Sallisaw School Board approves personnel, budget decisions

Sallisaw Public School’s Board of Education convened for a regular meeting on February 10, where a series of significant approvals and updates were made to ensure the district’s smooth operations in both the current and upcoming school years.

The board began with the presentation and approval of the audit for the 2024 fiscal year. Board members unanimously approved the report. Similarly, the approval of the Jan. 13 meeting minutes, the Encumbrances, Treasurer’s Report, and Activity Fund Reports was swiftly passed with no opposition.

In a significant financial decision, the board approved the transfer of $262,502 from the ESSER III funds in the General Fund back to the Building Fund, ensuring financial stability for the district’s infrastructure.

Personnel changes, new contracts The board approved the resignation of Lorena Kirk, an Eastside Elementary teacher assistant. Additionally, the board voted to adjust the 2024-25 academic calendar and set the 2025-26 academic calendar, ensuring clarity for future school scheduling.

In terms of staffing for the next school year, the board made a series of important appointments. Among them, Brad Jackson was approved for reappointment as assistant superintendent for the 2025-26 school year, and Steve Merrill was confirmed to continue as treasurer for the same period.

The board also approved a slate of principals and other key educational leaders for the 2025-26 school year, including Russell Tillery as high school principal, Shawn Winton as high school assistant principal, James McInerney as middle school principal, Eric Carr as middle school assistant principal, Toni Jasna as Liberty Elementary Principal, and Jon Jones as Eastside Elementary Principal.

After a busy agenda, the meeting concluded with the approval of several additional staffing appointments, including the hiring of Tonya Stites as assistant principal at Liberty Elementary, Scott Mosby as Director of Curriculum and Technology, Jeff Stern as athletic director, Chad Jasna as alternative education principal/ director of energy, Bonnie Sanchez as a high school secretary, and Emilee Brewer as an Eastside Elementary teaching assistant.

The board also ad- dressed requests for facility use, approving several events to be hosted on district grounds. Notably, the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics will hold an event at the middle school on June 27, while Team Oklahoma Basketball Academy will conduct try-outs in February and March 2025.

The board adjourned at 7:25 p.m., with all motions passing unanimously.

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.