots and parking lots are really the scary part because they are black surfaces when that refreezes you really won't see it and you slip and now you've got injuries and things like that so so to even have a chance to have school, you really have to clear that stuff before you let people come back. And so that's what uh Mr. Mott began working on. Um we had discussion about activities. You know, you're always going to have the the request, hey, can we still have practice? Can we still have this? And those were easy discussions for me. Those are easy discussions of no. If if it's not safe for kids to come to school, it's not safe for kids to come to practice. And so we
028we did not allow any of that to occur um during those days. We did find out that um you know there were some facilities open and so we just said look if if people are wanting to get out and shoot and do whatever this is a facility that's open but and we made it very there's no organized practice. There's no um you know hey we're going to have an unorganized practice at this time. Let's all meet up there. was all all we're saying is this facility like the FLC was open and so we said FLC is open they can go you know get some shooting done on their own if they want and so we maintain that um we moving into Wednesday now Wednesday was kind of a big day because this was now we're
029getting into where things maybe are starting to kind of melt a little bit. We've cleared some things off. Um it felt like there was going to be a chance to possibly return on Thursday, but what we noticed were our streets around the school were still snow covered completely. So even though the sidewalks, the parking lot, those look great around our campus and were safe, the street where the car line would be was not safe, was just ice. And so we, this is where it gets kind of fun a little bit. Uh I say that jokingly a little bit, but we reached out to the city of Bethany. This is where some new details come in cuz this doesn't ever really happen. So, we reached out to the city of Bethany because we felt like if
030we could clear the car line, then it was just a matter of people getting to the school campus block, which as in the email stated later, we do trust that people will make their own decisions on what's safe for them even if we are open. And so wanted to put that out there too that just because we're saying, "Hey, it's safe for us to have school." We understand there may be some people out there who say, "I'm looking at my neighborhood and it's not safe for me to get there where I live." So always want the community to understand. We will be patient with that also. But we knew the block was a problem. So we reached out to the city of Bethany to see if they would clear around our block for us. and
031they they declined that just for a very uh logical reason of they've got a lot of schools not Bethany public schools within Bethany and they didn't have the manpower to be able to clear all the schools around that are in other districts as well. So, that made sense to us, but then we thought, well, maybe they don't, but maybe we could. And so, we began to look at uh could the lawn care company that we hired to clear everything else, could they just go and honestly just spray salt on the roads? Cuz if it had salt and the sun that we were getting, it would have melted really quickly. Well, we called them, Mr. Mont called them, and they said, "We won't do public roads." And that got us thinking, there's probably a reason that
032they won't touch that because we were willing to pay them to do it. Well, I called a parent of ours who also works in road construction and things like that and just said, "Hey, just is there something more to this as far as why they won't even do it?" And he said, "Absolutely. Uh there's a huge liability with salt because salt is not good for roads and if you start getting potholes and things like that, >> there could be liability on that." that and so I said well so would you say that even for oursel like we shouldn't do that he said I wouldn't do it unless you ask for permission from the city and see if they will do it so Mr. Vermont called the city and um checked with them and they were
033very clear. They said we would not like you to do that. So that became uh was not an option either. Um, in the meantime of that conversation and knowing now that there's some liability issues with working on on public roads, even right around our campus, um, we had some community members who, uh, pushed some snow around um, in the neighborhood and, um, that was it wasn't something we directly reached out and asked for. We were just kind of inquiring about some options and things and and that was all it really needed was to clear and get some of the pavement showing and this the sun did the rest. So then going into uh going into Wednesday night, Thursday. Again, a lot of districts were closing because of neighborhoods and things like that, but we don't
034run buses. And so that was one instance where we thought, okay, we can be different from everybody else because we don't have to worry about buses. Our road is clear. Our campus is clear. So a lot of them there were a few districts even bigger districts who were waiting until the morning but for us it was we really hoped that we've done everything we can do it may be good enough to have school at the very least we also thought let's wait and see not act there was also some reports of freezing drizzle that morning >> and so a lot of districts honestly acted on that and Friday taught me let's not act on that let's wait and see exactly what happens and since we could also there's some of that that you know while
035we all want always want to try to give families an opportunity to plan ahead we also want families to understand that sometimes decisions like that might have to come last minute in the morning and don't want them to necessarily get in the habit of they're always going to know the night before. So there was a little bit of that just but we just really wanted to be sure that >> uh what we were dealing with. So then that next morning um about 4:00 uh got up drove down the school and the first intersection I came to was Mueller and 42nd and there's a little bit of a downhill slope there and I was really trying to drive like if I was going through the car line and I just slid right through the intersection there
036and just got about halfway through the intersection before I stopped and that's where all our high schoolers walk across from the parking lot. So that was not the not a good sign for the first uh stop. drove around the uh block really around the block wasn't terrible that but all those road all those feeder roads coming in were just like they had been and so then drove around the Bethany neighborhood also realized students walking to school there there was no safe way to get to school if you were walking to school cuz all the roads which we don't have sidewalks in Bethany and all the roads were you know black ice basically at that point it wasn't just snow covered it was like black ice everywhere. So then I So that was not a good
037sign, but I went ahead and drove around some other neighborhoods uh around and saw a lot of the same thing. It was a lot of black ice, a lot of sliding into stops, not not into but like not just directly stopping at stop signs. And so that one that one was a little bit harder because we were optimistic. Um uh then also superintendent who had waited till the morning kind of started chiming in but at that point I pretty much knew this wasn't going to work for us and so we all kind of at the same time kind of chimed in like yeah it's not going to work for us either and >> so that was Thursday. Now there was some also unique so typically okay canceled school but we still had some activities that
038now were under discussion again because uh the basketball team was going to play on Friday and they had not at this point been able to practice all week. So I asked Mr. Chaffy, you know, is there any injury risk, significant injury risk to not practicing all week and then getting out and playing a game? And he put me at ease a little bit in that conversation of um maybe a little bit, but maybe more psychological just not being prepared and things like that. But I I wasn't really I wasn't as much worried about that as just like pulling muscles and other risks associated with that. Um, we also had swim was uh supposed to go to Edmond and it was going to be a senior night. So, we really knowing that things were going to
039melt pretty quickly in the morning. >> We really didn't want them to miss that opportunity. Um, at the end of the day, we we learned that that was more of a general senior night for a lot of schools, not necessarily just us. And our our team decided not to go before we even made the decision to go or not go. But that was uh again I I would consider that a unique circumstance because Thursday morning we knew it was going to melt very quickly once the sun came out on Thursday day. So Mr. Marino um in fact we had talked and he was going to drive around 11 12:00 before any decisions about basketball practice or um the swim meet was going to happen. By the time we got to that afternoon, um, basketball had
040already said we've, you know, we're we're we're good. We don't need to worry about it. Swim also said we're not going to the meet. So, it kind of took that off the table anyways. >> But again, that that would be feedback I would look forward to hearing from because there could be a hard line, which I would tell you I lean that way of like no school, no activities. But then there were two instances in this case where maybe maybe some common sense or logic or I say common sense logic might get you to a place of like maybe it does make sense to let this happen or not. So I would take feedback on that. Um in the meantime of the or I'm sorry I missed something in the going into the Thursday decision.
041You guys probably saw the email that went out because when when we had done everything that we could possibly do and now we're just waiting to see if it melts. We also felt like if we came to school on Thursday, there was still going to be some risk involved. Like it was not going to be perfectly clear, but we really really wanted to try to have school. So, we decided to focus on something we could control. And we worked on the email that was sent out that um shared our concerns. Student drivers concerned us. We we felt like it may be safe for adults who have experience. I wouldn't trust a sophomore, junior, senior necessarily to drive in it. And I knew that was going to be questionable. So, wanted to share that with parents
042that hey, if if at all possible, if we do have school, maybe encourage you to drop off. Another one we talked about was closed campus. Um, felt really strongly about that that if those side roads weren't good when you release the kids, uh, student drivers out for lunch. You don't know where they're going to go and what fun they're going to >> look to have during that time away from school. So, so we wanted to close campus if we were able to do it. Um, and we knew whether we were able to have school Thursday or not, it was probably even more likely Friday and all the same things would apply. So, we thought if we send that out on Wednesday and we're in school on Thursday, it applies. If not, still going to apply
043for Friday. Um, that included morning practice because they get here at 7. Wouldn't want that necessarily. So, um, so those were things that we worked on. I did get great feedback from the email from parents and and actually staff which that surprised me a little bit. Um but um great feedback from that email and I think it helped us then that Friday we were able to uh return. Um and then just some other notes uh within all this. So when we had our four days of snow days and now we're going into uh Thursday, I checked with Mrs. lot to say, hey, you know, can you check our uh 1,086 hours to make sure that we have snow days left and that if we don't, we need to figure out options moving forward. And so,
044Mrs. Lot redid the calculations just to confirm and a couple things we learned um well that we knew that I'll share. So, middle school and elementary school have 20-minute lunches. So, that gives them essentially 20 more minutes than high school has every day. Middle school and high school have late start. Late start does take off 30 minutes a week, but but if you cancel late start the whole second semester, you're you're only going to gain back one day when you add all those 30 minutes up. So, side note on that, but it does take away minutes from uh middle school and high school throughout the year. But high school has 40-minute lunches and late start. So, they have the fewest days of any of the three schools. And all three schools have different number of
045days that they can miss. So that uh is a little bit tricky. And that high school at that point after 4 days had run out of snow days, but middle school still had six plus to give and elementary probably has like 12 plus to give or you know some some high high number like that. >> And so they probably, you know, were not going to run into issues either way. We also So then we were talking about should middle school and high school go to like a virtual day for two reasons. One uh for uh the loss of the snow days that we had, but also because at that point everybody's stir crazy and honestly you don't want them and they're going to miss a whole week and you're starting all over. So we even
046thought about just giving them work just to get them reaclimated so when they come back we're not just starting all over. Well, middle school does not take devices home. High school is the only school that actually takes devices home on a daily basis. So, that would not have worked to have middle school do it. So, at that point, high school needed the day. No one else really did. So, we moved to uh high school doing the virtual day. Um, in the future, um, the state has already passed legislation that starting next year, schools can only use virtual days if a state of emergency is declared in Oklahoma and they can only use two days at that. So, pretty much we as a as a board and administration, we have to account for the fact that
047virtual and and I would say that's not a bad thing. Um but those are really not an option in the future because even during this week there was not a state of emergency declared that would not have counted. Um so we looked with Mrs. Melton, Mr. Juel like what options do we have in the future? One tricky day is our April day. Right now on our calendar, we have a day off in April and it is labeled as a snow makeup day, which it can be and and that's fine. Except what we've learned in all this is the high school is really the only one that's probably ever going to need a snow makeup day. So, and I don't know if we would want to two ways say high school, you need to come, but
048the other don't probably not. And I don't know that um I don't know if we'd want to say, okay, everybody comes to school because high school's out. And so that's just something to think about. Don't don't have an answer. I I do think there could be a change in the calendar to either make it a snow makeup day or not. Um or just say it's a day in April that we're going to take off. It is the day that we have prom. Um sometimes it falls on Good Friday. There's there are some reasons for that date. It's also there's not many breaks between that and the end of school and that's right right in the middle of testing and it's kind of a break there. So, so I think we could change some language on
049that if we truly don't know that we'll use that for a snow makeup day or we we could use it as snow makeup day and just have everybody come to school if any of the schools run out. So, something to think about there um as it relates to snow days and really looking ahead to the future of that. The other options for making up time in the future would be add minutes to every day. So you add seven minutes, you know, to this the 10 minutes and you balance that out. And um you know, don't know that it would be the best uh utilized minutes that you're adding on, but technically that's that's what we used to do. The only other option is to add days to the calendar at the end and then you're
050past graduation, past Memorial Day maybe. And so you're you're just having to look at a lot more things which we will have to consider in the future when virtual days uh go away. So um make sure I'm not missing anything there. Another uh thing that we look at is uh late start. So some of those days in the morning it's it's frozen but maybe it melts a little bit pretty quickly. the challenge that we have with starting later, so starting at say 9:00, 10:00. Um, in this case, it was actually because we were out of minutes anyways at the high school level. So, starting late, we were still going to have to make up some of that time. But generally speaking, the other big issue with that is that our kitchen staff has to be
051here about 3 hours before everyone else anyways. So, for us to do a let's just say 10:00 start, those that kitchen staff would still have to be here when we're saying it's not safe for anybody else to be getting here. They're still going to have to get here to get ready for breakfast and lunches. So, that's always the challenge with that is is we would just be saying, >> "Hey, we're not going to have the masses come because we don't feel like it's safe until, you know, 9 or 10:00, but we do need you guys to come on in and get ready for for school that day." So, that's the challenge with that one. it's possible we we could, you know, make that work and, you know, just ask them to do that. But that's
052that's one of the challenges with just having a late start. So, um, and then I'll say this, um, you know, with all of that, uh, we do have an awesome community. Um I would tell you guys that um through all of that and you know you get into four and five days it's you know people are ready to to get back to routine and um but but I did not have one negative uh email. Our our community is just so patient, so gracious. Uh I think they realize, you know, it's it is a challenge. um uh in every situation, but um I I don't think there's probably too many school districts or superintendents who probably can can say the same thing. I'm I was shocked honestly that um there wasn't more, you know, negative feedback
053because people get antsy and, you know, people it's disruptive and we know that and um so the grace that our community, you know, shows and continues to show is just amazing and just appreciate that. But um so yeah, that's uh that's kind of the uh snow days in a nutshell. Uh but it did provide a lot of scenarios to to talk through. So what questions do you guys have? >> Certainly unprecedented I mean storm that we had that that we don't often get anything like that especially for that extended period of time. So thanks for providing us an update and allowing us to understand a little bit about what goes into into those decisions. So, I'll questions that that you all have. I think the one >> it's easier in hindsight now, but how does
054the the fact that the city of Bethany won't clear the streets impact your ability to pull the trigger on clearing the um parking lots and sidewalks or paying that $8,100 out? >> Yeah, >> it's ah it's really tricky. Well, I I'll add a side note to all of this. So whenever I was reaching out to see if knowing the city wouldn't clear the, you know, block, which again, I completely understand their perspective on that, but it was going to be about 30. There was one person that I knew that was willing to do that for about $3,500. So you it's a very tough thing to say, okay, we have a chance to have school for $3,500, which which I would say if we knew for a fact $3,500 we get back in school, it's not
055an easy decision, but I mean >> that was to clear the roads. >> Clear the roads. Clear the roads. >> We've already paid the $8,100 to solve. >> That's right. So we've already already done that. So that was very tempting until we learned that we probably shouldn't do that for liability sake. But, you know, those are the tough decisions. Um, but I will say this, one thing that makes that a little bit easier and and this was just a little bit unique because most of the time you're going to have snow and it's going to melt, you know, pretty quickly. I mean, historically, it's going to it's going to melt away and or you can, you know, run with your standard crew and just get it cleared up in the parking lot. being black and
056black top, it usually melts a lot faster. And so, uh, but so you usually can count on that. Yeah, we're going to miss school, but in a few days it's going to kind of take care of itself. Or we do a little bit of work on it. It's going to take care. That was just not the case in this one. But 8,000 9,000 you know those numbers are nothing compared to a slip one person you know one p one staff member slips and falls and what that's going to cost us uh you just can't even you know weigh that out. So so to have that chance and to make sure truly everyone is safe to come back sometimes you just have to do it usually I would say you know Mr. Mont and his crew
057in most situations are probably able to take care of that. And historically when we have just maybe a little bit, but it is slick. They're able to go through with their own salt, you know, little um dispensers and do that and it works just fine. But when you have something like this, you just know there's no way we can handle that uh with the equipment that we have. So, >> I I would also say in in response to your question, >> I'm not sure had we not cleared the parking lots, I'm not sure the parking lots would have been in any kind of condition for anybody to walk through, even on Friday. >> Especially the north side over here at the high school cuz it's always in the shade because of that that building casts
058the shadow over in that parking lot. Well, >> I think in in that regard, it makes a lot of sense to you guys take care of the school first and then whenever the city is safe to travel through, then the school's ready already. >> Yeah. And it is hard because we have an advantage and a huge disadvantage. And I mentioned earlier, but the huge advantage is buses. The the fact that we don't have to run buses. I've been a bus driver for Putnham City way way back in the day. I've I've sliden sideways on a bus on a day that we had school and I'll never forget it and it I I don't envy any superintendent who has to make a call about buses because an empty bus on ICE is the worst thing you
059could be driving. So, we don't have that problem, but the problem we have is we have families coming from everywhere. And so, you know, it's uh it's impossible. And then and that was really the point of the email was we we can't know what everyone ser we all the way out to Banner Piedmont Deer Creek. I mean they're coming from everywhere. So truly truly truly would tell anybody you've got to make a decision for what you feel is safe if if and I would beg please make a decision for yourself because it's a it's a heavy burden to say hey come to school knowing someone could get in the wreck on the way there. That's that's heavy. But I hope people will make their own judgment for their own family, their own kids. And no,
060we're going to be understanding of that. So if you say, "Wasn't safe for my kid," we'll say, "Excused absence." You know, it'll be an absence, but it'll be an excused absence. So, >> um, I I think you made the right decision. I mean, I do I think, you know, at my at my shop, you know, we have to make decisions, too. I have place, you know, all the way out to Weatherford I have um branches, but we unlike you, we can start late, you know, and I think that's, you know, that's kind of a bad thing. I I had never thought about the kitchen staff coming in when it's really dangerous in order to have kids. Even if you came in late, they would still have to come in before everybody. So I mean you
061don't have that option it sounds like to start later um or even and I guess it's a little bit difficult to let go early even >> but I would say that um you know with regard to having activities when you've let out school >> we all live in Oklahoma. What happens at 8 o'clock in the morning? It may be completely different at one o'clock in the afternoon. I mean, you know, just this very day, it's a 20 degree difference than it was yesterday. So, I mean, what what may have been a dangerous scenario in the morning could be perfectly safe in the afternoon. And so, I think that you just have to judge that on on each case scenario, you know, on what the day looks like. If you know it's gonna it's bad this
062morning but it's all gonna melt off then you know you can have activities in the afternoon while if it's safe >> you know I think I wouldn't worry about I wouldn't make it on a case by case basis >> rather than a hard and fast rule that you're never going to do it if you don't have it >> if you have a snow day it's it's you know you're mixing all of the >> uh activities. I don't think you have to do that as a matter of course. Well, I appreciate that. You know, it's the thing that ran through our mind, Mr. Mariano and I talked about even to that day because even the morning of saying, "Okay, we're we're going to go play, but we're still watching the weather because if the boys, they
063played at 10:00 if they get there and it's already starting, we may just make sure they know they may be coming back before they play." Um, and so you're you're still, you know, kind of but but in my mind truly the scar the worst thing the scariest thing is we're not having school but we're going to go play a game then it gets bad then there's a wreck on the way back and and honestly it's that perspective of well we didn't have school but then a bus got in a wreck on the way back going to basketball. So all of that plays into all of our minds and but but >> but Friday logic to some degree. >> Friday was a little different than Thursday. >> That's right. you know, because Thursday you're on the
064way to to better. >> I guess I guess I see all that say, you know, even then, you know, appreciate the >> you use some some logic in all of it. But >> we don't take that lightly either because you just have to think through all those possible >> worst case scenarios honestly is what you're thinking about. >> Sure you are. And I will say Friday when we had school looking around I was like okay yes as much as I was between at 4:30 a.m. like could we maybe Friday it was like oh no this is when you come to school. So so I did feel much better on Friday. >> How did the closed campus work with the high school? Um, you know, from my perspective, >> you at the other end of the
065you know, I would honestly say, um, and maybe just the communication. Again, I'll tell you the only feedback I got from sending the letter out was positive feedback and it was appreciate you thinking about our kids. Thank you for, you know, closing campus. Um, and and just for thinking about that as a as a, you know, need. Um, and so I just think I I did say I walked down here during that closed campus, so I didn't just say down there, but uh, and honestly the kids um, they were scattered, you know, gym and different places, but it it didn't seem like an issue at all. And I think I think probably just them knowing coming in that that was what it's going to be. And >> um, >> yeah, if Well, I won't go
066that far. >> Door dash delivery. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Anything else I missed? I mean, I didn't notice anything that day being significantly bad, but >> No, it wasn't bad. Our teachers stepped in to help do some super supervision because we usually only have one grade level >> on campus. So, we had I'd say closer to three and a half when we account for kids in concurrent and CVT who are not at school. >> But yeah, I would say that it went well >> good. I think the kids enjoyed it and the lunch ladies enjoyed having those kids back >> who used to be at lunch all the time but now are off campus. So I think it made our day too. >> That's good. >> The one question I had would be the Friday
067leading up to it with you you made mention of I just made a note that we would want to make sure that we got through all the lunches. Kind of explain that you I mean instead of it being an early release you said we want to make sure we get through all the lunches. Lunches start at 10:30 10:45 >> for the elementary. Is that right? >> That's Yeah, about that. Yep. So, so we eat elementary eats at the elementary only. >> Middle school and high school now eat at the high school. >> So, lunches, elementary, when I have the uh text message, elementaryaries would get done about 12:15. So, they get done a little bit earlier, but middle school and high school, high school's actually the one that goes actually goes till about 1:15, but
068we had talked about we could make that work to where they got done. I checked with Miss Rigdon in the kitchen. I checked with Mr. Juwel and we we had a plan to make sure we got everyone fed by 1:00. Um, and about the time that we had all that figured out was when everybody everybody was closed. There wasn't anybody even closed that was open all the way to Norman more uh just everywhere. So, and I I'll be honest and you know that's also a situation where just to be fully transparent what's going through my mind in that mode is okay. So, we could do an early release, but we're going to be the only people in the whole metro area that's going to have early release. And I knew two things were probably going
069to happen. One, a lot of people wouldn't come anyways because everyone else is closed. And two, a lot of kids probably aren't going to be happy about. Now again, that's not why you make a decision, but I did know, you know, a lot of people are going to look at that a certain way of like, we're the only school anywhere that's open. And the biggest worry, the biggest fear is then something happens and okay, you were the only superintendent, the only district that made this decision and the weather did come at noon. And that's honestly that's a lot harder to justify than if you're you know safety and numbers if if you will like >> you know uh and that's that's hard I mean because I'll be honest I didn't and you guys I think
070knew it through my text messages of just trying to communicate and I didn't feel great about that one. I was like I I don't know about this one. I I think there's a pretty good chance that it may come a little bit later. It could come closer to four. Um, and so I was really, I don't know, really trying to think through that, but then everybody just closed. And I don't know, part of me just didn't want to be the only person the literally the only person that says, "Hey, we'll give it a shot." And then it comes earlier or it happens in the middle of the day. And and and the other big thing about that is and and I think any administrator will tell you when snow starts to fall in the middle
071of the day, parents just show up and check their kid out and it is nonstop. In fact, there have been days where you don't even go get kids anymore. You get on the PA, I need Isaac Bellows, I need this, and that's the rest of the day. Yeah. So then, you know, teachers who are the only ones in the community there, students are the only ones in the community there. And now their whole second half of their day is we need this person, we need this person. >> You know, that's tough thing if it happens, but >> not real productive in the class. >> Not real productive. Yeah. >> Well, thank you for for that thorough update. I appreciate that. Yeah, very much so. >> Item number six, staff reports. >> I think tonight we'll
072let you guys kind of look through a little bit. Um, Miss Campbell, I know or Miss Silva, sorry. I'll answer to that. >> Okay. So, for the high school, we wanted to talk to you guys. I printed this out because I thought it was interesting. Um, as you can see on our report and we also highlighted it in our newsletter. We were named to the AP school honor role and that is quite an honor. We are one of 23 high schools in Oklahoma to receive that honor. So, this paper on the back side, it will show you the other schools in Oklahoma um that received that honor. And then you can see we're in some pretty good company. We got the bronze recognition. And that means that 40% or more of our graduating cohort took
073at least one AP exam during high school. 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam. And 2% or more took five or more AP exams during high school. And so that's that's quite a big deal that we're able to do that. Um, a lot of that credit goes to our counselors who make sure that all of that information is in the system so that we are able to be recognized. Um, and then of course our students and our teachers do an incredible job. Um, this being my first year here, I've been so impressed with our teachers um, and our students. They work at a very high level and it's very impressive. So >> just for clarification, this would be for last year's class, correct? >>
074Correct. >> Okay. So for school year 2425. >> Yes. >> Great. I saw that on there and I wondered what the what the what the Yeah. You know, what led you to get that? >> Yeah. I'll hand you this one, too. I only have one copy of this one, but it tells you each level what you have to do to get >> those distinctions. So, >> so I'm realizing for the first time, uh, something I didn't know before that we were one of only four schools to be on it for the first time. So, a lot of >> a lot of these schools have been on here. Quite a few. >> It seems like it's hard to get, you know, to get to that point. There only four new schools that >> uh have been
075added. So, >> that's great. >> Yeah. Congratulations. Any other questions about that? >> That's great. >> One thing that uh Mrs. Chavez wanted me to share a little bit is uh the elementary is applying for an OET grant and Mr. Forester >> may know a little bit uh more about their specific plan, but um there's a lot of we've gotten the grant through multiple schools, multiple times through as the district um elementary took that on this year. Um it's a technology grant um uh through the K K20 um uh schools and so uh a lot it's a lot of hard work but it's a lot of um funding for technology and so and actually their plan um again don't don't remember all the details but their plan had a lot of uh teacher growth a
076lot of professional development included in it they they went to the K20 center and they uh saw a lot of innovative ative things. Um came back with some ideas, but our focus this year has been um instruction, teaching practices, strategies, and they kind of searched a little bit more and went a little deeper to try to find something that also fit that. So, um, so Miss Chavez, just wanted to let you guys know, want me to let you guys know that, um, they're really excited about that and, um, really optimistic, um, of their chance of getting that, but a lot of lot of hard work's going into it. So, we're excited for them as well. Anything else to add, Mr. Forest? >> No, I I think just it's all about kind of what the K20
077said, authentic learning experiences. So, they really tried to play into, you know, what could a teacher, you know, a lot of times it's getting teachers to to use that in the classroom. There's a lot of barriers to that with, you know, professional development and ease of use and all that. So, they focused on making it, you know, uh, you know, compact in carts that they could, you know, some the different types of robots that they're trying to get that the teacher could just wheel that in their classroom with the with the professional development that comes with it, uh, and really just get to work and using those with the kids. So, we focus on um, you know, just trying to get, uh, things that are easily implementable in the in their classroom. So, >> and
078there is a little bit of um fund matching I think with those programs typically as well. So, um you know, we we as a district will support that grant through um providing some some matching funds, but um it's definitely worth the the benefit that we get back. That's right. >> One question I had on the I saw that the middle school went out to uh Canadian Valley, right, for their for their big field trip out there. H how many students do we have that attend Canadian Valley? How many high school students attend or how many slots are we allowed here at Bethany? Right. I mean, >> that's a great question. I don't know how many slots we're allowed necessarily. I don't know that there's a specific number on that, but I can look and tell
079you how many kids we have in those programs. We had interviews for our 10th graders who are wanting to join the program today. >> Okay. >> So, there's a lot of >> So, they would go as juniors. So, their first opportunity to go is as a junior. I >> think so. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Typically, that is the case. Let me see. >> And I do think there is a kind of an aotment for our school. Like I do think there's a number that they kind of give this >> that they that they provide. >> Yeah. I don't know the number, but I I've I've had that conversation before in the past. >> It looks like we have about 50 students currently. >> That's a lot. >> Which Well, >> out of two grades >>
080still. >> And and it's grown significantly. >> Yeah. It didn't used to be that many. >> 25% a grade. I mean, if you have 100 people in a grade, you got a little over 100 people in a grade, but >> yeah, >> 22%. >> So, the number they've allotted us has grown. I know that. And I mean it's just uh rightfully so. I think it's just truly we're in a place now where um most people us included preach that there are there are a lot of different paths and career employment that's the one e employment um that's this is this is how you can fast track to a career uh alternative to going to college or enlisting. So enrollment, enlisting, employment. This is employment. And I think a I think our communities need this to
081thrive because a lot of the trade, you know, uh businesses are are struggling to also have people uh working in them. And I think as communities, we see that. And so most schools, most school districts are encouraging that just like we encourage enrollment into college, just like we would encourage someone to enlist if that's what they want to do as well. So, it's not used to a long time ago. It used to be, well, you know, if you can't do this, maybe do that. It's just not that way anymore. It's it's a very viable way to leave the program making good money. Um, and a lot of kids are finding that out. So, and we're really encouraging as an option. So, >> well, I mean, the pathways option is is something that's is going to
082be required as part of the graduation requirements. Uh, I mean, there's a number of ways of getting there, right? by attending uh you know career tech 20% of each class let's say is going right now you know by this standard we had 25% of the students that are in a concurrent class or so that's part of it that meets that requirement as well when we think about the rest of our students you know what is the plan for uh making sure that they are in a path to meet that graduation requirement are we, you know, are we looking at different paths that I know we have the aviation piece that that's going on. So, that's one thing. What are some other paths that we've investigated or are looking at? >> So, or have in place
083already, I guess. >> Yeah. So, uh, Mrs. Melton probably would be the best person for all of us to talk to about this, but she has taken the new graduation requirements and we always have had a kind of a tracking sheet for students uh for for graduation requirements. We've updated that for the new graduation requirements and she sits down with students and goes through, you know, what they've already had, what they need. The the pathways provide a lot more flexibility. So students are working towards the same goal graduation but there's a lot more flexibility for various paths. So um your elective choices can vary a lot more. used to you had to have you know don't want to throw out too much here like I'm an expert but you know two foreign languages and uh
084certain fine arts and certain they've they've freed that up a lot to where you not everyone necessarily needs to have that and so it's much more individualized which is a great thing >> is that this year >> uh actually so the eighth grade class right now >> is the first class that will be fully implemented into the new path when they graduate Another, you know, change within that is uh like eighth grade math. If they're taking um the advanced math track, that actually does count for high school now, whereas in the past that didn't. So, there are a number of changes. Um and and honestly, I will say Mrs. Melton um is very respected amongst the community. She is actually providing a lot of help to other counselors and other districts >> to make sure
085that they're, you know, f following the things that they need to follow. And uh it's pretty great. We've been to several uh professional development opportunities where uh they're kind of making sure everyone's on the right track and they're some of the first people to uh speak out and talk about what we're doing. And um so I feel really really good. Uh Mr. Joel feels really really good about, you know, that we're we've got kids on that on that track. So >> do you agree with that? >> Yes, I do agree. And the answer that I got in our little group chat here is that each our limit depends on the program, but also there's not a specific number for like all Bethany students. Mrs. Milton said we don't get a set number of students as
086a guarantee. They accept who they accept based on all feeder schools >> and per program, >> right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And they have a set number that >> of their pro at their program, >> right? And one of the things when we talk about uh going to CVtech or going to and and doing that pathway we have to remember is it's not like those kids are gone completely removed. Many of them come back and are in football and basketball and and activities um you know choir things like that and so and they still have to take English. Yeah. They're still here. >> They still have to take they're still here half a day. So, you know, it's not like they're completely removed. I worry about that that they're that they don't have that
087connection anymore with maybe some of the kids that they have here and and uh things like that. But I think it's a it's a good bridge. I know from for my own kid it was I I felt like she which she didn't do that she was more of the concurrent >> and so she didn't have to be on site. But I know last year at least when I was in the office, we had a lot more kids coming into the library to do their work and not leave campus, which I enjoyed. I was glad that they did that because I saw them in here, >> you know, uh collaborating um if they had the same class, things like that, talking about the assignment um and just working together. >> Yeah. >> And so great. >>
088You're speaking. So activities, fantastic activities. We got a lot of great things going on. >> Say what we do. Uh, swim has has qualified several people for swim state. >> See that? >> Um, yeah, I mean, you know, it's um well, I'll go on about that in a minute, but banded orchestra, they have um they they they have some competitions going on. February 18th, they're going to Santa Fe High School. Going to do site reading there. Um, also one of the things that I didn't put on here because it just kind of happened and it was it was uh after the fact that I thought about because all of our spring sports are getting geared up. We have about a week before everything. So soccer starts scrimmaging, baseball starts scrimmaging um and that's why I
089was thinking track along those lines. But they went actually to an indoor meet. Coach Forester was there and we had some kids that qualified for indoor state. Uh Morgan McNut actually qualified number one in her event uh in the entire state. >> Wow. >> In the mile. So um did a I mean we we just again as we know the kids here are phenomenal and just so proud of them. And uh basketball has uh has had a great year so far. Both of them right around the top 10. Girls were ranked eighth last week at the end of last week and the boys were ranked 11th. So we both as Dr. Bellow said qualified or u are hosting districts here on Saturday. Aztec charter will be here Saturday not I'm sorry not this Saturday the
090following Saturday the 21st. >> Um and then we are hosting a subsite regional that the regional site is actually Weatherford and then the area site is Straoud. So that was that that's been determined as of just last few minutes last few uh last day or so and so we don't have very far drive um as Dr. Well said, but it obviously going to Stra, you wouldn't want them if if the weather got bad or something, but um you know, our kids, I'm just amazed at at what our kids are doing. And u you know, it's it's a lot a breath of fresh air to to see it day in and day out. Just sometimes we take this for granted or at least when I when you do it each month and you guys see these
091things each month, but when I really stopped and thought about it and thought about all these kids doing different things, it's just It's um it's something to really be proud of and u and I know you all are and I am too. >> Thank you. That's great. >> I'll add to our our our middle school programs have had awesome years in just about every sport. We've got a lot of lot of great talent coming up. Uh it's it's just exciting. I mean, >> the future's bright. >> Yeah, future is bright. just yeah, we're excited about about where it's headed and where it's been and and and currently what we're doing and so >> the girls are actually playing right now in Wford. So I think it's halftime. >> Excellent. Anyone else have any questions? Staff
092reports. Item seven, a proposed executive session to discuss the employment and or resignation of an employee as listed in addendums A, B, and C is authorized by 25S 307B1. Yep. >> Do we need to go? Okay. Make a motion to go into executive session. >> No, actually. >> Oh, do we need to go? She was right. >> Okay. >> Oh, vote number 7A. Excuse me. >> Yes. Yates. >> Yes. Lost. >> Yes. 7 C. All right. Agenda item 7 C. >> Executive session. Oh, excuse me. Let the record reflect the board voted to enter into executive session at let me refresh 7:10 p.m. and exited executive session at 7:33 p.m. The board discussed only agenda item number seven. No votes or actions were taken. Item number eight, discussion of possible action on the employment of
093employees in addendum A as authorized by 25os 307B1 for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Motion to approve the employment of employees on addendum A for the 2526 school year. >> Second. Roll call vote. Briner, >> yes. >> Palmer, >> yes. >> Gates, >> yes. >> Walstein, >> yes. Item number nine, discussion of possible action on the resignation and retirement of employees in addendum B as authorized by 25os 307B1 for the 2026 20227 school year. >> I make a motion to approve the resignations and retiring of employees in addendum B for the 2627 school year. Second. >> Second. Roll call vote. >> Uh, Reiner, >> yes. >> Palmer, >> yes. >> Yates, >> yes. >> Rosad, >> yes. >> Item number 10, discussion of possible action on the resignation of employees in addendum C as
094authorized by 25os 307B1 for the 2025 20226 school year. Make a motion to approve the resignations of employees in addendum C for the 2526 school year. >> Second. Roll call vote. >> Riner. >> Yes. >> Palmer. >> Yes. >> Scott, >> yes. That wraps up our agenda information. >> All right. So, looking forward to uh honoring our board members for uh the makeup of board appreciation night uh this Thursday evening. So, uh, we hope anyone will join us at halftime of the boys game, uh, this Thursday to do that and looking forward to that. Middle school and high school, uh, parent teacher conferences will be February 24th and 26th. Uh, we'll have no school on February 27th. Uh, junior class, Kdoba fundraiser, uh, night is March 4th. Elementary uh, parent teacher conferences will be March
09510th and 12th. And then spring break will be March 16th through the 20th. Thank you, Dr. Bellows. Board member comments. Anyone have any anything to share? >> Superintendent report. >> All right. Uh celebration. I just want to celebrate um our special services department for the recent um SLP conference that they had. Um we had uh over 270 uh professionals uh SLP professionals from across the state fill um the atrium and the church across the street on the conference that we hosted and um the numbers are just staggering. Um it has kind of become the place to uh come get professional development in that field. Um and uh it benefits our program greatly because you know that is also a uh has become a fundraiser for our program. So um in talking to um Miss Burnernhard,
096Miss Aley, Miss Williams, Miss Cheryl who also helps with all the organization. It's a lot of work but you know according to them I said you know you guys have to be one of the best funded programs just because this conference they said I think we are. So um it is a lot of work but it has kind of become the place to attend professional development in that field and it's great to be a leader in that that our staff is providing that. Um so huge celebration and congratulations to them. We also have daddy daughter ball coming up that has been rescheduled for Friday February 27th. Um we don't have school that day so it's even though it's a Friday it's kind of like having it on a Saturday but that was the best day
097that uh we had to do that and it's at the cube and I know there are a lot of people looking forward to that u myself included be taking uh my senior daughter who actually is bringing some senior friends so not a lot of upper classmen are actually past 10 but hopefully we're starting a little trend where uh some some will continue on but looking forward to that makeup >> um legislative session has begun and there are several hot topics being discussed right now. Property tax changes is a big one. Um and so we're keeping a close eye on that. The big conversation right now is um what is the defined or lack of a defined plan to replace revenue from that. And so that's something we're just keeping our eye closely on. As a
098as a school district um and um an agency that is funded heavily from property tax and adorum that's very important to us. So um we want to watch that very closely and just see how that progresses but it is a very hot topic across the state right now. Another hot topic is literacy. Um especially early childhood literacy. And there's a lot of discussion about changes um revisiting things like retention. Um revisiting um things like reading coaches and um just a lot of ideas uh that are centered around uh the great cause of helping students learn to read at an early age. But a lot of varying ideas out there about how to best do that. And so our goal as educators is to make sure that we're a part of that conversation and make sure
099that we're giving our feedback into that as well u to legislators to people making those uh legislative decisions. And so that is another uh very hot topic that um school districts and and school leaders just want to make sure that we're a part of that conversation and uh not just sitting back letting those conversations happen without us. Uh we also have several other topics that we'll we'll keep watching, but as it's just getting going, there are I want to say the number was about 2600 uh bills. You know, Oklahoma has a a history of having a lot of things. Most of them probably will never see the light of day. So, we'll let some of those kind of filter out as we pay attention to them. But, >> uh we had signing day and that
100included seven more athletes, uh who uh are going on to the next level. um love uh what that is uh looking like. Uh very organized, very well done to honor those kids going to the next level. And um also just want to celebrate the students, number one, the families who you know have that dream to play at the next level and and have reached that goal. Um and also just uh thank our coaches for the investment they've made into those kids to help them get to that place. Uh but that's you know we continue to see a lot of kids uh signing at the next level and uh if that's their goal and their dream we want to help them achieve that. We also celebrated counselor appreciation week uh recently and um just want to
101say thank you to our counselors. Uh the job is a very diverse job. We know that it's it's um it is counseling students. It's uh watching students closely. It's building relationships with students. Um it's helping them to make sure they're meeting their graduation requirements. and it's just a very very diverse job that includes a lot of things including um meeting with students and and counseling them. So, uh can't thank them more for all that they do and uh we've got a lot of people with big hearts serving that role for us. And uh finally, looking forward to see how our swim team and basketball ball teams do uh in state and then upcoming playoffs. and just want to congratulate all of them for uh making it to uh either state or the playoffs and look
102forward to seeing them compete at those levels. So that is my superintendent report. >> Thank you Dr. Bellows. >> Item 14, we're ajourned. >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you all for being here. Yeah.