Supt. Dove gives monthly report

The OPS Board of Education heard from Arvest Bank representatives about a VISA Purchasing Card Application for the Oklahoma Schools Advisory Council. Account Manager Allison Hutchings and Onboarding Specialist William Barnett spoke to the board about Arvest Bank and the potential benefits of the program.

They spoke at length about the functionality of the cards, which can be handed to individuals or departments, and mentioned how Arvest representatives would assist with the implementation of the program. Specifically, it was said that Barnett would “work with the administrators within the school to build the best reports for reporting back out for audits and compliance and things like that.”

Board Member Krystal Bohannon asked about any additional or hidden fees that may come with this program.

“There’s no hidden fees or anything like that,” Hutchings said. “The one fee that we charge to any of our clients, like I mentioned, is just for the custom plastics, which we’re waiving as part of the program. And there are perhaps some international fees…” Representative Barnett added that there are no additional fees because “…we’re our own issuer … We don’t have to charge all of those fees, because we don’t have a middleman to go through.”

After the presentation, the board voted to approve the signing of the card application and a borrowing resolution between Okmulgee Public Schools and Arvest Bank.

— Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Renee Dove gave her monthly report and congratulated Director Carl Stringer and the OHS band for their recent success at the Henryetta Labor Day Parade.

“They marched in Henryetta at the Labor Day parade and brought home some bling for us to show off and a $2,000 check for the work that they did there,” Dove said, thanking Mr. Stringer and Assistant Director Daryl Christy for their efforts.

She also reported the completion of the vestibule at the high school and the storefront at the CAAT building. She said that there will be an open house for the public to come and see the recent improvements.

Superintendent Dove also noted the success of the Okmulgee FFA Program at the County Fair and the Okmulgee Softball Team’s celebration of Senior Night.

Board member Vickie Jones took this time to ask for the record of the softball team. Athletic Director Clayton Vaughn informed her that they won both games that night, and Board President Rod Wiemer added that they’ve won at least six or seven so far. During New Business, Board Member Jones also touted the 2-0 record of the Okmulgee Jr. Football Program, which is not directly associated with the school, but utilizes some OPS facilities.

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Support Employee Vacation Time During last month’s meeting, the board discussed the possibility of moving unused vacation days of 12-month support employees to their accrued sick leave.

According to Board President Weimer, “The OSSBA attorneys say that you can’t do it. Our attorney says you could, but it’s questionable. So if it’s questionable, in legality, we should probably not be doing that.”

With a motion from Board Member Leroy Parker, the board voted not to approve the move.

— Approved at the Meeting

• All items on the consent agenda were approved, including a rental request by Okmulgee Jr. Football for Dunbar, and a fundraising activity for the Band Boosters.

• ACT as OPS choice for the College and Career Readiness Assessment

• The purchasing of Plan Time for Chandra Daniels and Courtney Norton – Dunbar School

• Adjunct Teachers for FY24: Laura Jackson – First Grade

• Resignations/Retirements: Stan Sowder – Support

• Updates to the following policies: BPOL 2013, 4007, and 3034

• Support Staff for FY24: – Tyler Patteson – Substitute Custodian – Hailee Nail – Substitute Teacher – Rochelle Pearson – Substitute Teacher – High School Band trip to Branson, Missouri in March 2024.

– Zavier Thierry’s request for early graduation.

-It was also announced that a Homecoming Block Party will take place in the parking lot of the Brock Gymnasium from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sept. 29. Dove said that it will be open to the public.