At the Monday, Dec. 4, regular meeting of the Cherokee Board of Education, the board members were given a treat: the meeting began with several FCCLA members reporting to the board on their experience at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference.

Each student who attended the national convention was already a national competitor, which one student remarked put the school and chapter in a good light.

“Many of the FCCLA members had not left Oklahoma before,” reported one member, “and it was really exciting for their first trip out of the state to be with FCCLA.”

The students entered 12 competitions and, of those, nine of the teams placed in the Top 10 in the nation. “We came home with one national runner up, Kirstin Schanbacher, and one third place national winner, Tessa Littlefield,” reported one FCCLA conference attendee.

Davin Budy ran for a national officer position and Hope Durham served as an Oklahoma voting delegate in the national candidate officer race, reported another. In addition, several students volunteered multiple hours judging and keeping time for other star events competitors.

“During the conference, we attended leadership workshops, networked with students around the country, and listened to incredible speakers,” reported another student. “Exploring downtown Denver was fun and exciting. We attended a Rockies game, which was the highlight of the trip, and we loved the fireworks at the end of the game most of all.”

The last student said, “We are very thankful for you guys’ support for letting us attend the conference.”

“You guys did a great job,” Superintendent Bryce Schanbacher replied.

Principal Reports

Principal Keela Patterson reported on recent events at the elementary.

On Nov. 13, Mrs. Cudmore organized Kindness Day activities that included making a schoolwide chain, saying “What Kindness Means,” that is now hanging in the school.

Miss Oklahoma visited the school two days later, and continued the kindness theme. Miss Oklahoma spoke about the lasting impression of not being kind. “And she’s also a teacher, which I did not know” said Patterson. Other board members noted that it was news to them as well.

On Nov. 17, the third and fourth grades attended “Schoolhouse Rock Live” at Northwestern, “thanks to the Reitz Foundation,” Patterson said. “It’s a good experience for them,” she said, referring to the students.

On Dec. 1, Santa came to the elementary.

“It’s been a lot of fun over at the elementary, and we’re working hard to get to Christmas break,” Patterson concluded. Christmas Break is Dec. 18-Jan.1 The second semester begins Jan. 2.

High School Report

Principal Lane Pruett noted that the school had an expert out to speak with the students about phone and internet safety.

That began a long list of student accomplishments. For example, the FFA packaged 5,760 meals at SOS over Thanksgiving break. Joel Parker went to the State Sporting Clays competition and got 17 out of 20. He tied for sixth place out of 85 participants. Davin Budy took second place at the State FFA Wheat Show and received a $2,000 scholarship plus cash awards.

Five students attended the Lead 360 leadership conference in Sparks on Dec. 2-3.

The Canton Basketball Tournament starts Thursday. The Lady Chiefs play Canton at 10 a.m. and the Chiefs play Lomega at 11:20 a.m.

The Christmas parade is Wednesday at 7 p.m. “We will have several floats in it,” noted Pruett, “and the weather looks to be dry.”

Semester tests will be Dec. 14 and 15. Those taking tests in 5-7 school hours will do so on the 14th and those tested in hours 1-4 will do so on the 15th.

“We will be doing our annual floor maintenance in the gym Dec. 19,” which is during Christmas break, said Pruett. “The gym will be closed Dec. 19-25.”

Pruett also noted that parents should have recently received a text message from the school with a link to a survey. “Please take the time to fill it out,” he said. It will help the school continue to improve.

Pruet concluded with the 2023 Football Postseason Awards for District B-2.

• Offensive Player of the Year: Kai McHenry

• Eight-Man All Star: Kai McHenry (June 15, Miami, Oklahoma)

• Eight-Man All Star Alternate: Zack Hellar

• All District Specialist: Xander Jackson

• CTB Sports All Star: Kai McHenry (Banquet in Enid Dec. 13)

Underclassman All District

Alberto Alvarez – O Line

Tate Allisson – Linebacker

Tony Macias – Defensive Back

Honorable Mention

Zach Hellar

Aiden Hall

Joel Parker

Academic All District (Current 3.5 GPA or higher)

Trig Ream

Tyson Ream

Gavin Guffy

Kai McHenry

Xander Jackson

Zack Hellar

Joel Parker

Wyatt Parker

Jose Castro

Cade Smith

Joe Dooley

Declyn Lucas

Finances

The main financial discussion took place during review of the consent agenda, which consisted of minutes of the Nov. 6 regular meeting; discussion of the general and child nutrition funds, along with their encumbrances, purchase orders and warrants; the treasurer’s and activity fund reports; and fundraisers.

Superintendent Schanbacher said the general fund is remaining steady, with utility costs staying consistent. Some unusual purchases were made – Chromebooks, some interactive board accessories. “Those purchases are made with our ESSER funds that will expire this year,” he noted.

He then addressed the fundraiser request this month. The library has requested a fundraiser (pictures with Santa) to raise money for new cataloging software. “This program would allow the different buildings’ libraries to communicate,” Schanbacher said.

“Otherwise, it’s pretty much business as usual,” he said. “Knock on wood, things are going pretty well” with the child nutrition and bond funds.

The treasurer’s report showed that all fund balances are remaining steady. “Gross production was up just a little last month, so our check next week I anticipate to be a little higher. It’s still 60-70 percent of what we pulled in last year,” he added. “The sinking fund balance is still in the negative because of the tax protests last yea.” But that will look better by February, he said.

Personnel Matters

A letter of resignation was received from Bucky Bell, who resigned for personal reasons. His resignation will be effective Dec. 15.

“Bucky has been helping us out for several years,” said Schanbacher. “He does a tremendous job, and he’s such a nice guy. He’s done anything we asked – from driving buses to fixing fences and everything in between – and I can’t thank him enough. We don’t know what might happen in future, but he and I are on great terms and I think it’ll continue to stay that way.”

The board approved Bell’s resignation.

New Special Ed Testing Company Agreement Signed

The board voted to approve a contract with Partners in Wellness for school-based services for the 2023-24 school year. “This is a new company that we’re using for testing services for special ed this year,” explained Schanbacher. “Basically, as we need testing services and evaluations done, this company will do those, and there’s a way we can go through the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and get reimbursed. So it has cost us a little up front to get started, but then we should be able to get reimbursed for some of those things.” Some discussion of specific tests followed.

Internal Crisis Communication System

The board then voted to accept a bid to upgrade the district’s internal crisis communication system.

The school received two bids, one from Index and the other from United. The bid would update and greatly expand the school’s internal intercom system. In the high school, several of the classes can’t hear the announcements, and other buildings and sites around the school also can’t hear announcements. If the school were to be entered by a shooter, for example, the new internal crisis communication system would lock down not only that building, but the all the school’s buildings, including the ag building. Every room would have a

working intercom with a button to push so that those in the room can communicate back.

Both companies offered essentially the same things. Index’s bid was a little higher, but several attendees indicated the customer service was excellent at Index, and that did not appear to be the case with the other company, named United. One person said it took the company 30 days to respond to a concern of hers. Index, on the other hand, has live one-on-one chat capability, along with rapid responses to emails and texts. Burlington’s school district uses Index.

The bid from Index was $90,100. The United system was a couple thousand dollars less.

After extensive discussion, the board approved the Index bid. (To see the entire discussion, visit http://www.alvareviewcourier.com and click the Videos tab.

Other Board Business

The board also voted to declare a used Maytag refrigerator and Maytag dishwasher surplus. The appliances are from the FACS classroom and have been recently replaced.

Superintendent Schanbach concluded the meeting with Christmas greetings.

“Christmas break coming up. I hope everybody has a great Christmas,” he said, adding “We were able to give the staff the retention stipends before Thanksgiving. I don’t think we can find a way to continue that next year.”

With no new business, the meeting adjourned.