Alva Review-Courier -

Freedom Public Schools Board of Education met Monday night despite classes being cancelled for a snow day.

All members were present, along with Superintendent James Miller, Principal Michelle Shelite, and Minutes Clerk Patricia Dauphin.

The group started with the consent agenda that included not only the reports of the general, building and child nutrition funds, but line items to adjunct Ms. Strehl for drama classes, and to amend the contract of Marlo Smith.

Following approval of the consent agenda, the superintendent began his report, starting with legislative update talk. Miller spoke about the failing of the state questions and also some interim studies on a State Aid Task Force made up of both legislators and educators. Their focus is on examining how funds are allocated and ways to make not only the process simpler but distribution more equitable.

Oklahoma’s school funding formula is notoriously complicated with very few people understanding how it works. No adjustments have been made in decades despite major changes in education and student needs.

A simplified version of Oklahoma school funding was given by the task force: school districts add up the number of students using a weighted formula that assigns extra amounts for higher needs, such as having a disability, being gifted or talented, or for bilingual students. The group’s proposed tweaks also include increasing the weight for low-income students, reducing the number of grade-based weights, redefining English learners, and basing virtual charter school funding on actual student weights.

The superintendent also talked about the formation of a new legislature because of the recent election. He said with 44 new members of the House and 12 new members of the Senate, it’s hard to tell how things will go. Hopefully, things will go in favor of education, he said, especially since there are 25 educators in the state legislature.

In finances, Miller said local collections are up by $4,000, but that’s being supported by gross production. There are three different entities (DCP, BCE and Sandridge) protesting taxes, resulting in monies being held until the lawsuit is settled.

The newly formed bond committee has met twice the superintendent said. Their goal is to have something to present at the next board meeting.

In her report, Principal Shelite told board members that the veterans program was cancelled due to the snow day, and because most people go back to work after the holiday, attendance might be low. She said the high school basketball team won their first home games against Taloga. The elementary girls did a great job and won the consolation bracket.

The Junior High Cherokee tournament, along with several other games, make it a full week of activities, said Shelite. The Thanksgiving meal is scheduled for Nov. 19 and visitors can come eat for $5. Looking forward, the Christmas program will be held on Dec. 20 and students have begun working on it already.

In other news, Shelite told board members that FFA members went to Panhandle State University and placed fifth overall in the competition. The principal expressed pride in all the student’s achievements, including pre-K through fifth graders who recently received an honor from Young American Poetry Digest (YAPD). Out of the Freedom students who submitted poetry in the National Schools Project, 88 percent secured placement in the Autumn 2018 poetry digest. A panel of educators evaluated the overall quality of the poems based on the student’s age and grade level. Creativity, age-appropriate language, sensory/figurative images, structure, and poetic techniques were determining factors.

Next on the agenda was discussion of the USDA Rural Development Grant for energy conservation projects. Superintendent Miller said they are working on it now and will hopefully know something soon. Also approved were the updated Crisis Management plan and a small piece of new business: the adjustment of the school calendar for the snow day.