Updates given by Coach Cordell Love

Wren Hawthorne, superintendent of The Academy of Seminole (TAOS), was back to present the plans for The Academy of Okmulgee, along with a few supporters from the community.

Dr. Ina Agnew, Vice President of Student Services at OSUIT, spoke first in support of the academy.

“I’m here to speak as a resident of Okmulgee,” she said. “I am also a board member of the academy [of Okmulgee], and I’m also a big proponent and firm believer in public education.”

She went on to speak about how the state is under-resourced, and how teachers often have to use those few resources to provide things like “space heaters and food and classroom supplies and materials … They’re going to take that money that they got and use it to take care of their students because that’s just the way our teachers roll.”

Dr. Agnew added, however, that those funds “don’t do anything to help the school” with issues like building maintenance, new technology, and classes. She referenced the school report card grades mentioned at the last regular meeting and explained how this can also affect funding.

“I really believe that sponsoring the academy’s charter can clearly push us to the positive side of the equation,” she said.

Dr. Agnew explained that “Yes, students who are selected to go to the academy – that’s money that’s not going to be provided to Okmulgee Schools. So let’s just get that out there.” But she said that as a result, Okmulgee Public Schools would “stand to gain access to millions of dollars in grant funding.”

She said that Okmulgee County is a “qualified opportunity zone,” making it eligible for “special programs … opportunities at the federal and state level, to spur economic growth.”

“So specifically,” she said, “what am I talking about by Okmulgee Public Schools sponsoring the academy? We’re now going to meet the criteria for funding that we would not otherwise be eligible for.”

College of the Muscogee Nation Tribal Services Instructor Matthew Yates was also supportive and said that he too would be on the board for The Academy of Okmulgee.

Yates added that he’s a strong believer in public education, but that Okmulgee Public Schools is not often viewed as a viable option.

“A lot of families, especially with the economic crisis, when they couldn’t afford Stonebridge (a private school) anymore, Okmulgee hasn’t been the choice … they’re traveling out,” he said.

Yates said that Okmulgee was selected to receive the NewSchools Venture fund, explaining that it’s “they selected Okmulgee – if this goes through to become part of that group. And it’s, it’s a $200,000 award.”

According to their website, “New-Schools is a venture philanthropy that builds a better education system by connecting people, resources, and ideas.”

“I think here is the right place to be, and I think the collaboration that we could have if we approve it at this point, could be great, and help both schools to succeed,” Yates said.

As for the requested financial data, Hawthorne told the board that he sent the information following the last presentation, but Superintendent Dove said that she had not received it. “I don’t see how we can approve it without having the statutorily required information,” Board President Rod Weimer said.

Hawthorne then provided a physical copy of the requested information, but due to the initial miscommunication, the board voted to table the matter until a special meeting could be scheduled to address it and give adequate time to look over the materials.

A 2018 Heching Report article by Caroline Preston stated that Seminole Public School board members twice rejected the proposal for The Academy of Seminole, after concerns that the academy could pull resources away from the existing school system. After these rejections, Paul Campbell, who is also on the board of The Academy of Okmulgee, went to the state board of education for approval.

I spoke with Wren Hawthorne briefly at the end of last week’s meeting to ask if they planned to do the same thing in Okmulgee, if the sponsorship is not approved, and he promptly answered “Yes.” — More from Coach Cordell Love As previously reported, OHS Head Basketball Coach Cordell Love asked that the basketball team be able to participate in the 77th Annual NEO A&M High School Basketball Tournament, which the board later approved.

“We get to be around each other … and learn how to bond,” he said. In addition to this, the exposure to the college atmosphere, and college coaches, would also help the players know what to expect and prepare for at the next level.

Coach Love also expounded on his experience with the team this summer as well as his expectations going into the new year.

“I would like to thank the board for…letting me come here to be a coach,” he said. “I can promise, I’ll give you all that I have to make sure that we can get the program going back like it used to be.”

“And I really, really, really do believe that we have a chance to go play in the state championship. I know a lot of coaches say that, and that’s what we’re programmed to say, but I really mean it.”

Coach Love also reported on the success of the team at recent summer camps. In Henryetta, they won 12 of the 14 quarters played. Then, at a camp at Tulsa University, they went 4-2 and went 5-2 at the ORU camp.

“You can tell they’re starting to believe in each other, they just need time,” he said.