The financial situation really does seem to be turning around at Cherokee School District. At the board meeting Monday, April 4, during discussion of the activity fund and treasurer's reports, Superintendent Bryce Schanbacher reminded the board that “athletics get hit pretty hard this time of year, so we're going to watch that closely and make sure to keep enough in there to start next year's activities. But for now we're in good shape,” he said.

However, Schanbacher had some good news to deliver: after much figuring,and barring unforseen major expenses, “and if our federal claims come in on time, right now I think it's safe to say our carryover's going to be a little over $500,000. So, much better shape than we were last year at this time.” He attributed much of that to the use of federal funds and the fact hat gross production revenue is up this year.

Still, everything's looking much more positive. “There's still going to be things we need to keep an eye on down the road, so another year like that and I think we'll be getting close to where we want to be,” he said.

The good news was echoed a few agenda items later, when Chas. W. Carroll rose to present the 2020-2021 Financial Audit.

At the end of the last school year, the district was $114,000 in the red. “We knew we had that, we knew we had to do something with it,” said Carroll, “so what we did, we got a judgment made against the school district. These funds have been taken care of by the bank who bought the judgment.” The school will pay those monies back, with interest, over three years.

The board listened to this news with an air of solemnity. Carroll had the goods to buck them up.

“Last year we had $114,000 in the negative. This year we'll have $500,000 in the positive. That's a pretty good turnaround,” Carroll said. “There's been a lot of sweat by this administration to make sure these things happened” (fixing the financial situation). He paused for a beat. “And I know he was sweating because he would call and tell me he was sweating.” The group laughed and Schanbacher grinned down into his beard.

Things became more positive. “We have better revenue coming in,” he told the board, but cautioned them to remain conservative in its spending. The board approved the financial audit.

(For the full discussion, visit http://www.alvareviewcourer.net and click on the video tab.)

What's Up at the Elementary

The elementary school had a very good turnout for parent-teacher conferences, Elementary Principal Keela Patterson told the board. In addition, the after-school program is up to 46 students. Northwest Family Services is partnering with the program, and will come over twice a month to provide special emotional lessons, she said.

The elementary's first track meet kicked off March 23. “We have a lot of Wednesday track meets coming up,” said Patterson.

On March 25 was a Sequoia Book Party, which Patterson said is an effective way to get students involved in the Sequoia books.

“Saturday, April 2, was a big day for our school,” said Patterson. Students racked up big successes as both the Seiling Music Festival and the academic teams' state competition.

Twenty-two students went to the Seiling Music Festival, and all of the school's soloists and ensembles received superior ratings, said Patterson. In addition, three soloists and the girls ensembles received a 1+, which is the highest rating they can get.

At the state academic meet in Dale, the Cherokee team lost the first round, won the second round, and then lost by three questions to Drummond in the third round. Drummond wound up taking second place at the state meet, so the Cherokee team was “really close, and we're proud of those kids,” said Patterson.

State testing starts in the elementary school on April 20, she concluded.

Junior High and High School Report

Superintendent Schanbacher read Principal Lane Pruett's report to the board.

The Chiefs and Lady Chiefs basketball teams were awarded USAA Academic Achievement Awards. That goes to teams with a 3.5 and above.

The FCCLA had their state convention a couple weeks ago, and had several state champions; Schanbacher read aloud the names and events of the winners. Four individuals will have the opportunity to compete at the national championships in San Diego this summer, he said.

The speech and debate team did well at regional speech contest, coming home as regional runner up. Several students will be going on to state in different events – some virtual and some in-person at OU in Norman.

Schanbacher read aloud the February Students of the Month – “We're a little behind,” he said, “but we're getting caught up.” In junior high, the February students of the month are Alec Tidwell and Kinley Patterson, and in high school they are Damien Ramirez and Mya Grant.

Baseball, slow pitch, and track are in full swing. Cherokee will host the regional track meet on April 30.

The junior high will host a book fair April 18-21.

State testing began in the high school on April 5; in the junior high it will be April 20.

Other Board Business

No action was taken on an item related to assigning a person to set a time and place for a bond sale. With the next item, the board voted to set June 1 at noon as the date and time for the sale of the $605,000 combined purpose bonds of the school district, and designating bond counsel for this issuance of bonds.

The board returned from an hour-long executive session to announce the hiring of a long list of certified and support personnel for 2022-23. They also voted to employ Michael Claflin as the Elementary School Counselor and the Special Education Teacher for the 2022-23 school year.

In other business, the board approved the district's Parent and Family Engagement Policy, once it has been updated with corrections noted by the board; and they approved the consent agenda, consisting of past meeting minutes; general, building, and child nutrition fund encumbrances, purchase orders and warrants; the activity fund report, and the treasurer's report.