The Okmulgee Board of Education conducted its regular February meeting on Feb. 10, addressing a full agenda that ranged from district staffing and instructional compliance to student leadership achievements and community partnerships.
Among the highlights of the evening was a de- tailed presentation by Okmulgee High School Business Professionals of America (BPA) member Sai Vickers, who spoke on behalf of the district’s growing BPA chapter, outlining the organization’s mission, rapid growth, community involvement and the leadership skills students are gaining through participation.
The meeting opened with roll call and the declaration of a quorum, followed by approval of the consent agenda, which included minutes from the January regular and special meetings, as well as monthly encumbrances and expenditures across multiple district funds, including General, Building, Child Nutrition, Bond and Sinking Funds, all approved as listed on the agenda.
The board gave formal approval of the FY26 school calendar in a format that satisfies newly clarified instructional time requirements set forth by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. While the calendar itself had previously been approved, administrators explained that updated calculations of instructional hours are now required for accreditation uploads.
“This is a new requirement for instructional hours,” Superintendent LuVona Copeland explained during the discussion. “We’ve already voted on the calendar, but we now have to have minutes documenting the instructional hour calculations for accreditation purposes.”
During the superintendent’s report, board members received updates from across the district, highlighting the breadth of academic, extracurricular and enrichment activities currently underway.
At the primary school level, administrators reported on upcoming Valentine’s Day classroom celebrations, student field trips to Discovery Lab and preparations for Read Across America activities tied to Dr. Seuss Week in early March. These events, administrators noted, are designed to build enthusiasm for learning while maintaining strong family and community engagement.
At the middle school level, Dunbar students recently completed a comprehensive History Day project involving fifth through eighth graders. Students were tasked with conducting original research, developing bibliographies, creating visual presentations and formally presenting their findings, many for the first time.
“They were given a topic, they had to do research, they had to present, and they had to do work they hadn’t done before,” Supt. Copeland reported. “It was challenging, but it was a great learning experience.”
The middle school also reported strong athletic success, including an undefeated eighth-grade basketball season, along with ongoing preparations by robotics teams for upcoming tournaments.
At the high school level, administrators highlighted scholarship preparation efforts for seniors, including partnerships with community organizations willing to assist students with applications, essays and financial planning. In addition, six staff members are currently undergoing training for the reimplementation of the Link Crew program – a peer mentoring initiative pairing upperclassmen with incoming freshmen.
“On the surface, it sounds like it’s just good for freshmen,” administrators explained, “but the growth you see in juniors and seniors who mentor them is tremendous. They remember what it was like and help younger students avoid the same mistakes.”
Board discussion also touched on community- based support initiatives, including Backpack for Kids, Graduate Oklahoma and Bridges Out of Poverty, all of which rely heavily on volunteer support and donor funding.
“It’s my opinion that we have a lot of really good things going on,” a board member stated “When people say things are bad, I hit them with all this good stuff. There’s so much good happening in this community.”
Board members emphasized the importance of sharing positive stories and ensuring families are aware of available resources. Several programs were described as selective but impactful, focusing on families most likely to benefit and commit to longterm participation.
— Spotlight on Student Leadership: OHS BPA Presentation The Okmulgee High School BPA sponsor introduced student representative Sai Vickers, who addressed the board regarding the Business Professionals of America program and requested formal recognition of BPA Week, proposed for the second week of February.
Vickers began by explaining the purpose and structure of BPA.
“Business Professionals of America is a career and technical student organization,” Vickers told the board. “What we focus on is student leadership and maintaining connections – not just within our chapter, but with other chapters across the state.”
She explained that BPA provides students with opportunities to develop leadership, communication and professional skills while connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences.
“Our membership has jumped 28 percent from last year,” Vickers said. “We currently have 11 nationally registered members, and being part of BPA has really helped me improve how I present myself and how I see myself as a leader.”
Vickers outlined a wide range of accomplishments achieved by the chapter over the past year, including participation in career-focused events, leadership conferences and community service projects.
Among those accomplishments:
• Attendance at a Tulsa Drillers Career Day game focused on career exploration
• Organization of a food drive
• Hosting a college and career fair featuring more than 19 colleges and local industries
• Participation in fall and state leadership conferences • Volunteering in community events such as the Okmulgee parade and Scare on the Square
• Supporting the Wonderful Made Therapy Group
• Fundraising for the Okmulgee County Sharks, the community’s Special Olympics team “We raised $78 for the Sharks,” Vickers said. “It may not sound like a lot, but for our first year volunteering with them, it meant something – and it meant more because it connected us to our community.”
She also described the chapter’s visit to the Oklahoma State Capitol, where students observed legislative sessions and learned firsthand how laws are debated and passed.
“It might sound boring to some people,” she said with a smile, “but it was actually really exciting to watch how it all works.”
One of the chapter’s proudest achievements, according to Vickers, was earning recognition as a Bronze Star Chapter, an honor reflecting both leadership development and community engagement.
“What I’m most proud of is how BPA has helped us connect with our community and with each other,” she said. “It’s helped us grow – not just as students, but as people.”
Vickers concluded by formally asking the board to declare the second week of February as BPA Week, emphasizing the importance of continued visibility and support for student leadership organizations.
Following the presentation, board members expressed appreciation for Vickers’ professionalism and confidence. Board Member Keith Baldridge offered particularly strong praise, pointing to her presentation as an example of the district’s impact.
“I see a future leader and a success story right here,” Baldridge said, referencing Vickers’ accomplishments and demeanor. Additional recognition was shared noting that Vickers recently placed third in a speech and debate competition and earned an Executive Torch Award, further underscoring her academic and leadership achievements.
The board unanimously approved the declaration recognizing BPA Week, signaling its support for career and technical student organizations and the role they play in preparing students for life beyond high school.
Action Agenda items approved were:
• Employment of Career Certified Staff for the FY27 school year.
• Employment of Support Staff for the FY27 school year.
• Resignation of Justin Tyler Jackson.
• Employment of Sheri McCarty as support staff for the FY26 school year at Dunbar.
• Employment of Alyson Willams, certified teacher, for primary for the FY27 school year.
• Employment of Keara Richardson as substitute teacher for the FY26 school year.
