The Okmulgee Public School Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, hearing reports on dropout rates, college remediation, and other school campus updates.

The meeting began with the approval of all consent agenda items, including the previous meeting’s minutes and monthly encumbrances and expenditures, before hearing presentations from several site administrators.

High School Principal Amanda Thomas reported that the school’s dropout rate was approximately 10 percent over the past year and highlighted interventions being implemented, such as weekly PLC meetings to monitor at-risk students and a new “Commitment to Graduation” ceremony for freshmen to emphasize the importance of completing their education.

Assistant Superintendent Luvona Copeland reported on college remediation findings, noting that the low sample size of Okmulgee students who enrolled as college freshmen in 2022 made it difficult to calculate a meaningful remediation rate. She provided broader context, explaining that statewide college-going rates have fluctuated in recent years, declining from 44.3 percent in 2018 to 34.8 percent in 2021 and 2022. Copeland added that while Okmulgee’s remediation data appeared favorable – showing no students needing remediation courses – she questioned the accuracy of the data due to the small sample size and emphasized the importance of monitoring it in the coming years.

Okmulgee Primary School Principal Dawn Wallace then shared some positive news from her school, including the implementation of a “house system” to foster positive behavior and school spirit. Wallace also recognized second- grade teacher Erin Heck for her relationship-building skills and consistent support for students.

Later, the board approved fundraisers for the high school band and FFA programs and travel to Indianapolis for the National FFA Conference Oct. 22-26. Okmulgee FFA instructor Tim Taylor attended and explained the upcoming fundraiser and conference, noting that the FFA chapter had been selected as a national three-star chapter. He sought approval for a new fundraiser called a “Rock-A-Thon” to help cover the costs of the trip, where students and community members would sit in rocking chairs and collect pledges for the event’s duration.

The board also took action on several items, including declaring a number of primary library books as surplus. Superintendent Clay Vinyard explained this would allow the district to give away older books that could no longer be kept in circulation.

Two new required policies were approved: one addressing the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on campus, and another establishing guidelines for the new name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules, which allows student- athletes to profit from the use of their name, image, and likeness.

Under New Business, board member Vickie Jones requested that the board set up a special meeting to discuss the school’s athletic program, stating that there have been “too many calls coming in from different alumni and things they are posting.”

She then took a moment to highlight the success of the Okmulgee Junior Football Association (OJFA) over the weekend.

Leroy Parker announced that the board had sent out a memo instructing board members to refer any phone calls to the superintendent and not discuss matters themselves. We reached out to Superintendent Vinyard for clarification on how public questions and concerns should be handled but had not received a response by press time.

— Other items approved by the board included:

• The ACT as the OPS College and Career Readiness Assessment

• Estimate of Needs for FY25

• Appropriations for FY25

• Adoption of the City of Okmulgee Hazard Mitigation Plan

• Annual contract for Career and Technology Education programs for the 2024-25 school year

• Granting of graduation course requirements to students successfully completing academic programs through GCTC for 2024-25 — Approved Employment Acknowledgements for FY25 Only employees approved at this meeting, not a comprehensive list

Emergency Certifications

• Destiny Followill — Temporary Substitutes

• Sheryl Shipley

• Katelyn Pelky — Temporary Support Staff

• Lori Vick – Library Aide/Dunbar JOM

• Ottis Mills – Full-Time Bus Driver & Maintenance — Temporary Lay Coaches

• Cameron Johnson

• LaPatrick Vann

• Ronald Jones, Jr. — Resignations

• Milton Hammon Bus Driver

• Brandi Holmes – Bus Driver

• Michael Marion Bus Driver

• Eulalia Fletcher-Griffith – Academic Advisor