Barrett named Sallisaw superintendent

Assistant Sallisaw School Superintendent Steve Barrett will officially take over the duties as superintendent beginning July 1 after the Sallisaw School Board took action on his employment Monday night.

Current superintendent, Randy Wood, who returned this month after being gone from the position for 60 days, said he will be officially retiring on June 30.

Wood, who was rehired in December, returned to finish his career by providing guidance and leadership during the transition, according to a statement from the school. Wood was not employed for the 60-day period required by the Oklahoma Teacher’s Retirement System. Based on those rules, Wood has compensation limits that will save the district a considerable amount of money for the spring semester, and at the same time, allow Wood to provide assistance and guidance to the new superintendent.

“I believe Steve will do a fantastic job as superintendent,” Wood said. “He’s from here, he knows the community and he has the experience. He’s already proven that.”

Wood said during the meeting, “I love this job,” but he said he believed it was time for him to retire and spend some time with family and do other things.

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Barrett said he is honored to be the next superintendent, and is excited to begin his official duties when the time comes.

“This is a dream come true for me, to give back to the school system that did so great for me,” Barrett said.

A 1987 graduate of Sallisaw High School who now makes Sallisaw his home along with his wife, Amy, who also works for the school system as a counselor, Barrett was hired in May 2022 as assistant superintendent.

Barrett completed both his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Oklahoma, and has been in education for 25 years, having spent his first 11 years in the classroom teaching chemistry and physics. He has served in many administrative roles, including as assistant principal for Norman High School and as assistant athletic director for Norman Public Schools. Barrett has also worked as a coach.

Other business

The school board also approved hiring Janie Tarkington as a pre-K assistant/ professional at Liberty Elementary for the 2022-23 school year.

Harley Adams was also approved as the Title VI Tutor at Sallisaw High School for the 2022-23 school year.

Wood said there is $298,000 more money this year from last year based on the mid-term adjustments. He said the amount of monies which come from the state increased this year compared to the past two years.

He also said the student count was down based on the third quarter district transfer capacity report. The availability for more students to transfer here is greater. It doesn’t mean the school is accepting “just anybody,” they would still have to come in and enroll based on the school’s requirements, Wood said.

The board approved changing the name “AVID” on sub-accounts in the Sallisaw High School and Sallisaw Middle School activity funds to “Leadership,” since the school no longer uses the AVID curriculum.

Board members also took action on dissolving the senior class fund sub-account, which has remained stagnant for several years, and moving the funds into the Sallisaw High School Activity Fund. The balance in that account of $1,418.95 will provide funds to purchase senior class needs and expenses, Wood said.

The board approved a Sallisaw High School band trip to Missouri for April 27-29 for a band competition.

The school’s revenue collected for December 2022 is as follows:

• General Fund revenue collected for December was $1,566,550.02, and $9,085,849.76 collected for the entire year;

• Building Fund revenue collected for December was $8,658.98, and $30,155.84 collected for the entire year;

• No revenues have been collected for the bond fund;

• Sinking Fund revenue collected for the month was $10,416.42, and $59,618.67 collected for the year.

Activity fund balances are as follows:

• Administrative, $41,283.46;

• Sallisaw High School, $230,878.55;

• Sallisaw Middle School, $32,681.82;

• Eastside, $8,884.61;

• Liberty, $22,807.00;

• Food service, $18,057.72.