The Okmulgee Public School Board of Education has adopted measures to continue offering free meals to students over the summer break, thanks to a new partnership with the Chickasaw Nation. This decision comes after the board’s approval of a memorandum of understanding during their meeting on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, following Governor Kevin Stitt’s controversial decision to withdraw state support from a similar food assistance program, the Muscogee Nation announced a partnership with the Choctaw Nation to maintain the initiative.

Superintendent Renee Dove said she’d use ParentSquare to inform parents about the partnership, noting that a Chickasaw Nation representative would contact them about opting into the program.

Additionally, the board approved the minutes from previous meetings held on April 9 and May 1, as well as the monthly encumbrances and expenditures.

Later, Jeff Hewitt from Bledsoe, Hewett, & Gullekson presented a correction to a previous audit. The board acknowledged the correction and approved the updated audit. Hewitt said this correction would not require them to resubmit to the state.

The board approved rental requests from New Beginnings Church, Okmulgee – Okfuskee County Youth Services, and Julie’s School of Dance for events in May and June at the Brock and Dunbar Gymnasiums and the OHS Auditorium.

Other approved items include:

• One student’s request for early graduation.

• Annual statements of new open transfers, allowing students requesting transfers to be accommodated for the upcoming school year.

• Several board policy updates, including health, social, and psychological development notifications, and equal opportunity and non-discrimination statements. Superintended Dove said that the updates were mostly to reflect personnel changes in various departments.

• An out-of-state drum major camp at the University of Arkansas in June.

In staffing matters, the board approved the hiring of summer school personnel, including Krystal Rogers as the certified severe, profound special education teacher. Board member Jones initially requested that Rogers be removed from the list of considerations, stating she wanted the board to consider another employee.

Superintendent Dove and other members of the board informed her that the individual had already accepted a position at another district and not approving Rogers would leave the summer position vacant. All proposed summer school staff were ultimately approved. Names will be provided once received.

– The following support staff were approved for FY25 (not a full list, just those approved at meeting):

• Margarita Starkey

• Alicia Hernandez

• Hillary Huddleston

• Kerri Evans – The following retirements/resignations were also approved:

• Brittany Allen, Support Staff

• Ty Allen, Certified Staff

• Todd Been, Certified Staff

• Shane Bevan, Support Staff

• Kersten Brown, Support Staff

• Kevin Copeland, Support Staff

• Chandra Daniels, Certified Staff

• Sharon Downing, Certified Staff • Jessica Farrell, Certified Staff

• Josie Fergusen, Support Staff

• Bethany Gallagher, Support Staff

• Shelly Graham, Support Staff

• Jo Nell Grimmett, Support Staff

• Shirlanna Harbin, Certified Staff

• Aimee Hiett, Certified Staff

• Daniel Hodge, Certified Staff

• Brittany Howard, Certified Staff

• Laura Jackson, Support Staff

• Amy Johnson, Certified Staff

• Michelle Lamoreux, Certified Staff

• Margaret Payne, Support Staff

• Tiffany Ramer, Certified Staff

• Sherri Sewell, Support Staff

• Sheryl Shipley, Certified Staff

• Clayton Vaughn, Certified Staff

• Cleta Vaughn, Support Staff

• Jesseka Womack, Certified Staff -Looking ahead, Superintendent Dove mentioned ongoing negotiations for the sale of the Attucks building, with a closing date still to be finalized. The future of the Emerson building also remains in discussion.