Randy Mitchell The Allen Board Of Education Hired A Teacher Monday At Its Regular Meeting, So Allen Schools Has A Full Staff Going Into The Next School Year. After Returning From Executive Session, The Board Voted To Hire Lauren Wade As

The Allen Board of Education hired a teacher Monday at its regular meeting, so Allen Schools has a full staff going into the next school year.

After returning from executive session, the board voted to Hire Lauren Wade as a Pre-K Teacher and Monte Johnson as a part-time science teacher.

Lauren Wade just graduated from Southwestern Christian University, where she played basketball and worked at Piedmont Public Schools this past year. She is from Marlow and will teach 4 year olds for Allen.

The board also accepted the resignation of Kaleb Burns, who is leaving to work at Prague. Burns taught special education and coached football, basketball and track.

The board also approved the summer drivers’ education contract for Racquel Countryman, the drivers’ education teacher. Administrative Reports Administrative reports were delivered by Elementary School Principal Amy Mayhue and Superintendent Jeff Hiatt. Amy May hue Mayhue said summer school is in its fourth week out of six.

“We are averaging 45 students daily (grades kindergarten through third grade),” Mayhue said. “They are working on reading, writing and math. They have also been doing lots of fun activities and have taken some fun educational field trips.” Jeff Hiatt Hiatt said everyone at Allen Schools is in summer mode, trying to get everything ready for the start of the upcoming school year.

“Maintenance crew has begun repainting all interiors of every building and deep cleaning,” Hiatt said. “They are remodeling the fieldhouse and football grandstands steps. We plan on replacing the cafeteria floors over the summer. Although it is summer, we have been busy with daily student weightlifting and conditioning, baseball, softball, basketball and football, along with drivers’ education and summer school.”

Consent Agenda The board approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the May 14 regular meeting, fiscal year 2023-2024 Purchase Orders and Encumbrances: General Fund numbers 312 through 316 - ($14,420.37); Building Fund 29 through 30 - ($18,000); Child Nutrition Fund number 42 - ($62.75); Treasurer’s Report; Activity Fund Report; New Board Policies (BBB-E2, BD & DDCA) Renewal of memberships, services and contracts for FY 2024-2025: Bark (Internet Filter); Cindy Sterba -- Speech Pathologist; GoDaddy (School website domain); Haywood Schools (Sheila Glover) -- Special Education Director; Magic School (Supplement Curriculum); OSAG -- Unemployment Insurance; OSIG Property Insurance; Pontotoc County Commissioners Agreement— Bond Purposes; 2024-2025 Fund Raisers - Football.

Hiatt pointed out how insurance premiums for fiscal year 2025 have increased another 14% and how since 2019 it has increased over 85%. That, along with all utilities and maintenance bills have continued to increase, Hiatt said.

Action Items During action items, the board approved to move the after-school money from the afterschool activity account to the general fund to offset employee salaries that work the program.

The board also approved allowing the school to apply for a three-year alternative school waiver. Hiatt reported how the school has had a co-op with Byng and Tupelo the past year. The waiver will lift state department restrictions and allow Allen to serve its students internally that need a different learning environment.

Primary Election Tuesday Primary elections for federal, state, and county candidates are scheduled for June 18th across the state. On Election Day, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting will be held June 13-14th, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and June 15th, 8 a.m,- 2 p.m. A list of early voting locations and the election list are available on the State Election Board website. You can find your polling place using the OK Voter Portal.