001We all stand and we'll flag. >> I pledge algiance 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. >> Okay. The next item on our agenda is to honor the Children's All State Choir, which I think most of you are probably here for. >> All right. Can we have Mrs. Chitwood and our four students come on up? We are so excited. Come on. Come on. Um, whenever I heard that we had four students make it, I was like, we have to present this to the board. It's so exciting. And Mrs. Chitwood is going to speak more to just all of the hard work the kids have poured in, but I wanted to brag on Mrs. Chitwood
002because I know she won't do it for herself. She spent so many hours. She would tell me, "Hey, we're working on this." Just making sure that our students had the best opportunity for success. I know some of them were talking about how many times because they get to record and so they worked very, very hard, but this is also because of Mrs. Chitwood's passion for supporting our kids. And so, Mrs. Chitwood, will you share more kind of about their experience? >> Sure. The um the children's all state auditions are different from middle school and high school. Um in middle school and high school they prepare um they all have the same song, they all have the same cut, they learn that song, but in children's it's a three-fold um part of their audition and everything
003basically is on capella and it's recorded. And so um they have a vocalist that they are given a starting pitch and they have to sing up five notes and come down five notes and then they have to do that four times on different notes. They have a harmonization where a melody is played and they have to harmonize a third above and a third below. And then they also have a short um little song that they have to are given the starting pitch and then they have to sing it ac cappella and we record all of that. And so um it takes us a while to get those recordings just right, doesn't it? And we learned, you know, we know that I can't say anything. if they hear me talk, they are disqualified because they want
004to make sure that it what they are hearing um when it's being judged is just the students. And so um yeah, so these kids have to last some of us, some of them we took almost close to an hour I think because we want to get the best. We want several takes and then so but they had to put in the work beforehand to get all of that stuff learned. We had rehearsals and now we are deep um into rehearsals for the actual choir which will be in January and where they will go um and to Tulsa and be with about 110 or so other elementary students and but it's fourth grade through 8th grade. So, you know, eighth graders can make this just like a fifth grader can. and um we'll spend three days
005in Tulsa. They'll practice with their clinician from New York and do a fabulous concert on Friday morning. So, I'm excited um that Sydney, Jud, Hosanna, and Barrett that they get this opportunity this year. So, congratulations. >> Congratulations all of you. That's awesome. Um, the next item on our agenda is to honor Goodbye everybody. >> Thank you for coming. We appreciate you guys taking your time out to come. >> Thank you. >> Um, the next item on our agenda is honoring our high school coaches of the year, Sean Williams and Carrie Kel. FOR approximately um give or take I I don't know the exact date but for approximately a century that Bethany High School has been been in existence >> um we had we had seven state championships. So seven state championships over right around a
006hundred years of of our existence. uh which is which is just speaks to the magnitude of how how big a deal that is. Last year we um got two more and so we have nine state championships now. Um and we have we were um very fortunate and I'm pleased to announce that we have two our two state championship coaches were recognized by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association as coaches of the year for their sport for the entire state all classes. Um the first one, girls volleyball, CARRIE KAGGEL CARRIE. Um Coach Kaggel, if you don't know, started the program >> um here at Bethany. She started the volleyball program. Correct. And um for the nine years I've been here, all I've seen it do is grow. it just the number of kids that are involved,
007the the success that's been attained. It's it's been uh state tournament after state tournament. And so even though she achieved the uh coach of the year for and and it's partly because, you know, she won the state tournament, those things that's that's part of it. Just the success she's had over the years is is unparalleled, honestly. and uh we're very thankful to have her uh as a a part of our coaching staff. >> The next one uh Coach Sean WILLIAMS Coach Williams is actually our girls and boys coach. So, he pulls double duty and and uh just does an outstanding job with both of our programs. We've also seen though since he's been in charge of that um an incre every year we seem to get a little closer and a little closer to the
008state uh finals and then last year um going on and beating the team that was three-time state champ backto backto back state championship. They were they were the uh odds on favorite to win it again last year and we upset them and u and really their backyard over in Tulsa and it was just an unbelievable day and we've se and again just like coach Kaggel coach Williams you know winning the state championship is again the reason one of the big reasons why he got it but really what's amazing to me is just the the way I've seen the program grow, girls and boys, and um the success that they've attained over the years he's had it. And so I'm very pleased. This is the first time since I've been here that I've seen any of
009our coaches get that get this award. And so it's this is a enormous uh achievement and I'm really really proud of both of them. >> You guys want to say anything? >> Yeah. We we have really good kids and parents and support from our superintendent, our athletic director. Um really the teachers, everybody. It's a it's I'm a Bethany graduate. So, um you know, I love this place, but it is a special place. But the kids that that come through our programs, um, you know, they're really good and they're special. So, uh, hopefully we can add some more banners. >> And thank you for the new banners. >> Yes. >> Very, very nice. >> Yeah, we're excited. I'm excited to add a lot more. We have lots of rafter space. So, let's go. >> That was
010that was why we did that. But uh and we'll also be recognizing recognizing them again in front of the entire community on the 18th next week. >> Oh, great. >> On the December 18th at the halftime of the girls game. Will uh someone from the OSSA will be here, West Ruth and and he's in charge of both volleyball and soccer. And so he wanted to come and and uh and present them with their awards and for the community. >> That's great. >> Well, congratulations. You guys have done great. I I would say too, I appreciate um you know, winning is fun, banners are fun, and and fun to celebrate, but what I love about both of you is the longevity, the loyalty, the consistency. What I know is win a championship, don't win a championship,
011our kids are going to be around great uh coaches, great people, and uh molding them more than just athletes. And so, you've been doing that for a very long time. Both of you have been doing that for a very long time. So, good things happen um when those things happen. So, I'm proud of that as well. But, uh, more than that, um, I just am proud that our kids are around you guys and and get to grow from you guys. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> And you don't have to stay. >> Thank you guys. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Very good. Thank you. >> Um, our next agenda item is oath of office for board treasurer. >> So, I will just introduce you guys to this is Hannah Costa. Okay. >> Um, she's doing
012our treasury and payroll and something I didn't bring up in the job interview, but to be the treasurer of the school, you have to give a note at the board meeting. >> Okay. >> So, so here we are. Does she come here? >> Yeah, you can go ahead and come up and then >> this falls under all other things. >> That's right. >> Just repeat it. >> Sorry. Okay. I Hannah Costa. >> I Hannah Costa. Do >> you think we're supposed to do the right the right hand? >> Sure. >> Okay. Let's do the right. >> Okay. Um, hereby declare under oath >> hereby declare under oath >> that I will faithfully perform the duties of treasur >> that I will faithfully perform the duties of treasurer >> of Bethany Public Schools >> Independent School
013District 88 >> to the best of my ability >> and that I will faithfully discharge >> all of the duties pertaining to set office >> all of the duties pertaining to set office >> and obey the Constitution. laws of the United States and Oklahoma. And the laws of the United States and Oklahoma. >> Good job. >> You're good. >> Okay. Moving on. Our next um agenda item is the consent agenda. And the first item under the consent agenda is approval of the m minutes of the November 11th, 2025 board meeting. Any comments, questions about that? Um, under 6B, approval of the minutes of the December 8th, 2025 special board meeting. Any comments or questions? Um number 6 C discussion and possible action to approve the following contract agreements for FY25. A Children's Center contract and
014B contract for Together Fundraising Inc. >> Any comments? >> Children's Center contract. Is that just our standard renewal? >> Okay. Yeah, we do it every year um in November or December and it starts up u we just have a partnership with them to provide the educational portion um to their kids and Mrs. Williams could talk more about everything that we do but there is a financial component that we have to do a contract. >> Is there any language change or anything different than last year's contract? I think you mentioned last night there's some updates of some >> we updated just a few. There were kind of some antiquated terms in the contract that just weren't kind of current um language that we utilize in specialation. So we updated just some semantic things like that, but
015nothing significant. Um and it went to um attorneys and their attorney reviewed it as well um before they signed it. So >> their their attorney and our attorney both reviewed it and and gave us the okay. >> Great. >> Anything else? >> Um 6D. Discussion and possible action to approve the following out of town out of state overnight trips. A thesian festival in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, January 30th through the 31st, 2026 and the football coaches clinic. questions about that? >> Um, approve the additions to the following activity fund accounts. One, baseball 805. Two, class of 2029 908. Three, middle school student store 962. Any comments about that? Okay. Um 6F approved the financial fund reports. >> Okay. So starting off with the activity fund and just a brief overview of there's really five funds in
016our school. Some schools have more, but um there's three main ones that you see a lot. The activity fund is where most of the money where different activities like sports or maybe choir um just all our activities raise their money and use that money to buy things for their activity. So our activity fund is doing well. Um all of the all the accounts are positive which means none of them are running negative. Um so that means they all have money to use. um the ending balance is right around 700,000 where the starting balance was 754,000. So during the fall that kind of that ending balance kind of went down some as fall activities are starting up and they're using our money and that's just a sign that they're raising money and starting to replenish it
017and get it close to to what we started at. Moving on to the function summary report. So the function summary report really shows the other five funds and the two major ones that we use the most. Two of the the funds are bond funds which there's just not a whole lot of activity in those. Um couple two three transactions a year year. the first two pages. The first one is the general fund and you kind of see on that on that first page in the appropriations it says 18,414,000. That's how much the board approved for the budget for the year. Um we can't we can we can spend less than that which would be great you know for the CFO but um we can't go over that without the board approving more budgeted. The next
018two columns are your encumbered and your expended. That's how much you've already expended and how much you have encumbered. Our POS that have been approved but haven't yet been checks haven't been written yet. Um those total 17.3 million which that means we're in a pretty good place. We don't want to spend just a whole lot more than that. We don't want to use our whole budget. Um, but we're doing pretty well on that. And it's not out of the ordinary to be for most of your stuff to be encumbered and expended in the fall. Most of your stuff is started up the biggest cost is payroll and that's all encumbered, you know, around September is when we have that number in. Um, and it's probably 60 to 75% of the budget. The next page is
019the building fund, which you do similar things as you do in the general fund. This is obviously more building and maintenance, but you can also do maintenance in the general fund as well. Um, I'd mentioned this last board meeting, but just just to kind of recap, we're we've got a balance of 300,000. The main reasons for that are our our track project was a two-year project. So, we spent we had big expenditures at the beginning of this year, end of last year, and the beginning of this year. And we don't start receiving funds. Our red bud funds are advorum until January. >> So, that'll that'll go way up in January. I believe half of it's in January and half of it comes in March. So, and then the last sheet is our our revenue tracking
020sheet. This just kind of gives a breakdown of what revenue is coming in. The first column is what we're expecting. This is basically when when you see our estimate of needs, what our auditors help us prepare to make our assumption on what we're going to receive. This left column is is basically that. That's the funds we are estimating we're going to receive throughout the year. And then the second column is what we've received so far. There's not a lot of changes uh between last month and this month. We've recorded the monthly revenue. So, I mean, that is a change, but we're not receiving a lot of new funds. That will probably change. We've had our our federal um claims. A lot of them have gone through and we'll receive the money later in December. We
021are starting to receive the federal child nutrition money. We've we've already received some of that. Um I think that's everything on the financial reports. Any questions for me? >> Any questions? All right, I'll take a motion. >> Um, I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda item 6 A through F. >> A second. >> Roll call vote. >> Palmer. >> Yes. >> Riner. >> Yes. >> Yates. >> Yes. Um, going on to item seven. Um, approve the general fund non-payroll encumbrances for fiscal year 26 number 373-396 for $17,789.60. The fiscal year 26 change orders for general fund 5,198.74. the general fund payroll number 7D,000-70616 in the amount of 13,384,4130 and the fiscal year 26 building fund non-payroll number 18-21 for in the amount of 16,181.73. Any questions or thoughts about that? I do have
022a question on uh item is it 396 PO 396 the hall of honor painting is that the one that's right out here in the hallway over the >> or is there a different one? >> There's going to be a different one. So that imagine that >> um but similar same painter same artist. >> I thought I recognized the name >> same artist uh but where the hall of honor um used to be >> okay by the >> now there's a digital screen. >> Yes. Um, and we're still working on that digital appearance, but we've got kind of a a start there. But then around that digital screen, we'd like to have a mural kind of like what you see here. So, um, something that draws attention to that area, but then also that screen that
023then you would look at detailed people and who's in it, things like that. So, should you know, just imag >> same artist with a similar idea. Now, we would try to look at people. The purpose of this mural was people who have graduated from Bethany public schools. Um, that mural will be more focused on people who didn't necessarily graduate from Bethany public schools, but, you know, had some kind of impact um and and are in the Hall of Honor. So, yeah, should should look just as good as the one that's uh in the main hallway here and draw a lot of attention to that area. >> This one looks great, so I'm sure that one will as well. Thank you. All right. Anything else? >> I'll make a motion to approve the encumbrances as presented.
024>> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Riner. >> Yes. >> Palmer. >> Yes. >> Gates. >> Yes. >> Um item number eight, discussion and possible action to approve the additions of the following board policies. >> CK, behavioral threat assessment. Do due process for administrators. BBF code of ethics for board members, GBA open records request, GBAEE, Republic public record access request, Oklahoma open records act, and BEC executive sessions. >> Okay. So, I'll go through each of these uh just a little bit of detail. Um CK, the behavioral threat assessment. Um, we have been practicing this and we actually have a behavioral threat assessment form that we use. It's now required to have a policy in place for that. So, this is uh really easy for us. This is a policy that OSSBA recommends. Um, in addition,
025they also have a different checklist than what we currently use. And and the example of this would be if a student um uh says something maybe related to self harm or um harming others. Um it would be required to report that go through a process which again we we already do this in practice. This will just put it in policy. The checklist uh will be approved next board meeting um based on the approval of this um policy. Uh but the checklist is very similar to what we also use, but since OSSBA is providing that one and it we know it perfectly matches with this policy, uh we feel like it it's an easy move to that that form. But um do want to commend um our special services for um already having this in place,
026already doing this a number of years um that we've been doing it um and now uh it's just required by law to be in in uh policy. So no big change there. Do ob uh is just an addition of due process for administrators. Again, in practice, um we have due process for administrators, but it puts a policy in place that acknowledges uh certain criteria that if an administrator is struggling on their evaluation, um that there are procedures to follow for that. So um then uh BFB BPF code of ethics for board members. We already have this policy but there is one uh a couple little slight changes that are um probably probably significant for some reason but uh number five on that list it added the word district. So before it says um that will
027comprise the board or administration but now it says board district or administration. So that makes sense covering the district. And then number six, uh it had the word refrain from local board actions locally. And I'm sure that word locally caused some kind of problem if there was something not locally and so they just took that word out. So just cleaning up some language there. We go back here. Uh the next one is GBA open records request. Um, one thing I'll say about this is that uh we in Oklahoma we have received a lot more uh records requests and a lot of them have been corporate requests. They're looking for um database information. They're looking for um and so what we have already done is we've we've worked on um how we go through that process
028and and we've got a pretty good system for that. But then also this uh includes a form that would be required as well and that's the next one GBAe. And so what we um would acknowledge is that our records are open. Uh but we would have them fill out the form. The form is more to make sure we're clear on what they're asking for. Um but we have not had any issues with um providing open records and um but but I will say we have h had an increased number of requests in recent years for some reason a number of reasons maybe but but a lot of times it's looking for directory information and probably trying to get teachers emails so they can you know spam them. So we try to protect that as much
029as we can. Um, let's see. Uh, one other thing with the, uh, uh, open records, uh, that was also a law change that allowed districts to charge in advance. So, you'll see some underlying language there that basically states that, um, if it exceeds a certain amount, instead of running through the records, going through all the process of doing that, spending a lot of time and energy that would charge, were able to charge in advance of that. And I think that was to protect districts. um from doing all the work and then no one showing up or no one leaving anything. So um so that was a good addition there and that's uh the gist of that change. Uh we also have uh executive sessions and if you look at that um section there are a
030couple different changes. The main ones that I'll point you to are number three. Um, and it says, uh, it added law, new law change to add to discuss the sale, purchase, lease acquisition, or appraisal of real property by, uh, the public body. Um, that just allows a board to go in executive session to talk about, uh, purchasing land that, uh, might not be ideal to have to say that publicly um, if you have competitors, things like that. >> U, so that's the main part. There are some other added um eight, nine and 10 and I'm guessing that is just based on some circumstance that happened. Um you can see those are related to um well one's administrative procedures, the other one is uh um institutions, correctional facilities. Um and I'm guessing that there was some
031district that faced something that they decided to go ahead and add that into policy. Um but I'm not concerned about that for us. So that's the main um aspect there. >> Any questions on any of those? >> Are these are these triggered by the OSSBA? >> Yeah. >> By to update these things or these school policies that are you guys are proactively doing this or what is >> Yep. >> How do these get in into these questions? >> Great question. So two parts. one um we have a contract with OSSBA that anytime there is a need for an update in policy they contact us and let us know the recommendation that they have. Now we and the administrators will look at each policy and say okay um we don't want to change too much because
032we know they're basing it on some law um or change but we also want to make sure that it it fits for what we're doing. Most of these, in fact, all of these in this case are um straight to laws that changed effective November 1st. And so they when the law changed, they send these out and say, "Okay, now that the law is in effect, you need to have these in place." So, okay. U but throughout the year it does happen. Um they have a uh monthly newsletter >> that sometimes they make recommendations for policy and it you can take it or leave it, but all of these are required by some law that went into effect. I got you. But yeah, and I don't know if Do you guys get those newsletters naturally uh
033through email? >> I would be surprised if you don't, but some, but I don't know. >> Okay. If you don't, I'd be happy to share. They're really good. They they they summarize them pretty well. Um, you know, I wouldn't say they're interesting reading, but you know, it does explain kind of some of the trends of the policy. So, if you don't get those, I would suspect that you probably get those board members, but if you don't and you want the actual newsletter that goes with these, I'd be happy to provide it. So, >> okay. The policies are this thick too. >> The policy book. Yeah. >> Lots of policies. >> Just recently finished them. >> Also, I I'll tell you, maybe a good time to tell you, uh, if you are in assemble meetings and
034you go to books, uh, the tab of books at the top >> and click on that. All of the policies are located there. Um, we're working at some point, it may be a while, but we're working to get those titled as well. But you can click on that books, policies, and then do a search and type in keywords. And so if any point you have a question about a policy or where something might be listed, you can go and assemble meetings, books, policies, and then do a search. And it's it's really nice. >> That's great. >> Yeah, thanks for that explanation. >> Thank you for letting us know. That's excellent. >> Any more questions? Um, make a motion to approve the additions of board policies C, KK, AK, D O, BBF, GBA, GBA, and BEC.
035>> I'll second that. >> Roll call vote. >> Rhyer, >> yes. >> Palmer, >> yes. >> Next item number nine, discussion and possible action to approve the district's capacity of students in each grade at each school site. is presented. >> So you can see the attachment. Um this is every quarter we update the district capacities as required by the transfer law. Um this we have kept all the capacities the same. If the numbers the current enrollment were to drop below any of the current capacities, we would have to accept a transfer. Um in this case uh we've checked our enrollment again and we are above uh at or above all of the capacity. So um at this time we wouldn't be accepting any transfers during the third quarter and then we'll do it again in
036the fourth quarter. >> Okay. Make a motion to approve the district's capacity of students in each grade at each school site as presented. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Rinert. >> Yes. >> Palmer. >> Yes. >> Item number 10, staff reports. Elementary. Let's start with elementary. >> Obviously, I already got to share one of our really exciting ones, but the other um this one may not sound really exciting, but it's the safety protocols. Um I wanted to put in there, we have a lot of great measures um that we have like school safe ID and our weapons detection system at the exit office. Um but something we've been working on just based on parent feedback, staff feedback is that we wanted to better utilize the um resources we have. Um, and so we started
037implementing this year having parents pre-register for our larger events. Traditionally, it's just been doors open and we have a great community, but we also want to make sure that our students and families know that we're also keeping them safe. And so, um, we had a really great response. Parents have been grateful um, for that. And so now parents can pre-register. They get a link and then we're able to go ahead and our school safe ID will do like a quick check of those who have registered and if there are any flags um we're able to check those in advance and then they all all of our guests walk through weapons detection and it went smoothly at holiday meal and we'll be doing that again this week. So um just excited to know that we're doing
038what we can um for our school because especially our schools are all connected. So, it's exciting that um we've been able to work towards that and have a good response from our parents. >> What if somebody comes that didn't pre-register? >> Then they check in at the kiosk. And so um it is that's a great question. Um it's one, but we made sure to let them know like that does take longer. You have to like scan your barcode and select all the options. So, it's a much better option to pre-register, but if not, they're welcome to attend. >> I see. That's great. >> I'll say on on that, you know, really proud of them for utilizing that option. prior it it really was a situation where you know we would uh record who's coming we'd
039give them stickers you know and it realistically it it wasn't doing what we should have been doing and so uh finding that way to make the pre-registration and and >> uh everything usually uh is kind of has hiccups the first time but I think it went really really well and I think communication was really good and and helped it so that that was great to figure that out. >> That's great. I would think most parents are thankful that we do that as well. So that's good. >> Middle school. >> So what I wanted to bring to your attention is Aaron Toller. It's not on my board report, but wanted we wanted him to come so we could acknowledge him and what he's been doing recently. And I don't know if you guys are a follower
040of any of the social media platforms. No. >> Um if you go on Instagram, he has an account called Make History Fun. And he has the founding fathers and George Washington. is the the 67 craze of all the middle school and high school and elementary now and he's turned it into the 76 from the 1776 you and so he's made t-shirts like he has someone from every state in the United States that has purchased this shirt. >> They're, you know, making comments. They're asking him for all this advice and then he makes all these new updated videos for for people to watch. And what was really cool was two weeks ago we went out with my family for my father-in-law's birthday and I have two nephews that go to school in Edmund and one of
041them said 67 and then the other one said but it's really 76. There's this guy on and I'm like I know that guy and they were like what? So um really cool what how far it has gone and he just continues to grow the whole thing. So if you haven't followed it or looked it up look it up. It is really cool making history fun. Wow. That's >> He doesn't like the attention of it, but he he's a wonderful teacher and gets everybody following him and and it's it's really cool. >> Yeah, >> that's great. That's great. >> High school. >> Okay. Mine's the last one on my report. I even printed it off because I found it the first year I was here. I felt like there was a a problem that needed to
042be addressed and you guys as the board helped address it with me um in regards to specifically vase was the big thing and um in our handbook it said there would be a drug dog coming but as far as I know the last 5 10 years it never came and so I instituted that uh my first year here and what we've seen is And I I even had to call Dr. Bellis today in the morning because it goes right with the drug dogs. So drug we partner with more public schools. More public schools comes by when they're available. We call and say, "Hey, can you come by in the month of November?" Ah, we're we're we're busy. Okay, just let us know. So we did an outside search this time just of the north parking
043lot and then the south parking lot at SNU. And I think we hit on oh I think seven or eight cars and out of the seven or eight cars, we searched them all. We found nothing. And people say, "Well, those are false hits." Well, they're not necessarily false hits because if I if I do something I'm not supposed to and I get in Miss Williams car and then two days later Miss Williams comes to school, the scent for the dogs is still in there. >> That's how sensitive their noses are. For example, we did find one thing and they had two dogs. They have a drug they have a drug dog specifically for drugs, alcohol, anything narcotics. Then they have another drug dog for bombs, weapons, explosives. So, we searched them all. Go to the
044south parking lot. Drug dog searches, nothing. The bomb dog searches and sniffs around his car and goes like underneath the truck. It's a lifted truck underneath the truck and is lifted and stops. And the guy's like, "Oh, there's something in there." Get the kid down, bring him in. He just bought the car two weeks ago from somebody in whatever different school, different state, whatever. Open the glove box. Inside the glove box, there's two empty way old like shell casings from an old firearm. You know that that obviously were used. No issue at all. Both the police officers and the SRO were there like, "Oh my gosh, the kids like I had no idea." The drug dog sniffed it through the underneath the car into the car through the glove box and smelled two empty shells.
045It's just amazing to see how they work. And I say all that to say is what we're doing is working. We're preventing kids from bringing that stuff to school and setting a precedent of it's not acceptable stuff. Don't bring that stuff to school. Number one. Number two, I I had to call Dr. Bell's takes like I it goes right along with the drug dog. Guys, it's the vape stuff that we put in three years ago. The first I mean week, months, it was my phone was just ting just constant. I'd get up, I'd say, "Dr. Bellow, sorry. We're in the middle of meeting. I got to go get these kids. Search them, scan them, wand them, send them home, start that process over again." It was almost I couldn't believe how bad it was. And
046over the years it's gotten to a point now where they're just they're not going off. And so I called Zeeptive today actually and I said, "Are these working? Like is this really working?" He said, "Yeah, this is what happens. I mean, you you do it right. You enforce it. Guess what? Kids start realizing I can't do it in the bathrooms because I know there we have 16 vape detectors in the school. All schools. The hits we get are literally from middle school, eighth grade hallways. They do popcorn and for some reason the popcorn sets it off. I called Z. I said, "Why does it go off?" They said, "Well, it's just the grade say air quality disturbance with the burning kernels and oil in that hallway. That's why it goes to the bathroom." So my
047phone every Friday is like ding ding ding. I'm like, "Don," she's like in popcorn. I'm like, "All right, fine. We're there." But what I say all that to say a couple things. One, thank you for the support. It matters, guys. I mean, I'm trying to create an environment that's safe and secure, like Chavez was talking about. But also understand, guys, that we're not going to allow that stuff at school. We will never allow it at school. As long as I'm here, I'll continue to fight that fight and tell kids, we want to create a safe environment. Once you're safe, you can learn. >> And so, I don't want kids ever feel like they can't go into the bathroom or they don't want to go to the parking lot because Johnny, Timmy, Sally, Sue, whoever is
048smoking. It's just not a good environment for them. So, we're not going to do that stuff. And kudos to you guys for proving what we did and and it's been good. Really good. We'll continue the drug dogs. They're going to come this time next time inside the building. So, it's always a fun how and not necessarily fun, but it's how it works is the kids leave the room and the drug dog searches the bags. If a bag hits, we grab it, we take them, we take the kid and the bag into the office, we search them, scan them, all the things, and you know, we go from there. >> Thank you for doing that. Is it always un like unannounced? >> Unannounced. Sure. >> I will tell the teachers because I want them to be
049aware of like if I'm giving a test like Clyde's given a math test, I want him to be like, "Well, wait a second. We're in the middle of math test." We try to give them a heads up of usually the day or the day before. But again, it's really just dependent upon more public schools and their partnership we have with them. Can they do it? >> I mean, they left after like 11:30 or 12 like, "We got to go. We got more calls. We have 30 schools down there. We got to go." Okay. >> Thanks for your help. I I'll add another thing to that because the vape techs are great. Um but another thing that they did at the high school at the same time um is they uh realized we need to be
050out in the halls near the bathrooms where all this stuff is going on. >> Then they decided, well, if we're going to be out in the halls all the time, let's get some portable podiums or whatever that they So now, >> you know, you walk in the high school and they're standing out there. They've got their computer. they're getting some things done, but they're right there with the kids, around the kids. Um, I think even some of the other schools now are starting to look at similar ideas of just, you know, I mean, we can sit in our office and get the same thing done or we can stand at a podium around the kids and do the same thing. So, I think it's all the things combined, but um certainly also appreciate um it
051it's it's uh it's good to know, not guess, but know that um those things are are not an issue uh like they they used to be. Yeah, thank you. Sure. >> Have you bought the the thing that we approved at the last? >> So, yeah. So, they they emailed me on Monday and said it's shipped. >> I don't know when it's going to be and they said it's going to be here soon. I'm hoping this week sometime. >> I want to I want to go in. >> No pressure. This thing better. >> The hype is high. >> No, no, no. I never said that. Don't listen to her. I'm not jumping on your No, I'm not doing that. No. 100% will >> it will for sure. >> Okay. Special services. >> All right. Well, mine
052is not nearly as fun, but compliance. So, every year we receive a report in November from the state department of education. Um, and it looks at two big measures, idea compliance and then results in data driven accountability measures. So compliance that is set by um the federal government sets those parameters. We had a 100% rating in compliance and then the data driven results are a lot of that results is test results. So um we had 100% rating for our data driven accountability. Um so and then our risk score if you look that has decreased over the years. So, um, we're at a zero from this year. Um, we were a two last year. Um, this is like huge. I think this is awesome. So, um, the state sets kind of a threshold for, um, where
053they want students that are in special education to achieve on standardized tests. And, um, so for fourth grade reading and math, we met the state. We not just met in all of these areas, we significantly exceeded um eighth grade reading and math and 11th grade reading and math which those are the only three areas in the only three grades that we so in all three grades we met and exceeded the state target >> on assessments. So that is really cool. Um, the other thing is we have been really focusing the last few years on reducing our identification of African-American students on IEPs and we have gone from risk levels to that to we've gone, you know, kind of all over the board there. But, um, this year we're just at risk. We're not, you know,
054a level anything big. And so if you see those numbers, um, we've gone from a three over the last four years, we've gone from a 3.5 to a 2.7. Um, and so that we're still slightly above. The state would like us to be at a 2.6. We're at a 2.7. Um, the threshold kind of that IDEIDA sets is a 3.0. So we're still below that. Um, so definitely making some big strides in kind of compliance and monitoring. So that's exciting. >> That is exciting. Yeah, that's great. Thank you. It's nice to be able to see the numbers trending down the way they are, >> right? Good job. >> Yes. And we're hoping that stays. >> Yeah, that's great. >> That's great. >> Thank you all. Thank you. We appreciate you guys and been a great
055year. I mean, so far been great. So, thank you. >> Good work. >> Um, item number 11, proposed executive session. Um, what do I do? I >> read that. >> Huh? I read proposed to discuss the resignation of Janet Barnes, elementary media assistant, and the evaluation of the superintendent of schools 25os section 307B1. Motion to go into executive session. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Riner. >> Yes. >> Palmer. >> Yes. Yes. Bye. at 7:24. >> Yes, you left at 6:46. >> Okay. 646. Okay, and we're we're back from executive session. Um, let the record reflect that the board voted to enter into executive session at 6:46 and ex exited executive session at 7:24 um p.m. The board discussed only agenda item number 11. Is that right? Yes. >> Yes. 11. >> Yep. >>
056Yes. >> Uh discussion of the resignation of Janet Barnes and the evaluation of Superintendent of Schools 25S section 307B1. No votes or actions were taken. So, um, item number 12, >> the resignation of Janet Barnes, Elementary Media Assistant, effective December 1st, 2025. >> Make a motion to approve the resignation of Janet Barnes, Elementary Media Assistant. >> Second. >> Roll call vote. >> Ryder, >> yes. >> Palmer, >> yes. >> Yates. >> Yes. Item number 13, information items. All school holiday lunchon December 16th in the superintendent's office. Okay. Everybody's going to pile in. >> That's right. They're going to come on through. Um, foundation coffee track December 16th and Christmas break begins December 22nd through January 4th. Um, item number 14, board member comments. Any comments, board members? >> I do not have any. >> Okay.
057>> Item number 15, superintendent report. >> Very good. So, we've had uh many concerts this time of year. A lot of programs uh as uh our fine arts uh through all levels have been preparing all semester and then you have this time where you have a lot of the programs start to begin to happen. Um but we've had band, choir, orchestra, and even elementary programs that have gone on here in just the last uh few weeks. We saw um our orchestra got a special invit invitation to open uh at UCO um which uh doesn't happen for everybody. And so I think it shows the quality um of our orchestra program. They also got straight superiors in a recent competition. Um, also our fifth and sixth grade chorus groups uh performed at the Kuanas Pancake Breakfast
058and our fifth grade is also going to Southern Plaza um to perform um as well coming up soon. And so, uh, proud of our programs for the programs that they put on, but also, uh, how they get out in the community and they share, um, their talents with community members and, um, represent Bethany in these different places outside of just our own school programs as we've got one going on tonight. Um, and so just uh, it's it's great that our directors and our leaders are willing to take their kids and um, get them out in the community so they can hear them as well. So, uh really proud of of all those performances they've had. Also, um really enjoyed speaking to the Academy of Senior Professionals yesterday at SNU. Uh it was an amazing uh
059group of people um who uh were really uh interested in hearing about Bethany and um I appreciate the opportunity to be able to talk about Bethany and share with them uh just some of the things that we've got going on. Um, and I also uh want to uh say that um we had a first grader uh Leaken Ratell who was the superintendent of the day and I am going to have to start looking over my shoulder because I'm pretty sure she is ready to take my job. um she uh did such a great job and I also appreciate the foundation providing those types of opportunities through their auction uh for students to uh engage in different uh uh activities within the school that gets them uh into different situations. But that was a lot of
060fun and uh she was ready to go. Um, and then I would say everyone uh needs to get ready for a little bit of Christmas magic as they come to school on Thursday morning because I hear there might be some elves on some shelves uh coming up uh maybe during drop off time. So, we're looking forward to that. Um and then the last two things I've got um first of all um you know we accepted the resignation of Janet Barnes tonight and um I've worked with Mrs. Barnes for a very long time. She's been in Bethany for 21 years as a teacher. Um, and then even her retirement as a support staff. Um, and so just want to say thank you to her for her years of service. Um, I have the utmost respect for
061her as a teacher. Uh, it was really easy when um, she left and wanted to come back to say absolutely we we will have a spot for you and find a spot for you. And um, then when she wanted to go from the classroom to more of a support role, real easy to say yes, whatever you do, I know you're going to be great at it. Um, so I appreciate her time and and uh sad to uh to see her resign but understand as well. And then uh also want to congratulate Mrs. Massie on her upcoming retirement. Um she's already uh put that in through the board but um you know her her time will end here in December and um you know she has spent 17 years serving this district in a very very
062important role. I know Mr. Jasper will say, you know, payroll is um very very important to everyone who works here. Um and the consistency, the professionalism, the manner in which she um engages in sometimes uh informational conversations, people just curious about things, uh sometimes tricky situations if something doesn't seem quite right. She always had a way of uh communicating, explaining in a calm uh patient way. Um, it also goes into uh benefits and a lot of times those things are tricky because you have a lot of change and a lot of turnover and um I never heard her um have a conversation with anyone where you know she lost patience where she couldn't uh explain things in just the right way. And um and then uh not just the 17 years of service, but this
063last semester has been just critical to the transition. And for her to be willing to take an extra semester and work for us, because this was not for her, it was for us. And what we saw is, you know, she was able to uh train Mr. Jasper um during that time. She was able to train a couple of different employees and now Mrs. Aosta. And um we saw how critical that actually was um throughout multiple transitions um to get us to a place to where uh and the original idea was to train somebody to move in that role. She ended up training three different people at different times um and and we feel really good about where we're at. All of that happened because she loves Bethany. she's committed to Bethany and she said yes,
064I'll I'll work a little bit longer to help Bethany public schools and things like that just can't go unnoticed. So, thank you, Mrs. Massie. Uh we wish you well and um we definitely plan to stay in touch. So, that is my superintendent report. >> Great. Thank you. >> Okay.