The Monday night Henryetta school board meeting was different, much like what the school year has turned into.
Board members took less than a minute to call the meeting to order then adjourned from their normal meeting site at the board office to the high school cafeteria.
There each member as well as superintendent Dwayne Noble and clerk Tammie Fairres took separate tables for their social distance.
Board members approved resignations of Danelle Ferguson and Garry Howk and heard middle school history teacher Chris Burns and middle school counselor Michelle Mitchell will be retiring at the end of the school year.
Coming to a close with the end of the school year will be the “baby daycare” that has been offered at the school for some eight years.
“We can’t afford it,” said the superintendent. “We have been losing money every year.” He said the loss amounted to some $20,000 annually. “If it was a break even we would keep it going.” One of the problems is people using the service did not pay their bill. “It wasn’t meant to make money,” board member Pam Bealko pointed out.
The problem with money also had school auditors urging a reduction in force. “Our auditor said we need to RIFF six people,” Noble said. “We are not going to do that. We can rehire everyone.”
He told the board the school district lost $97,000 in the most recent cut from the state funding. “We have lost a couple hundred thousand dollars in the past 12 months.” Noble said cutting other expenses will enable the school to hire all the teachers back for the start of the next school year.
One of those savings is expected to come from installation of LED lights throughout the district. Those lights and other upgrades is expected to reduce utility expenses by some $6,000 monthly.
A letter from elementary principal Jayme Matlock pointed out teachers were able to pass out 300 packets for distance learning this past week. “We have been in contact with almost every elementary parent,” she said. Matlock as well as several teachers and staff members have been busy handing out food to the students. Monday 410 bags of food were passed out. She praised cafeteria head Bertha McGowan for getting the food sacks organized and ready to be distributed.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, school officials have been trying to give seniors at least a graduation ceremony.
“We are trying to do something in June for prom and graduation,” Noble told the board. “If everything clears up by then it will give us time for everyone to get something nice.” He said plans for that combination may be in place in time for the May school board meeting.
“This is something nobody has prepared for,” board member Brandi Brown said. “We are in uncharted territory. I am proud of the parents and staff for their work during this time. I’m just sorry our kids this year are not given the opportunities other have had.”