Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Board of Education met Monday with all members present. Among items on the agenda was the resignation of a custodian and hiring of a replacement. The board also set the school calendar for the next school year beginning in August 2024.

Superintendent Tim Argo presented the financial report showing revenue is down $518,592.01 from this time last year. Gross production income is down $495,654.24. Motor vehicle tax is down $8,761.19, and REA tax is down $32,191.32. School land earnings increased by $6,355.95, county 4 mil tax collections are up $11,658.79 compared to this time last year.

State aid has increased by $310.79 per student in relation to last year. Current year ad valorem collections are at 52 percent of the estimate of needs for the year.

Looking at purchase orders in the general fund, Argo said $5,571.83 to R & T Diesel was for multiple repairs to various vehicles. The Junior Library Guild was paid $1,132.52 for high school library books. Argo said each of the school sites will be purchasing books, a requirement of state aid. The school spent $5,477.80 for high school football helmet reconditioning and another $5,470 for replacement helmets and shoulder pads. A purchase of $3,110 from Compass Athletics was for track uniforms. The school spent $2,500 to have Matthew Flinton speak on Jan. 3 for professional development on the topic of Trauma Informed Instruction.

From the building fund, $500 was spent with Chapman-Bush LLC for drain repairs at the indoor practice facility. A purchase order for $4,000 covered gas leak repairs by Gagnon Plumbing at Lincoln School.

Supt. Argo reported the resignation of Kristina Roach as high school custodian.

He announced that this is board appreciation month, passing out certificates of recognition to board members from the state school board. “I just want to thank you all for your service, not only to our students and staff but to this community,” Argo said. “We all know that service is not always easy and especially leadership. So I really appreciate this board’s leadership through our strategic plan, through our hiring process and each day supporting our students and our staff, and everything you do for Alva Public Schools.”

Longfellow Principal Alysson Tucker gave a presentation on the Resources section of the school’s Strategic Plan. “Resources” is basically capital improvements and the maintenance of school sites. She said one goal was setting up an IT ticket system to let custodial staff know about issues, and that goal has been met with all school sites able to access the system. Another goal being met is monthly safety inspections of all school buildings. Patricia Gluth was designated as head custodian, taking over responsibilities such as ordering supplies for the school system.

Supt. Argo provided the second part of the presentation, outlining current capital improvement projects. He said a third-party inspection of roofs is expected to result in a rate adjustment. In the assessment of settling at Lincoln School it was found that some pipes and drainage have been compromised possibly causing the settling. Argo said further assessment may be done on the HVAC and electrical system at Lincoln after the experience with the gas leak.

The board was provided access to a spreadsheet detailing all the capital improvements in the school system since 2017. “We’ve really done some neat things, capital improvement wise, for our students and staff with our money, and not putting an additional burden on the taxpayers,” said Argo. “So I think that’s something for you all to be proud of. All of these things you see schools passing bond issues for, we’ve been able to do that ourselves.”

The school board then took action to employ Janelle Carter as high school custodian.

The 2024-2025 school year calendar was presented to the board. Argo said five teachers, five parents and the administration team met and decided on three options for the calendar. Those options were then sent out to all site staff and transportation for voting. The option presented to the board received the most votes. In making the calendar, the school consulted with Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Northwest Technology Center to align dates. They also coordinated with neighboring schools at Cherokee and Waynoka. Next fall, classes will begin on Aug. 8, and the last day of classes is May 16. The 24-25 school calendar was approved.

The board voted to accept a $50,000 donation from Alva State Bank. This is the second year they have donated with funds designated for fine arts. Argo said this was “another example of why this is such a great community.” He added that “it really does change lives for our kids.”

In final action, the board approved two out-of-state travel requests for Alva FFA. Students will attend a tractor tech contest on Jan. 19-20 in Plainview, Texas, and a livestock judging contest on April 8 in Hutchinson, Kansas.