Alva Review-Courier -

The Waynoka board of education met Monday morning to handle routine business, get a fairly positive update on the school's finances, and hear about the barrage of activities students have been involved with during this last month of school.

All board members were present, along with Superintendent Scott Cline, Elementary Principal Patricia Burrow, and High School Principal Dustin Smith.

School Wraps Up in Frenzy of Activity

The elementary and high school principals, Pat Burrow and Dustin Smith, filled the board in on all the activities the students have been involved in during April and into May.

The elementary school held a Spring Concert that Burrow told the board "went very well! Mrs. Hope always knocks it out of the park with her programs, and with the addition of the fifth and sixth grades and Mrs. Allen helping, it was even better."

PreK and the kindergarten went to Alabaster State Park on April 26. Third and fourth grades had Ag Safety Day in Alva April 28.

A.R. points for the last nine weeks were due April 28, and 69 first through sixth graders met their goal for this last nine weeks, Burrow said. Students had to have reached three out of four of their overall A.R. goals for the year to go to the Dodgers game on May 3. The group left at 7:30 a.m. and returned around 5 p.m. "We enjoyed hot dogs in the stands, were entertained by the mascots, and had the perfect weather for a baseball game," said Burrow. "Parents who traveled and joined us were very much appreciated!"

Fifth and sixth grades went to the State Capitol on May 4. Students toured the Capitol, sat in on the representatives in session, and met Rep. Carl Newton and Sen. Casey Murdock, who gave the students fairly detailed information on how the state government works, Burrow said. The students then ate at Charleston in Bricktown and toured the Oklahoma National Memorial and Museum.

Fun Follies was Thursday, May 5. This event raises money to go toward incentive trips next year. The Masonic Lodge matched the total raised, Burrow said, "so we are extremely grateful for their contribution."

Today, May 11, first and second grades plan to tour NWOSU, paint at the Graceful Arts Gallery, then head to the Menagerie for their field trip.

The awards assembly for pre-K through sixth grades will be tomorrow, Thursday, May 12, at 9 a.m. Parents are welcome to take their child after the assembly is over. "NHS is helping with a field day for the elementary students from 1 to 3 that day to finish our school year with a fun time," said Burrow.

The summer camp theme is "Survivor," and students will fish, camp in tents, and learn about geodes.

In the high school, both the baseball softball teams, though defeated at districts, did well in their seasons, Smith told the board. Four students went to the state track meet and did very well; students competed at the state vocal and ensemble contest, also doing well. Last week was FFA's state convention in Tulsa. Officers were elected last week, and they were to be announced at Monday night's FFA Awards Banquet.

Smith said the baccalaureate service was "very nice."

Scholarships for seniors were to be presented last night, Tuesday. Thursday is the last day of school, which will consist of a junior high awards assembly at 8:30 a.m. Right before the elementary awards assembly.

Eighth grade promotion will be tomorrow, Thursday, at 6 p.m. High school graduation will be Friday at 7 p.m.

Over the summer, students will stay active. Several judging camps have been approved, including a local judging camp. FCCLA will be going to the national convention. Summer basketball skills camps will be held, as will Summer Pride.

Superintendent Talks Finances

Revenue is down $55,000 on the year, said Superintendent Scott Cline, but then added "We're kinda blessed to be down just that much. Right now we've under-collected ad valorem by $427,000 compared to last year; two years ago that was $988,000. So, that's in protest and we'll eventually see it, but when I don't know and how much I don't know."

Looking out over the next few months, Cline said, "a lot of things can change, but worst-case scenario I'm looking at being able to carryover about $300,000 unless something obscene happens."

He added that the school's fuel bill has increased. It's a significant increase: "About a 75 percent increase in the fuel bill, and a 20 percent natural gas increase," he said.

However, daycare expenditures are down on the year and revenue is up, he said. The daycare is still $23,000 in the hole, but last year that number was closer to $60,000 in the red, "so we've made great strides there," Cline concluded.

Personnel: Summer Contracts Approved

The board approved a list of extra duty contracts for summer school teachers. This is for student summer camp, said Cline, adding that the individuals would be paid $30 an hour.

The board also approved the employment of certified teachers under a temporary contract for the 2022-2023 school year, and to employ a certified speech pathologist from June through July 2022 and the 2022-2023 school year.

They also voted to employ – at $13 an hour – the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 summer maintenance staff listed on Attachment C in the board's documents. And they approved employing a driver's education teacher for this summer.

Other Board Business

The board then approved a number of routine items with little or no discussion: temporary appropriations for FY 2022-23; OSSBA membership renewal for the 2022-23 school year; OSSBA Employment Services service agreement for 2022-23 school year; an agreement with the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) for participating in CCOSA's District-level Services Program for the 2022-2023 school year.

The board also approved a fundraiser request from FFA.

The board approved the agreement with Alcohol and Drug Testing Inc. for the bus drivers' alcohol and drug testing and student extra-curricular activity alcohol and drug testing for the next school year.

Also approved wass a list of board policies that had only had minor verbiage changes, according to Cline. These policies had to do with searches for drugs, alcohol or contraband, the process for making a complaint of discrimination in the curriculum. Other policies related to graduation and to head injuries.

The board approved next year's calendar for the Beginning Tracks Childcare Center. They then declared a list of library books as surplus.

The board also approved the consent agenda, comprising minutes of past meetings; reports on the general, building, activity and Bond #31 funds; encumbrances for the general, building and Bond #31 funds; and change orders.