Jeff Hiatt, longtime Superintendent of Allen Public Schools, attended his final school board meeting Monday and said farewell to the board.

“This is going to be my last school board meeting, so you won’t see me after tonight,” Hiatt said. “I was looking, and I’ve spent over a hundred nights up here ... When you look at it that way, it’s like, ‘Man, a hundred nights.’ That first year, I mean, we were hitting midnight a lot of nights here, but it’s been good. I appreciate the opportunity to get to work here ... I just hope I left it better than I found it. I didn’t get everything fixed, but I tried to fix stuff. I tried to just do what’s best for everyone, try and treat everyone equal and fair, and it always makes people mad because they think they’re at the short end of that, but I look at everything. I’m trying to treat every kid the same, no matter who their parent is. I can lay my head on my pillow and feel like I at least did the best I could at that.”

Before being hired as superintendent, Hiatt was principal at Allen Schools then appointed as interim superintendent in January 2019 after previous superintendent, Dr. Bill Caruthers, took a leave of absence prior to retiring in June of that year.

“But I had a great time here,” Hiatt said. “No second thoughts. I think I made the right decision, and it was all just personal. I think it’s what’s best for me and my family right now, so I’m excited, and I think Ms. White will do a great job.”

Hiatt’s last day at Allen will be June 30th. Hiatt said he is looking forward to spending time with his family and grandkids.

Board President Frankie Bell also spoke about Hiatt’s retirement.

“We want to thank you, too, for putting up with us” Bell said, “all the nights and that kind of stuff. Phone calls, hours of phone calls and meetings and stuff too. So, we appreciate the job that you’ve done ...”

Also, during the meeting, the board accepted the resignations of Chat Hayes, head baseball coach, and Cody Williams, who was hired as the new high school and junior high principal just two months ago.

Hiatt said Hayes is leaving Allen to coach baseball at Edmond Memorial next year, and Williams changed his mind and is going to stay in Tishomingo as a vice principal.

The board hired Marcus Wyatt as the new baseball coach. Wyatt is from Arkansas, but played college baseball at ECU, where his wife is the new softball coach.

There was no action taken on a new high school/ junior high principal as Superintendent White is still interviewing for the position.

Additionally, the board welcomed back Ron Batey to fill Seat #3, which was left vacant after Mike Todd resigned. Batey previously served in Seat #5 but was defeated 86-84 in early April by Calem Woodward.

During Monday’s meeting, Batey was voted in 3-1, with Woodward voting “no.”

Current board members are Frankie Bell, Mario Gonzalez, Calem Woodward, Brad Wofford and Ron Batey.

Action Items

In action items, the board approved the renewal of the Sublease Agreement dated December 1, 2017, between the District and Pontotoc County Educational Facilities Authority for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, as required under the provisions of the agreements; and to transfer $11,000 from the Activity Fund-Extended Day account to the General Fund.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the May 12, 2025, Regular Meeting and May 22, 2025, Special Meeting; the fiscal year 2024-2025 Purchase Orders and Encumbrances: General Fund numbers 292 through 297 ($9,593.91); Building Fund 68 and 69 – ($9,289); Treasurer’s Report; Activity Fund Report; Fundraisers (JH Cheer & HS Cheer); Overnight Trip (FFA Officer Retreat. Dallas; June 17-19) and (FCCLA District Camp: June 11-13); Renewal of memberships, services and contracts for fiscal year 2025-2026: Alpha Plus (Mathematics Curriculum); Bark (Internet Filter); Cindy Sterba (Speech Pathologist); Clever; GoDaddy (School website domain); Microsoft Licensing; OPSRC; OROS; OSAG (Unemployment Insurance); OSIG (Property Insurance); Pontotoc County Commissioners Agreement (Bond Purposes); Really Great Reading; Securely, and Mark Jones IT Services.