Sulphur School Superintendent Matt Holder will begin his sixth year at the helm in July. Board members re-hired Holder at the regular monthly meeting Monday night. Holder began his tenure as superintendent in July, 2019.
In other agenda action, the board approved the financial report as prepared by Treasurer David Harp.
Holder told members that even though salary and benefits compensation is up due to pay increases, revenue and state aid is also up resulting in the school finance being in great shape. Holder said collections are more than $300,000.00 ahead of last year at this time.
Holder explained to members that even though we may not have an increase in students, a lot of our funding is based on a weight system. He said the teachers and staff “taking care of business” as a result of the increased weight funding. Holder praised and publicly thanked the teachers and staff for doing such a great job for our school system and the students.
In the principals’ reports, Elementary Principal Shannon Muck presented members with a new grading concept implemented at the elementary level. Muck said, “we are transitioning from grade level report cards into skill based checklists.” The skills presented on each grade level check list were developed from the Oklahoma State Standards.
Intermediate Principal John Mann said his building has implemented a new attendance incentive contest between classes to get attendance records up. Both Muck and Mann reported increases in students after the Christmas break. Muck said she has nine new students and Mann has four new students.
Middle School Principal Steven Pyle announced students of the month at the middle school and updated on bench mark testing in his building.
Clete Cole, high school principal, told members the high school is performing bench marks by the semester instead of each nine weeks and that there are no long exemptions from semester tests. All students are now required to take semester test.
In other agenda action, the bard approved adding Tamara McClellan to substitute list following a background check; approved the 20242025 school calendar; and approved the review and update in class size capacities.
Following an executive session with no action take, the board approved the retirement of Karla Uhles and the resignation of Teresa Finley.
Citing January as Board Appreciation Month, Holder thanked the school board members for giving of their time to serve as a member.
Member Tammy Scrugham was absent at the meeting.
