Alva Review-Courier -

All but one member was present as the Burlington Board of Education President Terry Graham called their Aug. 17 meeting to order including: Robert Hill, April Kisling and T.J. Rockenbach. Aaron Smith was absent. Also attending was Superintendent Dr. Stacey Croft, Principal Tim Bart and Minutes Clerk Tamre McGinnis.

The superintendent introduced Stan Pedersen who was hired as assistant principal and sixth-grade teacher this summer.

Tamre McGinnis submitted her resignation, effective Sept. 30, which the board accepted. This year would have been McGinnis' seventh year in that position at the school, but she decided to retire. She explained that her husband, John McGuiness, is also retiring from the Northwest Technology Center. Their daughter, Elizabeth Bohn, lives in Seattle. “Hopefully we'll get to travel together. I've worked since I was 16 and I'm ready to relax.”

At Dr. Croft's recomendation, and after discussion, the board voted to employ Tracy Granados as encumbrance clerk for the 2020-2021 school year effective Aug. 1. She will replace McGinnis. Granados said she grew up in Byron, the daughter of Rob and Louise Kirkpatrick, and they moved when she was in sixth grade. She and her husband, Joe McGuiness, reside in Burlington where he is the city manager. Their son Michael is an artist and attending the Northwest Technology Center. Their daughter Savannah is a junior at BHS.

Before taking this job, Granados worked at Terry Graham Inc., a tax preparation service in Cherokee.

Other Burlington School Business

Mr. Ofiu is the Burlington music teacher and is certified in vocal music. He is finishing obtaining his certification requirements in instrumental music. Some tests, etc., were delayed due to COVID-19. So for Ofiu to teach band, the board hired him as an adjunct instructor for three classes of instrumental music.

The board approved hiring Misty McCullough as adjunct instructor for psychology. She will teach psychology to juniors and seniors who qualify. The class will be offered twice a day (it works as dual credit – three hours of high school and three hours of college credit). McCullough has previously been a counselor and taught special education at Burlington. She continues as a special ed teacher in addition to psychology. Her husband is Randy McCullough, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Employee contracts were signed by the board.

The following encumbrances and warrants were board approved as follows: General Fund: encumbrances 96–131 $42,606.47 and warrants 45–142 $257,195.82; Building Fund: warrants 2-3 $39,607.94; Child Nutrition Fund: Encumbrance 11 $52.50 and warrants 2–13 $4,332.51; reserve warrants 1230 $44.58.

The superintendent reminded board members that the Oklahoma Secondary School Board Association (OSSBA) Convention this year has been canceled due to COVID. She said this is “disappointing” as they benefit from all the information they receive there. Dr. Croft gave an update on virtual meetings for the board members so everyone gets updated on their points. She said there is lots of distance learning by the OSSBA.

COVID Prevention and Enrollment

Dr. Croft updated the board on the bus routes for this year. They are taking temperatures prior to kids getting on the bus. If a person's temperature is 100 degrees they must stay home and are not allowed in the school. Temperatures are also taken at the school door before people are allowed to enter.

“We're taking extra precautions this year. Families are working well with us. We're not going overboard, just being safe. Each situation is individual,” Dr. Croft said. When asked how school is going regarding COVID precautions, she said so far so good. She reiterated that masks are recommended but not required.

On student enrollment Principal Bart reported that Burlington has 10 sixth graders, nine seventh graders, 11 eighth graders, sis freshmen, seven sophomores, nine juniors and nine seniors, for a total of 30 junior high and 31 high school students.

Assistant Principal Pedersen reported 14 students in pre-K, 12 in kindergarten, 10 in first grade, 7 in second grade, 10 in third grade, 13 in fourth grade and 11 in fifth grade. He said recesses are kept separate and lunches are eaten in the room.

Administrators agreed that students are adjusting well to the new routines. They said teachers are also practicing with their students using Google Classroom and other technology programs in case there is a shutdown in the future.

Upcoming Events at Burlington

• Hearing test makeup date, Aug. 26

• Miss Burlington Pageant, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

• See You at the Pole, Sept. 23

• School pictures (individual), Sept. 24

• Blood drive, Sept. 28