by Randy Mitchell During its regular monthly meeting July 11th, the Allen Board of Education approved arming a school resource officer, which will be the second armed employee at Allen Schools.

The voting took place after executive session, and the matter was listed on the agenda as a vote “to approve arming a school employee who has been issued a handgun license pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act and has attended and been licensed as an armed security guard as provided in 59 O.S. Section 1750.5 or a reserve police officer as provided in 70 O.S. Section 3311. This authority is provided to the board of education via 21 O.S. Section 1280.1 and 70 O.S. Section 5-149.2 The identity of such personnel shall be maintained as confidential pursuant to 51 O.S. Section 24A.7.”

Also after executive session, the board hired Nicole Deaton to teach kindergarten, and approved contracts of employees more than 11 months, and the extra duty pay list.

Administration Reports Administration reports were delivered by Elementary School Principal Amy Mayhue, Junior High and High School Principal Steve Butcher and Superintendent Jeff Hiatt.

Mayhue said summer school finished up on June 28th, which started with 68 kids and ended with 40.

“That’s pretty typical for us towards the end of it,” Mayhue said. “We took three great field trips.”

Mayhue said they will have data in the fall which will show how the students faired and improved during summer school, and she will present it to the board once it is available.

Butcher said they had an interesting experience with driver’s ed, which drew laughter from some council members.

“Some young people can drive very well, and other young people are just exciting,” Butcher said. “I did use the auxiliary brake several times. I may have raised my voice a time or two.”

Butcher cited as an example having to say, “What are you doing?” in a surprised voice.

“But on the whole, it worked out well,” he said. “They all passed and no one got injured.”

Butcher said FCCLA went to Nationals and had an incredible showing.

“We had one national champion, number one in the nation, and eight girls got gold medals,” Butcher said. “So, out of the 10 that went, nine of them got gold medals. That’s pretty amazing. Ms. (Taryn) Wofford is an exceptional teacher and works really hard at her craft and we’re blessed to have her.”

Butcher said the FCCLA and Wofford will be recognized at the first assembly/pep rally for the first football game.

Hiatt indicated that it’s been a long summer so far, and they are “pushing it to make it across the finish line by the start of school (August 10).”

He said the projects at the (junior high) have taken a little longer than what they thought, but all work will be complete by the start of school.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the June 12, 2023, and June 29, 2023 Regular Meeting; the fiscal year 20232024 Purchase Orders/ Encumbrances: General Fund numbers 109 through 121 - ($28,244); 2017 Construction Bond Fund number I; Treasurer’s Report; Activity Fund Report; Renewing procurement plan for the child nutrition program for fiscal year 2024; Fiscal year 24 Oklahoma State Minimum and Allen Salary Schedule for Teachers; Fiscal year 2024 Allen Support Staff Salary Schedules; Teaching assignments and class schedules for fiscal year 2024; Math and science credits for Allen students completing courses at Pontotoc Technology Center for school year (2023-2024), ending June 30, 2024; Travel Requests - Coaches Clinic, Career Tech Summer Conference.

Action Items

The board approved action items, which included the renewal of the Sublease Agreement dated December I, 2017, between the District and Pontotoc County Educational Facilities Authority for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024, as required under the provisions of the agreements; the renewal of the Qualified Zone Academy Bond Lease for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024, as required under the provisions of the Equipment Lease Purchase Agreement dated September 1, 2013, between the District and Zions First National Bank; approval of the elementary and JH/HS handbooks for Fiscal Year ‘24; approval of the following adjunct teachers for Fiscal Year ‘24: Monte Johnson, “Anatomy”, for HS credit; Brett Edens, “Physical Science and Environmental Science”, for HS credit; Michaela Richbourg, “sixth-grade mathematics” and “Math of Finance” for HS credit; and Shalee Brantley, “seventh and eighth mathematics.”

The board also had a meeting June 29th to close out the books for fiscal year 2023 and approve some end of the year purchases.

Consent Agenda

During the June 29th meeting, the board approved the consent agenda, which included: A. The fiscal year 2022-2023 Purchase Orders and Encumbrances: General Fund numbers 345 through 349 ($3,435.72); The fiscal year 2023-2024 Purchase Orders/ Encumbrances: General Fund, numbers 1 through 100 ($655,521.93); Building Fund, numbers 1 through 20 ($275,295.38); Child Nutrition Fund, numbers 1 through 20 ($61,000); B. The appointments of: Brenda Robertson as Treasurer and Minutes Clerk to the Board; and Lisa Cundiff as Encumbrance Clerk and Activity Fund Custodian for fiscal year 2024.

C. Effective July 1, 2023, Jeff Hiatt, Superintendent, appointed as Purchasing/Receiving Agent, district representative in all matters concerning state and federal funds, including PL 874, Child Nutrition, Surplus Property, Title Programs, REAP, Johnson O’Malley, Career-Tech, Carl Perkins, E-Rate, Mineral Royalty, Insurance and other items of district concern for fiscal 2024.

D. Jeff Hiatt, Superintendent, the authority to increase purchase orders for fiscal year 2024 by $250.

Action Items

The board approved all action items, which included the following: A. Recommendation, consideration and vote to transfer $9,000 from the Activity Fund-Extended Day account to the General Fund.

B. Recommendation, consideration and vote to approve extra duty contract for Steve Butcher for this year’s summer drivers’ education, and summer meal extraduty contracts for Candice Wilson and Linda Cornwall.

C. Recommendation, consideration and vote to add new coaches Stephen Caldwell and Brett Edens to the summer 2023 athletic activities stipends.

D. Vote to accept or not accept resignation of LeeAnna Williams as elementary Reading Specialist.