001[Music] How are you? [Music] Uh, let's see. So, we're doing the terms. We're doing Okay. [Music] Okay. All right. Beautiful. Did Henry had a PLA project. He was overwhelmed. I was like, "All right, welcome. Thank you for everybody who's here. Thanks for celebrating science over there with Juan. That was impressive." And thank you, Juan's family. I'm going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. Uh Craig, if you will call the role, please. Thank you, Madam Chair. And before I call the role, I will quickly go over the meeting protocols. If everyone would please take a moment to silence your cell phone, we would appreciate that. And if you need to have an extended conversation with the person next to you or on your phone, please do so in the lobby. Please note, spontaneous
002comments from the floor are not permitted. Individuals who exhibit disruptive or distracting behavior will be asked to leave. And I will now call the role. Paula Lewis, present. Barl Thompson, present. Lori Bowman, present. Jessica Sephuentes, present. Dana Meister, present. Mike Shelton, present. Juan Lacona, present. Me, Michael Haney, present. Thank you, members. And I'll turn it back to the chair. Okay. So, 1.02 is administer the oath of office to board members starting new terms. And that will be board member Thompson and Bowman. So you guys got to go back down there. Does anybody know where they're coming down? They're just The reason that I won't be doing that is I actually had to once the election was certified in February, then the very next weekend we had a work session and in order to be seated,
003I had to take the oath of office in. So mine has already been done. Great job. And if I could ask Miss Thompson to come up first. We'll do it in the order of seat. Tom, Miss Thompson represents district 1 and Miss Bowman represents district two. So we'll do it in order of the seats if everybody's okay with that. And I will just state as you remember this from last time. I No. All right. Well, we have a cheat sheet. Oh, good. So I will make a statement and you will repeat after me. So I state your name hereby declare under oath I Carol Thompson hereby declare under oath that I will faithfully perform the duties of a board member that I will faithfully perform the duties of a board member of Oklahoma City Public
004Schools Board of Education of Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education to the best of my ability to the best of my ability. and that I will faithfully discharge all of the duties pertaining to set office. and that I will faithfully discharge all of the duties pertaining to the said office. And obey the Constitution and laws of the United States and Oklahoma. And obey the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Oklahoma. And congratulations. We got the wrong There we go. Thank you. Thank you. You're so welcome. Thank you, Mr. Pace. You're so welcome. Miss Bowman, if you'd please come up. Ready? Okay. I state your name, hereby declare under oath I, Lori Bowman, hereby declare under oath that I will faithfully perform the duties of a board member that I
005will faithfully perform the duties of a board member of Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education of Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education to the best of my ability to the best of my ability. And that I will faithfully discharge all of the duties pertaining to set office. and that I will faithfully discharge all of the duties pertaining to set office and obey the Constitution and laws of the United States and Oklahoma. and obey the Constitution and laws of the United States and Oklahoma. Congratulations. Thank you. Your second term. Wonderful. Thank you. You're welcome. Well, they're walking back up here. I'll show you. We have some really cool gifts. We have beautiful succulent plants. Um Lori and Carol both have them. We got some cool cards and other gifts. But more importantly, we got
006these beautiful thing of ro flowers down here. This thing I don't know. There's a bunch of them over here. They're gorgeous. So I can't wait to get them home. See that? Then we have a swag bag of sorts down here. So they did it right. The district takes care of us daily and we really appreciate it. Thank you. Okay, we are back to business. Welcome back to your chairs. All right, here we go for another four years. Let's do it. Okay, so that brings us to pledge of allegiance. A moment of silence. Um the clerk will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. And um that's good. That is correct, Madam Chair. And after the pledge of allegiance, our chairperson, Paula Lewis, will be leading us in the moment of silence. So if everybody would
007please stand, we'd appreciate it. I 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. We have this moment of silence. I'd like us to take a moment to We have almost 33,000 kids and every day each one of those 33,000 matter. And we've had a couple of hard losses in the district this past year. And I think we need to honor those lives with a moment of silence. Thank you. All right. Thank you. We have no public comments in 2.01. That brings us to the superintendence report. But we've got something new today that's happening. Yes. Board chair, other board members, and family, friends, and especially cabinet level members. Um, we are in our efforts
008to focus more on student outcomes. I will be placing my superintendence report immediately after today's board meeting and we will set a goal in order for that for you to be able to see it prior to but with this being our first one. Please note the superintendent report will be posted on our YouTube as well as our other channels. Thank you. That ends my report. Are we watching yours? Okay. I didn't know. I just making sure since it was the first time. I didn't know. Thank you. Okay. So, we'll see that update afterwards on YouTube. Yes. Yes. And we're going to work on maybe having it up ahead of time, but since this was the first time, we'll push it up afterwards. And then if you have questions about the superintendent's update, as always, you
009can email um Dr. Pulk and she will get the appropriate answers out at that time. Madame Chair, just so you can share with everyone, there is a link in the agenda item, superintendent's update, a link to our YouTube channel. Okay. Reports and presentations. That brings us to operations committee report from Lori Bowman. It's okay. So, the ultimate goal is for us to talk about student outcomes 50% of our business meeting. And in order to do that, um, we have to cut down the time we're talking about other options and other items. And it doesn't mean that celebrations of students isn't talking about students and their outcomes, but we want to be real specific on where we're with um the academic success of our students. Great. Okay. So, for the operations committee, uh, a few, um,
010things to highlight. Hopefully, um, you all saw that the district has, um, started posting more bond 2022 updates. Um, and recently they published their first newsletter with project updates and pictures on March 28th. You can sign up to receive the monthly newsletter by going to the district's website um, to the bond 2022 page. Um, you can also follow the district's progress on the bond projects on Facebook, Instagram, eX, and LinkedIn as well as the district website. Um, it's really impressive what the operations um team has done. They are including reports, um, budget and pictures. Um, there are really impressive pictures of just activity. I know most of us when we drive around the city now we see lots of dirt moving and walls going up and it's exciting stuff and now the public is going
011to be able to follow along on that progress which is very exciting. Um, next, the commit the citizens oversight committee will soon be expanding their scope in the near future as they transition from oversight of monitoring the 14 transformational construction projects to oversight of all $955 million in the bond funds approved by the voters. This is a um, you know, an effort to increase transparency to the community. It's an exciting next step for the bond as we move into the phase of really all projects kind of headed, you know, underway, which is exciting. Um, the committee will also see future adjustments to the member structure and more details will be shared as they um as they unfold. Are there any questions? All right. Thank you. Check out that bond page. Thank you. Thank you, uh,
012Deborah Deck and Scott Randall. We appreciate that. It was exciting to see that come out on social media. All right. Uh, our CFO, Sydney Ward, is next. 4.02, a financial services update. Good evening, Chair Lewis, board members, superintendent. Um, this one, uh, this financial services update is for period 7, which is through January of 2025. We're a little bit behind because the agenda's got moved up. So, but I'm going to show you guys the presentation. Um, this is our general fund page and right now we are projecting an ending fund balance of about $23.6 million. Um that is slightly ahead of what we projected for December and it looks like going forward we might be even a little bit further ahead uh for the remainder of the year. Um which is a good thing. Um
013we're sitting at about 6 and a half% of our total revenue. Um our formula funding it was a very very small slight adjustment for January. Um, I fully anticipate that will kind of come back up as the rest of the year comes along, but it didn't have any kind of effect. And then that is our historical state formula funding, which is pretty standard um for the last four years. Building fund, we're sitting at about $14.3 million for an ending projected fund balance for the year. It's flat from December. Um, wasn't much movement. Uh the revenue and expenses are pretty consistent there. And for school nutrition, we're looking at about 11.2 million ending fund balance. It's slightly up from December. Um I will say she's probably going to have to look at utilizing some of that
014money because of the percentage. Uh the state has a a a standard that we're we can't go over a certain percentage for our ending fund balance, but I think she's working on that. And that's it. Pretty basic. Anybody have any questions? Yes, ma'am. Yes. Um, I had a question about the building fund. Um, the percentage of revenue for FY 2025. So, that bottom right box, why did it like jump so much? So, we had um ESSER money um the last from 2020 through the end of 2024 and it had a little bit of carryover in 2025. Basically, the reason why that increased in percentage so much is because we didn't receive that revenue until this year. And so, it's a timing thing is what happened. It's the ending of the construction project out there at
015Star Spencer. Anyone else questions? No. That's looks good. Thank you for the report. I like having you up here to let us see that. Thank you. I'll keep doing it. All right. Appreciate it. Okay, this is information agenda only and this is based on state law and um you have the uh consider the future adoption of OKCPS board policy I29 release time courses. Uh general counsel Tony Childers is up here and he can tell us a little bit more about it. This will be action item in a month. So if you have questions or anything um please send email to him or contact with him before next board meeting. Thank you, chairperson. And as you mentioned, this is just one of those required policies. HB1425, which was passed as part of the 2024 legislative session,
016requires that every school district in the state have this policy for release time courses. Uh we are just now getting that policy in place after having the chance to go through the law so that we are in compliance with the law. Uh but again, this is a standard policy that every school district in the state is required to have. Uh, and as you mentioned, this isformational only. Uh, it'll be considered for a vote at the meeting in May. Anybody have any questions? Yes. Can you, uh, do us a favor and just kind of talk about what that law did and what we're doing specifically? Sure. So, release time courses have long been allowed under the law. A release time course is wherein a parent is able to check their student out from school so that
017they can attend a course on religious instruction. Uh whether it be at church or from some other group that provides it. Uh and the law has long said under Supreme Court decisions that that would be allowed so long as the school is not overly involved in how that program is carried out. Uh, in 2024, the Oklahoma legislature passed HB1425, which codified that understanding, but also put into place requirements that the school district count the student as being excused or even in attendance at school if it is part of a program that has been approved. So, this allows for uh outside groups to be able to apply uh for credit for their courses, for an elective credit as required by the law. Uh and then if they attend those courses, they get credit for that class
018as well as credit for the class that they may have been missing. Uh up to a particular number of days uh and we would count them as being present during that period of time. It does place limits on the number of days that they're allowed to attend and does give control to the school district and making sure that the course that the student is attending is not interfering with any other core class that might be part of the Oklahoma testing program. Can I follow up? Uh, the policy that we're adopting is coming out of our our state department or is this Oklahoma city's own unique policy? Um, and did we follow some other state or city or other school district to come up this information? Yeah. So, this is this is not something from the
019state department of ed. The law simply says that school districts are required to pass a policy. Uh this one is based in part on a standard policy uh that has been put together by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, OSSBA. Uh they provide form policies, but this one it very particularly is a reflection of the statute. It doesn't go beyond the statute. It doesn't go restrict more restrictive than the statute, but is very much a a vanilla uh mirror of what we have in statute to be sure that we have a policy in place and follow what the law requires. Yes. Uh yes. I had a question about the wording of a particular sentence. The board of education will evaluate the course in a neutral and secular manner that does not involve any test for
020religious content or denominational affiliation. Um so does that mean that the course could be religious? Yeah. So it the intent is that it could be it could be either religious or moral. And that's religious or what again? Religious or moral content. Okay. Uh so it could be either of those. Um and the statute requires that if the course is going to receive elective credit that it be reviewed by the board specifically, but it be uh reviewed without looking at any kind of religious content. You're just looking at does it have a uh syllabus? Does it require attendance? Some basic things that are laid out in the statute. And you said this uh HP 1425 was passed when again? HP 1425. 1424. Yeah, the 2024 legislative session. So, it was signed by the governor, I believe,
021in May and would have been effective in July. Okay. Um, and one last question. Um, we were talking about how um, so it says a maximum of 125 class periods per school year. So, a student could miss that in OKCPS to go to this course that's outside of OKCPS. But, you said they would receive credit for both courses. Yes, they would. They could get credit for the course if it's approved as an elective course or otherwise be excused from their attendance, but it also requires that they be provided with the opportunity to continue to do the work in the course that they're missing and get credit for that course as well. Okay. And I did want to point out that number two on that policy, um, no school funds may be expended and no school
022district personnel, equipment, or resources may be involved in providing the instruction. So, OKCPS is not paying for this outside course. That's correct. that is a restriction under the first amendment of the constitution as to the establishment clause. So the stata the the uh the statute that was passed by the legislature includes that language as well and that's why it's part of our policy. All right. Thank you Dana. So um so it bothers me that we will have no control over this at all and I understand why. It just it seems like a slippery slope to me. And it also I wonder about who is going to offer these services. I've had some constituents already reach out to me about a certain lifewise um organization and very concerned about that. I guess maybe I'm just trying
023to say that this is a slippery slope. So who's who will be supervising it? Do we have any um control over it at all? Do we get to say wait a minute that's not I guess we don't. Do we? because it just says we have little or no control. There is a little bit to the extent that there's a restrictions on how many days it counts for. Uh there is a requirement that if it is going to get elective credit that we do that neutral review. Uh and then there's also the control from the site principal or even from the district if there is a determination that the course would interfere with the student in a in a core curriculum class, one of those classes that is tested that there can be restrictions on when
024the program is put in place. as to who would sponsor the programs. No, that would not be a question for the district. Uh and and because of that concern under the First Amendment, it requires that the district have a hands-off approach because it's considered to be an outside entity doing its own thing on its own time and the student is simply being checked out. The law just requires that we count those students as being absent and then we review those or excuse me, excused that they be excused or in attendance if it's an approved course. If an and if it's an approved course that they get credit for it as well. And I read somewhere that they can't take time out of a class that's going to be tested, right? Like the math, science, English,
025history type thing. So, they're going to be enrolled in band and then they're going to go to this other class once or twice a week out of band or out of drama or out of music potentially. Yes. As long as, again, it does require parental consent or if the child is over the age of the student is over the age of 18, uh they could sign their own. But yes, it does require parental consent and it would allow them to miss those non-cor classes. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Tony. I appreciate the Oh, wait. Mike has another question. Yes. Thank you so much, Madam Chair. Uh just curious any type of appeal process for a student that might be we may say no, it doesn't fit. and do they have an opportunity to
026appeal? Uh there is not. So if the school is making a determination under the statute uh as to whether the program would be approved using those ne neutral factors, uh there's not an appeal process built in. Uh however, it could be challenged from a standpoint of going to a district court if they believe that the school were to somehow violate the statute, but there is no built-in appeal process to the statute or in our policy. like 90% of our students are title one and so we want them to go to district court to fight OKCPS is that what we'd be doing? Well, our policy requires that we follow the statute. So to the extent that they'd be making a request, we'd follow the statute as required by law to be sure that we are not
027um creating an issue under the establishment clause uh or an issue under the statute. So the policy again is very reflective of the law does not go beyond it is not more restrictive. It simply reflects what the law already says and again standard policy that's been passed by several uh or I shouldn't say several but of the majority of the schools across the state because it's just one of those that we're required to have under the law. I do have one too. All right. So we have five different organizations that say we want to be part of this and they apply and they get approved by the superintendent or do we did the board approve these? Ultimately those come before the board for consideration by the board. Yes ma'am. And so then a child gets
028to choose which or child and their parents get to choose which one of those five they go to. They could. Yes. As to being allowed to go to more than one. Again they're restricted because of the number of days that are built into the statute. Okay. All right. Now, of course, a parent could check someone out just as they could before the statute passed and attend those courses. This statute is just saying that they're going to be counted as excused or present if it's an approved course and get credit. Uh otherwise, students always could have been checked out by their parents and taken to a release time course. In fact, that's been something that some schools have been doing at least since the 70s when the court first approved it. And travel time, will that
029come out of the course or will that come out of the hour before and the hour after that the course is offered? I believe that counts towards the amount of time that they're missing at school. So it it if they're if they're traveling and they're missing three to four hours, then they would be missing four hours of school. Four classes if they were in I mean I I was kind of under the impression it was just going to be an hourong thing that they go and they do for an hour. But it could be more potentially could, but they'd still have to meet within the requirements of the statute because the number of hours and days that they miss. Uh but yes, it certainly could be an hour long. It just depends on the location,
030whatever it might be. Uh but they still have to be in compliance with the statute if they want to be able to be counted as present uh or to get that excused absence depending on whether the program has been approved or not. So if they had banned and then they had math, they couldn't be gone for those two hours, right? Again, it would depend on how many it adds up to if it's a full semester's length uh or what period of time it covers because the statute does place limits. Again, they could always miss because the law is always provided for that. This law is really just only whether they get attendance counted uh or whether they are getting credit for the course. Um and that is limited by the number of days or hours
031that are stayed in the statute. Yeah, no problem. It never f is there a is there a definition is there a statute or definition of moral? What is moral? I know what it is, but I'm I'm curious because and I'll go ahead and ask my full question is that serving in the legislature, there's it's never been a time that they were trying to pass something religious and some and a satanic group shows up saying, "Well, we're going to offer the same thing." And I'm just asking you, what's moral? There's no definition. What's rel What is religion? And is there any prohibition again if we can't stop it from doing it? Can a group that's satanic or what I consider what I consider immoral h has a group uh we can't stop it but do they
032get to go if they so choose and their parents agree? Yeah. And that's that's a great question. There is no definition in the statute provided as to religion or moral uh has been provided by the legislature. However, that's also probably intentional uh because to the extent that a school starts deciding what is moral or what is religious, then you start getting into waiting into the waters of the establishment clause of a school deciding what is appropriate or not appropriate from a religious perspective. Uh so that's why it is not included. Uh but yes, it does leave open that door just as the establishment clause always would that if you allow one group in based on morals or religion, the school does not decide what is religious, what is moral, uh and other groups could come
033in and make that same application. It's a very good question. Okay. Anyone else? Yes. Um so if we have follow-up questions, who will we direct that to? To Tony? Copy. Copy Dr. P on it though. Okay. copy poke. Okay. Um and not a question but more of a comment just um I've shared some of the same sentiments that Dana shared at the beginning of that some constituents are a little bit concerned about this but um if it's state law I mean we have to follow state law. So thank you. Okay. Take you have a takeaway for us Tony. Anything on that? Uh we'll be bringing it back to the board in May. Uh I'll I'll continue to look at it be sure it's in line with the statute. again just as a reflection of that
034statute. Uh but it there are questions about the statute that all schools are struggling with right now because it's just one of those those things that we're required to have in the books. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. That brings us to the consent agenda. Is there Well, before we do that, first of all, thank you for the incumbrance report. That's amazing looking. Way to go finance team. Nice job. Take a look at it if you haven't taken a look at it. It's pretty impressive. All right. So, any members who wants to pull a uh any item off for discussion um only or discussion and vote. All right. See if we're good. Is the cumbrance are we voting? I mean consent agenda. It's the consent agenda. I was saying the consent agenda. Yeah. Sorry.
035Okay. Anybody? Sorry. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Is there a second? Please. Second. That was board member Thompson. Second. Call the vote. hear. Yes, we have a slight glitch in board docs. Um, for some reason, uh, is it not allowing you to read read? Ah, thank you. We had a slight glitch with uh member Shelton's uh vote, but it's now been resolved. So, with that being said, having received eight I votes and zero nay votes, the motion carries. Thank you. There is no new business. Brings us to executive session. Is there a motion to enter into executive session? Okay. Is there a second? That was board member Thompson and Wakona. Thank you, Madam Chair. Typing that in. That voting popup should appear momentarily. Thank you again for all the wonderful
036gifts up here. I appreciate every one of you guys. Thank you. Ready? Having received eight I votes and zero nay votes, the motion carries. We return back from executive session at 7:48. Lori, can I get that from you? 640. Sorry, I was right. Seven. Nice. Crew, I think. Mhm. We really had a good time with you guys. [Music] Madame Chair, shall I read the executive session compliance statement? Yes, please. Thank you. The board entered into executive session at 6:02 p.m. and returned to open session at 6:48 p.m. on April 7th, 2025. Individuals present included all board members, Laura Holmes and Dr. Jamie Pulk. Is that the full list? Yes. Okay. Just let the record reflect and the board discussed the evaluation of the superintendent. No actions were taken during the executive session. That concludes the
037reading. Thank you. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? Second. Call for the vote. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay. Hearing none. Motion carries. The board is adjourned. I got to go down and give this to Crystal real quick.