Putnam City Schools

Putnam City Board of Education Meeting Minutes
March 2008

PUTNAM CITY SCHOOLS REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Monday, March 3, 2008

The Putnam City Schools Board of Education of Independent School District No. One of Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma, met in regular session Monday, March 3, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board room at the Administration Building, 5401 NW 40th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The agenda and meeting notice were posted on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. in accordance with 25 O.S. § 311.

Members present: Julie Jenison, president; Jerry Cramer, vice-president; Sue Sullivan, and Becky Haliburton, members; Superintendent Dr. Jim Capps; Debbie Baldwin, clerk; and others.

ITEM #1 - INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE, MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – BARBARA GABEL.

Barbara Gabel, Fine Arts’ Specialist, gave the Inspirational Message, Moment of Silence, and Pledge of Allegiance.

ITEM #2 – MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY PUTNAM CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL.

Members of Putnam City West High School’s cast of The Wizard of Oz performed for the board.

ITEM #3 – RECOGNITION OF PUTNAM CITY WEST STATE CHAMPION SWIMMER AND STATE ACADEMIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLERS.

State Champion swimmer, Kaylee Steffen, a Putnam City West student, was recognized. Putnam City West wrestlers were also recognized for winning the State Academic Championship. They include Thomas Byus, Kyle Corriveau, Andrew Dillard, Luis Jimenez, Michael Malone, Chase Martinez, J. D. Martinez, Joseph Snyder, Zach Taylor, Carson West, Kasey Wilcox, Austin Yeargain, and Coach Ron Gatlin.

ITEM #4 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROCLAMATION DECLARING MARCH YOUTH ARTS MONTH IN PUTNAM CITY SCHOOLS.

Sue Sullivan made a motion to approve the proclamation declaring March Youth Arts Month in Putnam City Schools. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

Barbara Gabel, Fine Arts’ Specialist, read the proclamation declaring March as Youth Arts Month in the Putnam City School district. The proclamation recognizes the benefits of arts education to students at all levels, citing improved problem-solving and critical thinking abilities and reinforcement of what students learn in other subjects.

As part of Youth Arts Month, a watercolor by Sylvia Goicochea, an 8th grade student from Hefner Middle School, was donated for permanent display in the district.

ITEM #5 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

There was no public participation.

ITEM #6 – CONSENT AGENDA: ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, WHICH CONCERN REPORTS AND ITEMS OF A ROUTINE NATURE NORMALLY APPROVED AT BOARD MEETINGS, WILL BE APPROVED BY ONE VOTE UNLESS ANY BOARD MEMBER DESIRES TO HAVE A SEPARATE VOTE ON ANY OR ALL OF THESE ITEMS. THE CONSENT CONSISTS OF THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, AND APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

Sue Sullivan made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Jerry Cramer seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

a. Minutes for regular board meeting February 18, 2008.
b. Minutes for special board meeting February 26, 2008.
c. Financial report and bimonthly bills for purchase order numbers 808823062 through 812005090 inclusive for time period from February 12 – 26, 2008 with the exception of purchase order numbers 811786710 and 811850705 for Triangle A & E for the 2007-2008 school year.
d. School Activity Fund Transfer List including Putnam City North and Putnam City West.
e. School Activity Fund Subaccount Request
f. Declaration of obsolete and/or surplus items.
g. Elementary and Secondary Fund-raisers.

MARCH FUND-RAISERS
Board of Education Meeting
March 3, 2008

APOLLO
Activity/Subaccount
Book Fair/Media (materials and books)
$600.00
Date: March 10-14

DOWNS
Activity/Subaccount
School pictures/School Pictures (misc. classroom and curriculum supplies)
$1,500
Date: March 5

Activity/Subaccount
Book Fair/Media
$2,000 (books, media classroom/curriculum supplies, reading incentives, awards, etc.)
Date: March 10-13

NORTHRIDGE
Activity/Subaccount
Book Fair/Media (books, misc. needs of library)
$800
Date: March 6-14

Activity/Subaccount
School pictures/Pictures (curriculum)
$2,000
Date: March 28

ROLLINGWOOD
Activity/Subaccount
Jogathon/Cancer Research Fund (cancer fund and expenses for jogathon)
$2,000
Date: March

WILL ROGERS
Activity/Subaccount
Book Fair/Media (books, AR tests, equipment, author visit, book clubs, media center promotions)
$1,000
Date: March 10-13

Activity/Subaccount
Sell track t-shirts/PE (PE equipment)
$300
Date: March

Activity/Subaccount
$1 Hat Day/General (OMRF donation)
$100
Date: March 28

h. Overnight travel requests as submitted under separate cover.
i. Out-of-state trips:

1. Putnam City High School basketball players to Springfield, Massachusetts,January 17-18, 2009.

2. Putnam City North High School Key Club students to Dallas, Texas, April 3-6, 2008.

j. Retirements and resignations as listed on Attachment A.

ITEM #7 - CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON RECOMMENDATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF NEW PERSONNEL AS LISTED ON ATTACHMENT A.

Jerry Cramer made a motion to approve employment of new personnel as listed on Attachment A. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #8 - CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER NUMBERS 811786710 AND 811850705 FOR TRIANGLE A & E. ($1,153.23 FROM 8-11)

Sue Sullivan made a motion to approve purchase order numbers 811786710 and 811850705 for Triangle A & E. Jerry Cramer seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #9 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE CONTRACT WITH GREAT PLAINS COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY. ($595,000)

Sue Sullivan made a motion to approve contract with Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

The district entered into an agreement with Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 2003. All elements of the current agreement, including commission rates and annual support will remain the same. We will amend the current contract to enact the American Beverage Association’s School Beverage Guidelines with regard to student access vending in all Putnam City School locations at the outset of the 2009-2010 school year.

ITEM #10 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO APPROVE THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID FROM POPE CONSTRUCTION FOR NORTHRIDGE ELEMENTARY ADDITION.
Jerry Cramer made a motion to approve the lowest responsible bid from Pope Construction for the Northridge Elementary addition. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

The 2005 Bond allowed for office relocation and classroom additions at Northridge Elementary. The office and main entrance will be located on the West side of the school.

ITEM #11 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE REGARDING THE CHANGE OF NAME OF CENTRAL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.

Board members asked that the district seek suggestions for a new school name from students and the community. From those suggestions, district administrators will bring three possible school names to the board for consideration in early April.

ITEM #12 – SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT.

• Congratulations go to Putnam City North swimmers. Amy Kilby repeated as state champion in diving, and Parris Schoppa finished third in the 50 freestyle. Putnam City North was awarded the Academic Achievement Award by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association for a team grade point average of 3.25 or above.

• Many thanks to the new Hideaway Pizza on N.W. Expressway. The restaurant donated their entire day’s sales from their grand opening day to Tulakes Elementary School. Hideway’s generosity resulted in a check of more than $9,300 being given to Tulakes.

• Putnam City High School DECA students attended the 65th Annual State Career Development Conference in late February in Tulsa, joining about 1,200 junior and senior marketing students from across Oklahoma. The conference featured students competing in 34 different competitive events such as sports and entertainment marketing, retail merchandising and creative marketing research. Abby Peter won second place in Business Services Marketing; Sarah Butler finished in the top eight in Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Maggie Ivich and Cece O'Connor finished in the top eight in Business Law and Ethics; and Jill Kliewer and Kylie Jackson finished in top eight in Buying and Merchandising. Elna Daniel, Callie Hirschler and Abby Peter brought home a Gold Level Award for Program of Work.

• Congratulations Western Oaks Middle School ELL teacher Brenda Davis. Brenda was chosen as the Oklahoma Multicultural Teacher of the Year. She will be recognized at UCO on Friday March 7th.

• Congratulations to the 7th and 8th grade Hefner PEAK students who participated in the Cougar Challenge Quiz Bowl Tournament at Highland East Jr. High in Moore on February 28th. All of the students performed well. The seventh grade team won the 2nd place trophy and medals. The seventh grade team won the 3rd place trophy and medals. The eighth grade team won the 1st place trophy and medals. The eighth grade team won the 3rd place trophy and medals. The Cougar Challenge is a statewide invitational tournament with over 20 different school districts represented. The students were coached by Mrs. Chesney and Mrs. Fowler with help from Mrs. Harsha, Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Roberson, and Mrs. Mitchell.

• Putnam City High School and Mayfield Middle School each won in state Science Olympiad competition Saturday. Both teams qualify for national competition in late May at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

• Lake Park Elementary received a $1,000 check this afternoon from the National Education Association as part of the NEA Read Across America Cat-a-Van Reading Tour. The money will be used to purchase books for the school library. The check was presented to the school at a special Read Across America assembly to honor Dr. Suess and celebrate reading. The assembly was presented by the NEA & OEA and featured a very special guest, The Cat in the Hat! The NEA also provided each student in the school a book and a Cat in the Hat hat.

• Putnam City West High School senior Jonathan Shirley and Putnam City North High School senior Brendan Hill have been named to the 2008 Academic All-State Class by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. All-Staters will receive a $2,000 scholarship and a medallion and be recognized at the foundation’s 22nd annual Academic Awards Banquet on Saturday, May 17, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa.

• Hefner's Odyssey of the Mind team placed first on their problem at their regional in Yukon last Saturday. They had to create and perform a humorous performance about three Eccentric Characters that demonstrate odd behavior, peculiar mannerisms, and unconventional dress. The performance had to include a team-created "problem" within or involving an Earth system. The Eccentric Characters, which seem to be misfits, will solve the problem. As a reward, a celebration is held in their honor and they end up launching a new fad.

• Bill Pearsall will be conducting a series of workshops at Harvard University this summer called Project Zero. It is based on Multiple Intelligence and it is headed by Dr. Howard Gardner. Bill is Nationally Certified and has attended these workshops last summer. He has been invited back to lead them this coming summer. Expenses paid.

• January 2008, four PCN Band members performed in the prestigious Oklahoma All-State Band and Orchestra at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Brendan Hill (3 year All-State), David Humphries (2 year All-State), Kayle Patatanian (1year All-State) and David Highfield (2 year All-State) were selected from regional and final auditions where more than two thousand students statewide competed.

• On Friday, February 29, 2008 members of the PCN Band competed in the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activity Associations (OSSAA) District Solo and Ensemble Contest at Southern Nazarene University. All students of the band department perform in at least one ensemble and could choose to perform in additional groups or as a soloist. PCN band students earned 146 individual medals recognizing superior performances in contest. Students earning superior ratings will advance to the OSSAA State Solo and Ensemble Contest at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater on April 17, 2008.

• Downs Elementary teacher, Angela Kwok, submitted a successful engineering project proposal entitled “Engineering in the Classroom” to the OU Research Experience for Teachers Program supported by the National Science Foundation. As a result Angela has been awarded classroom supplies totaling $4,000 and has been sponsored for a trip to Indianapolis, Indiana.

ITEM #13 – COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS.

Sue Sullivan congratulated those mentioned in the Superintendent’s Report. She said she enjoyed the Putnam City West students who performed a song from The Wizard of Oz. Mrs. Sullivan congratulated the Putnam City West wrestlers and the State Champion swimmer as well as Putnam City North swimmers and their accomplishments. She noted that the arts program is an essential part of the learning experience for Putnam City students.

Jerry Cramer said one thing often heard in recent public forums was that the community appreciates the district arts program. He said Putnam City West’s production of The Wizard of Oz was delightful. Mr. Cramer congratulated the wrestlers, and also commended them for their helpfulness in the Putnam City West neighborhoods during the ice storms. He wished Putnam City High and Putnam City North good luck in the state basketball tournament.

Becky Haliburton thanked the Putnam City West music students for their performance. She said she enjoyed Fiddler on the Roof at Putnam City North. Mrs. Haliburton said Putnam City has a great fine arts’ program.

Julie Jenison congratulated Star Gomez on being named the district’s teacher of the year. She also thanked Foundation board members for attending.

ITEM #14 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON NEW BUSINESS.

There was no new business.

ITEM #15 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING THE EMPLOYMENT/APPLICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION PURSUANT TO 25 O.S. § 307 (B)(1).

Jerry Cramer made a motion at 6:55 p.m. to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing the employment/application of candidates for the superintendent position pursuant to 25 O.S. § 307 (B)(1). Sue Sullivan seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

ITEM #16 – CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AND TO REQUEST THE BOARD CLERK TO RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

Sue Sullivan made a motion at 8:00 p.m. to return to open session and to request the Board Clerk to record the minutes of the executive session. Becky Haliburton seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Haliburton, aye; Jenison, aye.

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION: Board President Julie Jenison, Vice President Jerry Cramer, and members Sue Sullivan and Becky Haliburton met in executive session for the purpose of discussing the employment/application of candidates for the superintendent position pursuant to 25 O.S. § 307 (B)(1).

No action was taken.

ITEM #17 - CONSIDERATION OF AND VOTE ON MOTION TO ADJOURN.

Sue Sullivan made a motion at 8:00 p.m. to adjourn. Jerry Cramer seconded the motion. Vote: Sullivan, aye; Cramer, aye; Bookout, aye; Jenison, aye.