Even though there are still several weeks left in this school year, board members are getting the calendar in place for the start of classes next August. That calendar calls for classes to be held four days a week instead of five when the second semester starts in January 2025.
Henryetta board members said there has not been any input from the community on the plan. After the meeting, board member Wes George pointed out that this year the school will be in session four days a week after spring break until the end of school.
A concern was raised over the working parents as well as feeding students on the day they are not in class. Administrators pointed out the school provided meals to the students when COVID forced the classroom shutdown.
Board member David Molet said that would be a problem for working parents who would have to find child care on Fridays.
"I think we will get a lot of push back from parents," board member Pam Bealko said.
The second semester four day plan will be revisited again by board members.
In other business, the board heard band director Alan Montgomery talk about the third invitation to the National Memorial Day parade in 2025.
He said the trip is estimated to cost around $70,000 and requested some, "latitude for fundraisers," saying there may be some opportunities that needed to be held before submitting it to the board.
"This is the trip of a lifetime for a lot of kids," Bealko said.
The board hired Nabholz as construciton manager and BWA Architects to handle the repairs from storm damage that hit the school last September.
Superintendent Dwayne Noble said Nabholz has done some work for the school in the past and, in the event of problems, the school would be able to contact them quickly. BWA architects worked with the school when repairs had to be made form flooding at the gymnasium.
The school board accepted resignations from Patricia Dodson, Mike Hargrove and Morgan Lee. Hargrave resigned from his position of in-school suspension teacher. He will continue to drive a bus. Lee was a third grade teacher. Both of their resignations were effective at the end of the school year.