If everything goes according to plan, Shawnee High School will have a new scoreboard in place at the Ed Skelton Field and Memorial Park by March, but it will have a noticeable change.
Superintendent Dr. April Grace said the scoreboard is broken and needs to be replaced. It was approved at the regular Shawnee Board of Education meeting, Oct. 4, to grant naming rights for the scoreboard, lasting 10 years, to Arvest Bank who donated $20,000 toward its replacement cost.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance Dr. Aaron Espolt said Athletic Director Todd Boyer has been doing a “good job” of fundraising.
“We’re doing a fundraising campaign right now for community members and organizations across the community to be able to donate - helps out with the cost of the scoreboard,” he said. “As you can imagine, a scoreboard that size is relatively expensive for us to just replace all at once.”
Espolt revealed that they have donations and pledges equaling $40,000 out of the $63,000 for the scoreboard. Espolt noted that some pledged funds would not be paid until Jan. 1, due to tax advantages. However, he recommended ordering the scoreboard now, due to the current material delays.
Andy Davis with Stephen L. Smith Corp. presented the board with a chart comparing seven bank bids, plus one, not on the chart, that he read. The board was comparing interest rates and leasepurchase agreements for banks where they could move the 2016 bond funds. RCB Bank was approved, with the lowest interest rate of .79 percent.
Chris Coryell, of Coryell Roofing and Construction, Inc., spoke to the board about their recommendations for district roof repairs. He and his team have been assessing roof damage at each site for insurance purposes. He said the sites fall into two groups: one which needs immediate attention but qualifies for insurance approval, and one that may not qualify for insurance approval.
Like the scoreboard, due to material and insurance delays, Coryell recommended signing their lease-purchase contract and proceeding with the repairs for sites in the first group. He said part of the contract could be paid off when insurance funds are received. The second group could wait until the insurance approved repairs.
Coryell offered an energy efficiency rebate to offset any interest and a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty on materials and labor. He said installation is nonintrusive and can be done during the school year, so he estimated a six-month timeline for the roof repairs. The contract was approved, pending approval by the district’s legal counsel.
In other business requiring board action, former Assistant Superintendent of Finance Brent Houston reported on updates for the Pottawatomie County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is considered every five years and was approved for 2021-2026.
In the Superintendent’s Report, Grace said she is working with the architects and the City of Shawnee on the new elementary school project. Then, she yielded her time to Meggan Wilson, who had all of the school interns, assistant principals, and instructional coaches present come forward to meet the board.
Dr. Teresa Wilkerson, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, reported on the ACT Scores and Drop-Out and Remediation Report. The graduation rate for Shawnee High School has fluctuated slightly. In 2014-15, 72 percent graduated. That rate went up to 80 percent in the 2017-18 school year. Then, it went down to 75.14 percent in 2018-19.
For college remediation rates, the number of SHS graduates needing remedial classes in their freshman year has dropped. It went from 109 in 2014-15 to 98 in the 2018-19 school year.
Wilkerson believes the rates have a direct correlation to the use of ACT Aspire practice testing. The ACT Mosaic practice tests are used in sixth grade, where students who need help have “Wolf Time” to get their scores up. Wilkerson said Oklahoma was one of the few states that didn’t drop in ACT scores in the past year.
In Board Reports, Larry Walker was impressed by school staff members he’s seen involved in the community. President April Stobbe commented that Shawnee grad, Katelyn Koons, was named in the top ten freshmen women at OSU.
During Public Comments, Dr. Matthew Miller returned to voice his concerns over how the school board planned to protect students in their hiring processes. Miller said he is an SHS graduate, and worries about his daughter who attends Shawnee schools. He has also heard of others who have left the district. Miller asked for a response, but it is against board policy to respond to public comments. It was suggested that he set up an appointment with the superintendent.
The board approved all consent docket items, including agreements, out-of-state trips, the new school activity account for SPS Pup Pack/Daycare, and retirements, resignations, and transfers.
They went into executive session to discuss the master contract with Shawnee Association of Classroom Teachers, a negotiated agreement with Shawnee Federation of School Employees, and all personnel addendums.
Addendum A considered the temporary contracts for certified personnel Jana Stelzer and extra duty for Cathy Chamblin and Carol Jenkins.
Addendum B recommended hiring support personnel David R. Boren, Mary Bridges, Aysha Bui, Amanda Cheek, Misty Clemens, Julie Diethrich, Misty Heath, Brittany Johnson, Iesha Littlepage, Shelby Longo, Susan Morrison, Deanna Newport, John Raney, Tony Salazar, Kayla Wilbourn, Thomas Wondrock, and extra duty for Bobbie Jo Slevin.
Addendum C listed athletic personnel Bailey Cotts, Kelli Curtis, and Devon Pack.
After a 25-minute executive session, the board approved all five items.
