The Allen Board of Education recently hired a new head football coach, Board Vice President Mike Todd resigned his seat Monday at the board’s regular meeting, and a new law banning cell phones at school was discussed.

During a special meeting held April 25th, the board hired Reade Box to head the Allen Mustangs’ football team.

Box, 44, comes to Allen from the Callisburg, Texas, Independent School District where he coached football in grades 7th through 12th.

Box’s coaching résumé goes back to 2004, where he coached football at Leonard Middle School in the Fort Worth Independent School District from 2004 to 2005; Mangum Public Schools from 2005 to 2008; Healdton Public Schools from 2008 2010; Texhoma Public Schools from 2010 to 2011; Hollis Public Schools from 2011 to 2016; Clinton Public Schools from 2016 to 2018; Holdenville Public Schools from 2018 to 2019; Hollis Public Schools again from 2019 to 2021; and Barton Public Schools in 2021 before joining Callisburg.

Box’s teaching experience also dates back to 2004 at all of the schools previously mentioned.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education and recreation from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Additionally, Box has experience in playing football in high school, as well as in college where he was a quarterback at SOSU from 1999 to 2003. In high school, box also played basketball and was in track.

He has numerous awards and honors in coaching, including winning a state title in football at Hollis.

Box and his wife, Sara, have three children -- Quintin, Dyson and Addy.

Additionally, Sarah Box was hired as the new junior high special education teacher.

The board also rehired Chat Hayes as the head baseball coach for the 20252026 season.

Mike Todd

Todd was appointed in fall 2022 and ran and was elected in April 2023. Todd had just finished up his second year of his five-year term.

“The board will have to appoint someone to replace him for the remainder of this year and then have to run for the remainder of the seat next spring in an election,” Superintendent Jeff Hiatt said.

No vote was taken on a replacement. By law, the board has 60 days to appoint someone to fill the seat -- Seat #3. The board accepted Todd’s resignation by a 4-0 vote in action items.

Cell Phone Ban

At Monday’s meeting, Hiatt spoke with the board about a new state law that bans cell phones from school from start to finish.

According to Oklahoma Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, the law requires public school districts to limit student cellphone use from “bell to bell” for the entire 20252026 school year. In the following years, districts will have the flexibility to adjust their cellphone policies as they see fit, according to Seifried.

The measure also includes smart watches, smart glasses, earbuds and electronic devices from home.

“Allen will have to develop a school policy that does such with consequences for students violating the policy,” Hiatt said.

In other action items, the board approved the resolution on E-Rate by a 4-0 vote. It will allow the school to apply for federal funds (E-Rate) for technology needs.

Consent Agenda

The board approved all items in the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the April 14, 2025, Regular Meeting, April 17, 2025, Special Meeting and April 24, 2025, Special Meeting; the fiscal year 20242025 Purchase Orders and Encumbrances: General Fund numbers 285 through 291 ($10,058.07); Building Fund number 67 ($5,500); Child Nutrition Fund number 46 ($8,370); Treasurer’s Report; Activity Fund Report; Overnight Trips – HS Girls Basketball camp at Branson, MO, June 9 – 13, 2025; Fundraiser for fiscal year 2026 (HS Girls & Boys Basketball); Renew Drug Testing Consortium for Bus continued Page 5 Drivers Summer Extra-Duty Pay at $12/ hour; Renewal of memberships, services and contracts for fiscal year 2025-2026: East Central Online Consortium (Gordon Cooper Technology Center – Instructional software); J&J School Services (Impact Aid); OSSBA Employment Services, Policy Services, and Membership; Parent Square (Website and Communication Software); Haywood Schools.

Executive Session The board met in executive session to discuss resignations, hirings, contracts and possible new board member candidates. Upon returning from executive session, the board accepted the resignation of custodian Bill Stephens effective May 9th. Stephens resigned but is retiring as an elementary custodian.

Additionally, the board hired Morgan Sudekum, Summer Wilbanks and Becky Gavin as custodians for the next school year.

Also hired was Jericho Whatley as a JH/HS English teacher, and assistant football coach. Whatley was at Paoli last year and his wife is from Allen.

The board hired Camille Howard as a half-day, part time JH mathematics teacher. Howard has been at Ada and is married to the new band teacher, Richard Howard.

The board also hired Savannah Gandy as the early childhood special education teacher. Gandy is a recent graduate of Oklahoma University.

The board approved contracts for the following summer employees, including Racquel Countryman teaching summer drivers’ education; and Elementary Choctaw Summer School: Lindsey Thompson, Candice Smith, Pam Sanders, Elizabeth Henthorn, Jolene Bakken, Jessy Ross, Amy Mayhue, Brenda Robertson, Debbie Vinson and Crystal Bear.