Roland School Board approves key measures during September meeting

The Roland Board of Education convened for their regular meeting at 6 p.m. on September 11, with President Kevin Flurry presiding over the session. The meeting was attended by various members and officials of the district.

Among those present were President Kevin Flurry, Vice President Jerry Brooks, Clerk Charles Howard, Deputy Clerk Ronnie Hemphill, Superintendent Lori Wiggins, Assistant Superintendent Angie Goode, Principals Kelsey Stubbs and Blake Rainwater, and Minutes Clerk Debbie Wood.

A series of important motions were presented and discussed during the meeting. Brooks proposed and received approval for the Internal Activities Committee for the 202324 year, with necessary corrections.

Hemphill introduced a motion to approve changes in the prices for breakfast and lunch for adult staff. The motion was seconded by Howard, and it received unanimous approval. These changes include increasing the price of breakfast from $2.25 to $2.28 and reducing the price of lunch from $4.75 to $4.70.

The Certificate of Authority for the 2023-24 academic year was presented to the board, receiving unanimous approval.

A motion by Brooks to table the Participation Agreement among the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), Public Consulting Group, Inc. (PCG), and the School District for the 2023-24 year was approved unanimously.

The board also approved the Contractual Agreement for Speech-Language Pathology Services for Kayla Short for the 2023-24 school year, as proposed by Hemphill.

A service agreement with the County Commissioners of Sequoyah County for Roland Public Schools for the 2023-24 school year was approved with unanimous support from the board members.

Following these motions, Superintendent Wiggins recommended moving into an executive session to discuss personnel matters, including assignments and hiring decisions. The executive session commenced at 6:16 p.m.

During the executive session, the board discussed whether to assign/hire/not hire Kassidy Anderson as a first grade elementary teacher for the 202324 academic year. The session included Wiggins, Goode, Brooks, Howard, Flurry, and Hemphill. No official votes or actions were taken during the executive session, and the board returned to open session at 6:23 p.m.

In open session, Howard made a motion to hire Anderson and the motion was unanimously approved.

Flurry presented a motion to approve the contract between Kidworks Therapy, Inc. and Roland Public Schools for the 2023-24 academic year, which received unanimous approval.

Additionally, Brooks proposed and received approval for the School Organization Fundraiser, with Charles Howard seconding the motion.

Regarding financial matters, Brooks moved to approve various fund encumbrances, payroll encumbrances, and reports for different funds, all of which received unanimous approval.

Flurry proposed extending support contracts by one hour for four cafeteria staff members, Andrea Owens, Amanda Shamblin, Elizabeth Colemen, and Cathy Limore. This motion was unanimously approved.

Howard made a motion to approve the use of funds for Project 795 during the 2023-24 school year, and this was also approved unanimously.

Flurry then moved to approve the Project 795 Safe Return and Continuity of Service Plan for the School Year, with the motion receiving unanimous approval. Superintendent Wiggins informed the board about a new safety grant, which is a threeyear pilot program, and provided updates on homecoming events and new safety measures during ball games, with the meeting ending at 6:57 p.m.

The Roland Board of Education made significant decisions and approvals during the September meeting, ensuring the smooth operation of the district for the academic year.

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.