Roland School Board advances key initiatives in August meeting

The Roland Board of Education convened on August 14 for their regular monthly meeting, setting in motion a series of decisions aimed at enhancing the educational experience for students within the district.

Present at the meeting were Board President Kevin Flurry, Vice President Jerry Brooks, Clerk Charles Howard, Deputy Clerk Ronnie Hemphill, and Member Utah Everett, establishing a quorum.

Superintendent Lori Wiggins and Assistant Superintendent Angela Goode were joined by Principals Blake Rainwater and Kelsey Stubbs, along with Minutes Clerk Debbie Wood, to provide insights and support throughout the meeting.

The meeting started with a motion made by Brooks to approve the offering of mathematics and science courses by the Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) for graduation credit in the upcoming 2023-24 school year. This proposal found unanimous backing from the board members.

The commitment to enriching the curriculum continued with Flurry’s motion to appoint ICTC/HCC teacher Leah Agent as an adjunct instructor for anatomy and physiology for the 2023-24 academic year.

The board unanimously voted to approve the Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education contract for the Secondary Career and Technology Education Program in the forthcoming school year.

Safety remained a paramount concern as the board members approved the agreement for a school resource officer for the 2023-24 academic year, providing reassurance to students, parents and staff.

Federal Program Assurances and the Local Education Agency (LEA) agreement for the upcoming school year were also given the green light, showcasing the board’s dedication to effective resource management.

An intriguing highlight during the meeting was a motion to grant Hemphill the authority to affix manual signatures to the Oklahoma Public Official’s Certificate, reinforcing the board’s commitment to compliance and effective administrative practices.

The board members readily accepted the resignation of Jacy Strong, a decision that was proposed by Howard and supported by Everett.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on education came under consideration as the board supported Wiggins’ recommendation to grant her the authority to modify the 2023-24 School Calendar, establish school hours, assign students, and manage school facilities, all with the primary aim of ensuring the safety and well-being of the Roland Public School community.

The Roland Virtual Distance Learning Policy and Procedures for the 2023-24 academic year were also approved unanimously, along with the board sanctioning Cindy Huggins as an adjunct teacher for speech/drama/debate.

Wiggins shared a significant development with the board — Moffett Schools’ participation in an Alternative Education Program, with Roland as the Local Education Agency (LEA) overseeing the allocation. The board approved the program, endorsing a collaborative approach to education.

The board’s dedication to fostering professional development was evident through the approval of the Revised Mentor Teacher Committee for 2023-24, proposed by Brooks and seconded by Hemphill.

Both regular and temporary contracts for all employees for 2023-24 were also unanimously approved.

Acknowledging personnel changes, the board accepted the verbal resignations of Davonna Whittenburg and Justin Whittenburg, each motion receiving unanimous support.

Junior Achievement of Oklahoma Inc.’s partnership with the school for the 2023-24 academic year was also welcomed with unanimous approval.

Promoting community engagement, Brooks introduced a motion approving a school organization fundraiser form for a bake sale at Roland Upper Elementary on Oct. 6, further emphasizing the importance of extracurricular activities.

Amidst a host of approvals and actions, the board’s commitment to continuous improvement was evident through the approval of handbook changes for the 202324 school year, impacting various grade levels.

As the meeting progressed, an executive session was called to discuss personnel assignments, hiring decisions, and other matters related to personnel. Following the executive session, a series of motions were made and unanimously approved, resulting in the hiring of Errica Chronister as school nurse, Tina Ramos as a high school teacher and coach, Albis Ramos as a high school coach and Spanish teacher, and Preston Brown as a maintenance employee.

The financial aspects of the district were meticulously attended to as the board approved various fund encumbrances, payroll, and treasurer’s reports, underscoring their commitment to sound financial management.

With business concluded, Wiggins shared updates on staff and student schedules as well as upcoming events, marking the excitement surrounding the new school year.

Also approved during the meeting for the 2023-24 school year were:

• Kensey Richards as an adjunct instructor for world history/geography

• Tina Sampson as an adjunct instructor for math/geometry

• Kyara Bush as a paraprofessional

• Concurrent enrollment student (Regulation-EHDD-R policy) This news story is based on the unofficial minutes from the board meeting and could be in error if the minutes are changed prior to adoption.