Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Board of Education enjoyed hearing from two speakers during their regular meeting Monday. Board President Jane McDermott opened the meeting with board members Karen Koehn, Paul Barton, Shane Hansen and Kevin Pingelton in attendance.

Superintendent Tim Argo introduced Alva High School student Harper Houston who has been elected state vice president of OASC (Oklahoma Association of Student Councils). She is the first Alva student ever to be elected to an OASC state office. She was assisted by Mendi White, AHS Student Council sponsor, and Chris Eckhardt, media instructor.

Houston told the board she had to decide early to run for office. In addition to an application, she had to submit a video and write a speech that she presented before 1,400 people. "It was a great experience," said Houston, even if she hadn't won.

As a state officer, she has a lot of responsibilities, mostly over the summer. She will attend both BASIC summer camps and attend Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Next November 2025, Houston will attend the state convention in Bartlesville where she and the other two state officers are the hosts. OASC state officer Karen Koehn said the officers will control the stage at the state convention.

Houston received a round of applause from the board, school administrators and teachers following her presentation.

Strategic Plan Update

Alva Middle School Principal Stephanie Marteney provided an update on the Curriculum and Instruction segment of the strategic plan. She said all the schools decided on the goal of increased awareness of career pathways for students.

Using slides, Marteney detailed how each school is working toward this goal. Washington Early Childhood is planning to tour VAP (Valued Added Products). Longfellow Elementary is planning a tour of Northwest Technology Center. Lincoln Elementary School visited Northwestern Oklahoma State University and particularly the School of Nursing.

Alva Middle School used "writing across curriculum." Two classes, math and English, researched what they'd like to have on the playground, writing a presentation and using math skills to figure the cost of materials for a gaga pit. Others worked on the probability of winning in Las Vegas and products to sell on "Shark Tank." One group submitted videos to the Slingshot Challenge for ages 13-18. One team won first place and $400. Four additional teams earned honorable mention.

Resignations

Supt. Argo reported on three resignations. Tiffany Bagwell has resigned as a paraprofessional. Megan Spray resigned as the high school girls' assistant basketball coach to concentrate on her college studies.

Kanon Collins resigned as head varsity men's and women's cross-country coach and head varsity women's track coach.

Consent Agenda

Argo reported that revenue from gross production, motor vehicle tax and REA tax is still down from last year while the school district is over-collecting in school land revenue and county 4 mill tax. To date the school has collected $444,000 more than the same time last year, but expenses are up $902,000 from this time last year.

He said all activity accounts are in good standing, and there were no fundraisers to report this month.

The AHS baseball activity account transferred $658 to the AHS concession activity account to purchase remaining concession supplies following the end of basketball season.

A total of $13,444.90 in concession revenue was distributed to the Class of 2025, Class of 2026, Class of 2027, AHS Le Club, AHS TSA/SC, AHS Stuco and AHS vocal. Argo said 40 percent of revenue is retained for next year's concession start up.

In child nutrition, the number of meals served was down, but that was because of spring break.

McDermott asked if the school has a need for donations to help with unpaid school lunch balances at the end of the year. Argo said many organizations have helped in the past to pay off these balances. McDermott asked where donations should be delivered, and Argo said to take them to Mrs. Hall at the district office downtown.

Purchase Order Encumbrances

Supt. Argo presented the General Fund purchase order encumbrances. He said the $2,410 to Compass Athletics was for high school soccer warm-up sweats, needed to keep players warm in the changeable spring weather. The district encumbered $4,900 for Peak Environment for spraying grass at all the school locations. Intrust Card Center was listed at $4,000 to cover ag ed travel expenses. The school is purchasing a floor covering for the gym floor from Merrifield Office Supply for $17,772.50 so the gym can be used for graduation, prom and other activities. The encumbrances also included several items for repairs to buses.

In the building fund, $12,830 was designated for Coverall to strip and refinish the floors at Alva High School over the summer break. Argo said the floors at Washington and Lincoln were done last summer, brightening the floors and helping the custodians. A compressor at Washington School had to be replaced with $3,500 encumbered for Greydog Mechanical. The biggest encumbrance was $53,100 to Erikson Steel for a new hog barn breeding facility at the ag farm.

Argo said McDermott and Hansen met with him and the two ag instructors Chad Blocker and Adam Lloyd to hear about their plans for this facility and the future of the ag program. McDermott said they had a "really good vision." Barton expressed concern that the structure was a minimum of what's needed. McDermott said this was just the first phase with plans for a goat barn in the future. Hansen praised the ag plan as both value oriented and addressing the highest need.

Other Business

The board approved Summer Drivers Education with Kandee Almgren as the instructor. Session 1 will be May 28-31 and June 3. Session 2 is June 17-21. The cost will be the same as the last two years at $200 per students with a limit of 15 students per session.

As they do each April, the board voted to enter into win-win negotiations with the Alva Education Association for the 2024-2025 school year.

Two out-of-state travel requests for Longfellow School were approved. Longfellow second grade will travel to the Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas, on May 17. Longfellow third grade will travel to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, on May 10.

Board members approved a list of youth summer camps for the district for students entering second grade to sixth grade. Strength and conditioning camp (formerly Summer Pride) will be held June 3-27. Basketball camp for boys and girls will be June 3-5. Softball-baseball camps will be June 10-12. Football camp is June 17-19. An outdoors camp with fishing and archery is June 24-26. Cost for each camp will be $10. Athletic Director Dave Foster said schedules for older students will be presented at the May board meeting.

The board also approved the Alva FFA hosting The Greatest Livestock Judging Camp Ever. Argo said numerous outside schools attended this camp last year.

A video of the meeting may be viewed at http://www.AlvaReviewCourier.com by clicking on the Videos tab.