Young, Weir, Scott, Teachnor receive awards from SSPS Board of Ed

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The Sand Springs Board of Education held a regular monthly meeting Monday evening at Charles Page High School and handed out several awards to students and faculty. 

Charles Page High School athletes Carter Young, Riley Weir, and Payton Scott were presented with Sandite Spirit Awards. Young and Weir both won wrestling State titles this season, leading their team to a third place finish.

"(Carter is) an outstanding student and an outstanding young man," said Head Wrestling Coach Kelly Smith. "I'd say the same thing about Riley. Everyone gets to see that final moment...but you wouldn't believe the time and the work and the effort that these guys put in to get where they're at. They're really special to get to this level."

Scott was recognized for winning the Gatorade Football Player of Year award for the State of Oklahoma. His award came with a $1,000 prize that he donated to Sand Springs Special Olympics.

"(Payton Scott is) one of my favorite people on the planet," said Board Member Rusty Gunn. "He's so energetic, so happy. He makes other people happy, he's a great leader on the field and off the field as well."

Pianist Amanda Teachnor was presented with a Pacesetter award for her work in accompanying the Sandite choir and band programs. "Amanda has just done a wonderful job," said Choir Director Peter Whipple. "She's been playing piano for us as long as I've been here. Every day she goes beyond. We appreciate her so much, her work, her spirit, and her willingness to do everything."

Superintendent Sherry Durkee briefly recapped talking points from a District Dialogue session held prior to the Board meeting, including student and teacher walkouts, State funding, school safety, and recent threat hoaxes.

SEE RELATED: SSPS Superintendent Durkee addresses teacher walkouts at District Dialogue

"They were polite and informed," said Durkee, regarding recent student walkouts to protest State funding. "I personally think that was a good platform to have conversation about current events." Durkee visited Central Ninth Grade Center where students walked out for 22 minutes to protest $22 million in state budget cuts. 

"The people I was around tended to know what they were talking about. Not to say every single kid was engaged, but I said 'what are you here for?' and I got an earful," said Durkee. The district did not sanction the walkout and students were counted absent from class, but the schools did contain the students and keep the event organized.

Durkee said the district has adopted an unofficial policy of taking all potential school threats seriously in the wake of the Florida massacre. Several threats have been made in recent weeks against the high school and ninth grade centers. The district has been working closely with the Sand Springs Police Department to track IP addresses and find the source of the threats. So far, each threat has been determined to be a joke. 

In other news:

  • Board approved out out-of-state travel for Clyde Boyd Middle School science teacher Janet Johnson to attend a Science Immersion Trip in Pigeon Key, Florida and an International Botball Competition in Indian Wells, California. 
  • Board approved out-of-state travel for Sherry Pearson to attend the School Nutritional Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Board approved out-of-state travel for Athletic Director Rod Sitton and the Sandite Track and Field Team to attend a track meet in Mansfield, Texas.
  • Board approved a lease agreement with the Oral Roberts University Mabee Center for graduation ceremonies on May 12, 2018. 
  • Board approved the listing of nine school buses and seven other vehicles as surplus.
  • Board approved a statement of agreement with the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa for a 21st Century Community Learning Full Steam Ahead After School Program and Spring Break Camp from March 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018. 
  • Board approved a one-year license agreement with Employee Evaluation Systems, Inc.
  • Board approved an agreement with Lifetouch Preschool Portraits for picture day in Fall 2018.
  • Board approved the employment of one STEM Technology Teacher for the 2018-2019 school year. 
  • Board approved a resolution setting a date, time, and place for the sale of $4,825,000 in General Obligation Combined Purpose Bonds. 
  • Board approved the 2018-2019 School Calendar.