Sequoyah County students return to class

Supporting our students through their education is something that we all take seriously. In an increasingly more difficult world, it can feel overwhelming to balance all the aspects of our lives. So when we send our students to school, we expect them to be safe, supported and successful. Having a student who feels supported through their academic career, and to ensure success after graduation, takes teamwork. Parent-school relationships, community partnerships and security are vital to ensuring a successful academic career for any student.

Sequoyah County schools take pride in their students and do everything possible to ensure success. By utilizing modern curriculum, establishing quality enrichment programs and infrastructure improvements, local students have the opportunity to thrive within our area districts.

To provide enhanced school security, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is working with districts by training faculty, establishing positive school-law enforcement relationships and working with the community. As threats to safety grow around the world, SCSO is working to install school resource officers (SROs) into school, further enhancing the well-being of our students.

As students make their way back to schools for the 2023-24 school year, here are some things that local districts are doing to support our students, and to help each child be successful:

Marble City

Marble City Public Schools (MCPS) believes maintaining strong relationships between faculty and staff members is paramount to supporting students.

“The more cohesive our faculty and staff are, the better we will be able to serve our students and community,” superintendent of schools Wade Stafford said.

Stafford said MCPS continues its goal of providing training and in-services for faculty and staff by conducting a retreat at the Fin and Feather Resort in Gore, prior to the start of the school year.

Sallisaw

Sallisaw Public Schools continues to offer skills-based learning through various programs throughout their district, as well as several construction projects – including four large outdoor classrooms (one at each site) to be used for alternative learning spaces and as a place for their new outdoor education program.

Superintendent Steve Barrett said at the elementary level, construction of a new greenhouse will support student learning through horticulture and plant production, as well as to support the 4-H program.

“A second greenhouse will be built to support higher grade-level FFA programs, as well as continued biology studies, including food production and sustainability,” Barrett said.

He said Sallisaw High School will also continue to partner with Carl Albert State College for concurrent enrollment classes, as well as offer programs in outdoor education, drone application, and will be amongst the first schools in the state to offer a Student Air Rifle Program.

“New for 2023-24, a new ‘You Can Fly’ high school aviation program will be implemented, under the guidance of Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. The 5-year program (starting in eighth grade) will provide an opportunity for students to complete their private pilot’s license during their senior year. The program will also include a drone pilot option,” he said.

Sallisaw Public Schools has also expanded their Early Childhood Program to include another classroom, which will increase their early childhood capacity to 80 4-year-olds, as well as 36 3-year-olds.

Liberty

Liberty School Superintendent Chris Michael said Liberty teachers, staff, students, and parents are committed to working cooperatively to create a safe, secure, and nurturing environment.

“And we want the environment that promotes the highest level of academic achievement and character development, while empowering the community and meeting the diverse needs of all their learners,” Michael said.

Michael said upcoming dates to remember are: Aug. 11, 9 to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. Pre-K Meet & Greet, and Aug. 14 Pre-K first day of school.

August 10 was the first day of school for most Sequoyah County students. Muldrow Elementary students were welcomed with a festive balloon display at the school entrance.

Muldrow

Muldrow Public Schools Superintendent Clifta Fugett said the school continues to work hard to meet the needs of its students through informed staff and programs.

“The district continues to offer programs that will benefit student growth, including a concurrent enrollment program, internship class, and multiple Advanced Placement (AP) classes that will provide students with college credit upon passing the end-of-year AP exam,” Fugett said.

“The district’s broadcasting class is expected to continue to provide students with success through finding new job opportunities and community interaction,” she said. “The class has historically been very successful and has provided many resources for the community as well.”

Fugett said Muldrow now offers a 3-year-old program at the elementary school as an initiative to help students and parents.

“The program has two classes and can accept 40 students into the program,” she said.

Webbers Falls

Webbers Falls’ FFA program continues to be a star within our county (along with Vian) and received the prestigious GOLD 3-Star chapter; only 1 percent of the chapters in the entire nation can qualify.

“This huge success for the students will be an asset to the FFA program, and the district,” Webbers Falls Schools Superintendent Chris Whelan said.

“Webbers Falls is also proud to have two new principals, Ali Sanders at Webbers Falls Elementary and Michael Mills at the middle and high school,” Whelan said.

Vian

Vian’s new school superintendent John Brockman said Vian Public Schools is continuing its dedication to their students through curriculum and construction of a new high school.

“The district has hired a new curriculum director to assist the district, and the high school will begin a leadership class, as well as an Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry class for students,” Brockman said.

Brockman said the new high school, still under construction, is expected to open in 2024.

School Security

Security continues to be a priority for everyone in our community — we all want our students to be safe when they are at school. As part of an increased security measure, Sequoyah County schools and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office are working together to provide school resource officers (SROs.)

Administrations from districts have stressed the importance of having these deputies at school sites, not only for the security aspect but also for the community service that an SRO can bring. Some districts within the county have even reallocated funds in order to install an SRO at their sites, while other districts have used funds to hire an additional (second) SRO.

These deputies provide more than security for their schools, according to Undersheriff Charles House.

“SROs work to train staff, teach students and be a positive influence on the student population,” House said. “SROs will not enforce school rules and policy, leaving that to the school administration.”

House said SROs will step in only if “a criminal offense has been committed like possession of an illegal substance.”

“Furthermore, SROs provide resources to their schools and act as a community liaison, mentor and someone safe that students can talk to, much like they would a counselor,” he said.

House went on to say that all of the SROs are CLEET-certified, and most have been in law enforcement for years.

“These officers have served in other capacities for anywhere between eight to 20 years before becoming a SRO,” House said. And, they understand the important relationship between the deputy and schools.”

House said the Sheriff’s Office will be responsible for hiring, training, and placing deputies at school sites as SROs.

Your TIMES also reached out to superintendents at Central, Gans, Gore, Moffett and Roland Public Schools. They did not return requests for information about the upcoming school year as of press time.