New board member, Steve Jolly, took the oath of office at the Sulphur Board of Education meeting Monday night.
Jolly was appointed to the board last month to fill the unexpired term following the resignation of long time member Tammy Key Scrugham.
Current member Benji Sartors, who filed unopposed in the recent school board filing, was also sworn in at the meeting. The oath of office was administered by Board Attorney Fob Jones.
Following the oath, the board reorganized and approved he following positions for the 20242025 year: Cliff Agee, board president; Steve Jolly, board vice-president and Bear Runyan, board clerk.
Superintendent Matt Holder then updated the members on the recent storm damage. Holder told members the preliminary damage estimates campus wide is between $5-$6 million.
Holder reported the bus barn was completely totaled as were most of the buses and school vehicles; the high school had most water damage in classrooms although all sites received some water damage; maintenance facility and IT building had water damage from flood waters; roof damage at several locations; armory and wrestling room sustained heavy water damage as well as Ag building; and there was fence and equipment damage and more.
Holder reported the school would resume for students on Tuesday. Pre-K-8th grade will return to in-person however high school 9-12 will be virtual. Students will be able to come to portions of the high school to met with teachers if necessary. The school will still be serving breakfast and lunch for all students in the high school cafeteria.
Holder reported that crews had scanned all the playgrounds with metal detectors and magnets to remove any debris for the safety of the children.
Holder also told members that because Sulphur already had extra hours built into the year, the last 6 days that school was out will not have to be made up.
Bus routes will run as usual and all senior week activities will continue as planned, Holder said.
Said Holder, “I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I have received from across the state. I have had 200-300 superintendents reach out offering any kind of help or assistance they could provide. It has been amazing.” Holder also praised the Sulphur principals for all their hard work and showing up on Sunday after the storm to start assessing the damage and how proceed.
In the athletic director’s report, Corey Cole reported all spring sports had ended and the season was very successful. He told members spring football practice would start Tuesday. Cole also reported the school had lots of sport’ equipment ruined in the storm that would have to be replaced. He also thanked Davis Schools for use of their buses for transportation to the regional and state meets.
All building principals told members their buildings were cleaned and ready for school on Tuesday and how excited they were to be able to see the kids and have them back in school.
Elementary principal Shannon Much said the annual Jog-A-Thon is still on schedule for Thursday this week.
High school principal Clete Cole thanked Mr. Holder for his amazing leadership during the whole ordeal.
Cole said the Senior Awards Assembly would be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15 followed by the senior athletics awards at 12:30 p.m. all at Crossway Church.
Graduation is still planned for May 17 at the football field, weather permitting.
In other board action, Holder reported that the school is in great financial shape with more than $10 million in all accounts. Holder said the revenue is up more than $900,000 from this time last year which will ease the burden of the storm cost that has to be done up front before reimbursements are received.
The board approved action to declare an emergency related to the damage on April 27 to allow for the superintendent to be able to proceed with repairs without having to have special meetings.
The members also authorized Holder to work with the district’s insurance carrier to process the insurance claim. The following action agenda items were also approved:
•Fiscal Year 24-25 temporary appropriations;
•Contract with North Claim Services, LLC to maximize insurance claims if necessary;
•Sylogist contract for 24-25 school year;
•Contract with aware manager for 24-25 year;
•Contract with Treasurer David Harp for 24-25 school year;
•Resolution for Schools and Libraries Universal Services; and
•Declaring a list of items from SES as surplus.
Following a short executive session the board returned to the meeting ad approved the employment of Jordan Ward, Mary Patrick, Brady Pyle and the rehiring of certified staff, support staff and summer workers.
