School Board approves fundraisers, election resolution

Marlow's monthly Board of Education meeting opened Monday evening with a presentation by Marlow students Tessa Spivey and Kaylee Davis, and sponsor Aisha Ensley. They introduced the board members to the Elevate Student Health Campaign School partnership. This program is a Youth Action for Health Leadership program through TSET (Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. It is a student-led program aimed at increasing the health and nutrition of young people and is under the guidance of Tamra May, teacher and FCA/FCCLA advisor. Superintendent Corey Holland thanked the students for their presentation.

Highlights of the meeting included a quick overview of the 2023-2024 budget, a presentation by High School Principal Bryan Brantley regarding the drop-out rate, re-entry numbers and college freshman remediation report. He also presented Middle School Principal Chad Gilbert's report. Gilbert was on a coaching assignment.

Holland said the fee to the county assessor's office increased $12,000 from $36,000 to $48,000 over the previous year. He said he didn't know how they came up with that number or what it was based on. He informed the board about it because of the purchase order that was needed to clear that bill.

A resolution was approved for the upcoming Feb. 13, 2024 election, only if three or more candidates file for the BOE position scheduled to be on the ballot or for a BOE position appearing on the ballot as an unexpired term. A general election would be held April 2, 2024, under certain circumstances as set forth by the resolution.

Holland also talked about the utilities for July to September. "It's been hot, really hot." Yet, the overall bill was $22,000 less than the same time a year ago. The only building that seemed to have an increase was the elementary cafeteria, with September's bill at $2,189. He compared it to other newer buildings on campus and noted that those newer buildings are more efficient in cooling and heating.

Items approved:

Fundraiser requests for this school year which included one submitted by band director Matthew Pitts for Butter Braids to be sold Oct. 11 to Oct. 25, and another for Snap Raise from Feb. 19, 2024 to March 1, 2024. Both had estimated profits at $6,000 each to be used for fees, repairs and trips. The other fundraiser request was from the Marlow After Prom Committee that is sponsored by the junior class parents. There are five activities listed beginning Oct. 15 and continuing through Feb. 14, 2024. They include a donation calendar (expected profits $15-40K), signed football raffle/sales ($2-3K), holiday hams ($3-4K), a 50/50 cash raffle ($10K) and Eileen's Cookies ($2-3K).

Resignations from custodian Christina Carroll. And Illa Joline Morgan were accepted.

Hiring of Cara Soell and Andrea Wollenberg as school personal care assistants at elementary and middle school respectively.

Approval of the 2023-24 school year budget.

Transfer of $7,397.25 from Child Nutrition Activity Fund to CNF.

ACT as the college and career readiness assessment for MHS, which will be held in the new high school campus Safe Room. Holland anticipates about 89% of the district to participate in the ACT event.

Updated District Academic Enrichment Program Policy *Gifted & Talented.

Out-of-state trip to Indianapolis, Indiana for FFA students and sponsors Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 to attend the National FFA Convention. Holland said a charter bus partner takes multiple schools and they have multiple drivers for each bus which makes it safer for the students.

Collaborative agreement for the school year with OU for pre-employment transition services for qualifying students. This is at no charge to the school district and benefits special education.