Sallisaw superintendent retires, Barrett appointed as interim

Monday’s meeting of the Sallisaw School Board included a vacant seat belonging to Superintendent Randy Wood, who retired from the position on Oct. 31.

The first order of business on behalf of the board was to approve Steve Barrett, Assistant School Superintendent, to serve as interim.

“Mr. Wood will return in January to resume the position but later in the spring, the board will make the transition of hiring a new superintendent,” Barrett said. “Until then, I’m excited to be working in the role of superintendent for the school I graduated from.”

Wood had mentioned a couple of months ago he had plans to soon retire but did not want to complicate his teacher retirement. He said he would retire at the end of October, with plans to return after 60 days before retiring completely.

“I feel honored and humbled to do this job,” Barrett said. “I’ve been around the teachers and the people here in the Sallisaw school district. It’s been good to see old friends and make new ones, and I’m just excited to be here.”

Barrett, a 1987 graduate of Sallisaw High School, was hired as assistant superintendent to replace Steve Merrill, who retired in June. Barrett, also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, has served in many administrative roles including Assistant Noble High School principal and Norman Public Schools Athletic Director.

Following procedures, the board approved to modify signatures on all Sallisaw Public Schools accounts at National Bank of Sallisaw and added Barrett, Amanda Trudeau-Hatcher, Tami Martin, Bobby Qualls and Frank Sullivan III, and removed the signature of Paul R. Wood from all school accounts.

Following the approval of encumbrances, the treasurer’s report, and activity fund reports presented by Merrill, the board approved the board meeting dates for 2023.

Facility use requests were also approved for Sallisaw Youth League Basketball to use the middle school gym for games from Jan. 7, 2023, through Feb. 11, 2023 and Eastside gym from Nov. 14, 2022, through Feb. 11, 2023 for practices; Kibois, to use the Middle School Cafeteria from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 23 for the Community Thanksgiving dinner; and Broke Bois Audio’s request to use the high school parking lot from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 10.

In other business, a resolution on determining the maturities of and setting a date, time, and place for the sale of the $990,000 General Obligation Bonds of the School District was approved followed with approval of Leah Agent as the Adjunct Instructor (HCC) for Anatomy and Physiology at Indian Capitol Technology Center with Career Tech.

Resignations for John Leach-high school custodian, Michelle Hughes-Title VI/JOM Tutor and representative, and Barbara Poor-JOM Coordinator, were all approved.

Following an executive session, the board approved to hire the following for the 2022-23 school year: Ashton Darcy as a high school/middle school paraprofessional, Carrie Treat as Eastside Elementary Teacher Assistant/Paraprofessional, and Belinda Howard as a high school custodian.