SSPS Announces 2024-2025 Site Teachers of the Year

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SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — Sand Springs Public Schools is proud to introduce the 2024-25 Site Teachers of the Year! Representing each of our schools, these outstanding educators exemplify excellence, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the students of Sand Springs.

• Jenni Caldwell – Early Childhood Education Center

• Michele Beamer – Angus Valley Elementary

• Kim King – Garfield STEAM Academy

• Shannon Crutcher – Limestone Technology Academy

• Jenifer Ruley – Northwoods Fine Arts Academy

• Brettany Blalock – Pratt Elementary

• Shawna White – Sixth Grade Center

• Gina Myers – Clyde Boyd Middle School

• Gloria Avey – Charles Page Freshman Academy

• Lisa Wolf – Charles Page High School

• Derek Morrow – Page Academy/Tulsa Boys Home/Virtual Academy

Five teachers from this list will move on as finalists for the Sand Springs Teacher of the Year award. The finalists will be selected in February, and the districtwide winner will be announced in March.

Congratulations to these outstanding educators! Thank you for choosing to stand tall as a shining example for your students and community. #StandTallSandites

Sandite Athletics Implementing Clear Bag Policy at Home Events

Sand Springs Public Schools has announced a clear bag policy as well as other enhanced safety measures for Sandite football and other home athletics events.

The announcements comes on the heels of three gun-related incidents at high school football games over the past week.

A stampede happened at a Friday night football game at Booker T. Washington high school in Tulsa after a juvenile reportedly brandished a firearm. No shots were fired and police recovered the weapon but were unable to apprehend the suspect.

A Pryor student reportedly brought a firearm to a football game at Locust Grove that same night, though the unloaded gun was retrieved by police on a tip, and the student was apprehended.

The most horrific game of the night was Del City at Choctaw, where several shots were fired and 16-year-old Cordae Carter was killed. A 42-year-old man was reportedly shot by a law enforcement officer on the scene and he remains in intensive care. A 15-year-old was arrested Tuesday night, though it’s unclear what their connection was to the incident. Three individuals were shot and two teen girls suffered broken bones during the ensuing panic.

Below is the full statement from the district.

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“At Sand Springs Public Schools, we are dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all attendees at athletics events. In light of recent incidents at schools across Oklahoma, we are implementing new security procedures for football games and other athletics events hosted at Sand Springs.

Effective immediately, the following security procedures will be enforced at all home games:

Student ID Required: Students in grades 6-12 will be required to present their school ID upon entry, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. This applies to both Sand Springs students and visiting students.

Parent/Guardian Supervision: All students in grades PK-5 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Third-Party Students: If a student under 18 does not attend one of the two schools playing, that student must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If that student is 18 or over, they are allowed to attend unaccompanied, and they will have the same expectations as any adult.

Clear Bags Only: All attendees, including students, parents, staff, and visitors, can bring only clear bags to games. This policy will enable our security personnel to easily inspect the contents of bags and ensure that prohibited items are not brought onto the premises.

Cases containing medical equipment (insulin, EpiPens, etc.) will be permitted, but they will be subject to inspection.

Additional Staff: Games will have an increased presence of SSPS staff. The staff will wear highly visible uniforms so that they are easily identifiable in a crowd.

Gate Security: Security personnel will be stationed at each entrance at the event.

See Something, Say Something: Spectators are encouraged to speak out if they see or hear anything suspicious. Staff and security will be available nearby, and signs for the STOPIt Anonymous Reporting App will be placed throughout the stadium.

The procedures above are in addition to established rules, such as our dedicated middle school section, the prohibition of weapons and alcohol, etc.

Please know that these changes are not made lightly. The safety of our students, staff, and community remains our priority. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to make football games and athletics events as safe and secure as possible.”

Op-Ed: Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell Appointed as Secretary of Workforce Development

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As your Lieutenant Governor, I have had the privilege of visiting with countless businesses in all 77 counties. Most of the time, I’m included in celebrations – welcoming a new company coming to town or breaking ground on an expansion. I’m grateful for the opportunity to celebrate those economic development wins, and I’m particularly excited when those happen in rural Oklahoma.

As I visit with business owners, there is one consistent woe they each share with me: available and qualified workforce. In smaller areas, recruiting workforce has become a vicious cycle of poaching workers from other local businesses, leaving their neighbor with the same challenging hole to fill.

A low unemployment rate is certainly something to celebrate. We recently hit a state record low of 2.7%. This tells us that Oklahomans are working and living our state motto, “Labor Omnia Vincit,” or “Work Conquers All.” But this coupled with the number of open jobs and the national and international demand to move to Oklahoma to take advantage of our pro-business environment leads to a workforce shortage that remains difficult to resolve.

Unprecedented growth in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and our continued dominance in energy have made Oklahoma in-high-demand for business relocation and expansion. The pipeline of companies considering Oklahoma is at an all-time high, and the list of wins over the past 18 months speaks for itself: Enel, Model 1, CymSTAR, Pratt & Whitney, and several others account for 7,548 new jobs and over $4 billion in investment, with 53% of those wins happening in rural areas.

But the workforce challenge remains, which is why I’m excited to make an impact as the Secretary of Workforce Development. Through this position, I’ll not only be able to continue the positive momentum of business recruitment and expansion, but I’ll also be able to help set our existing businesses up for success by helping to fill quality jobs with quality workers.

We will go about this in a few ways. First, we need to focus on increasing Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate, which is currently at 61.4%. This means that only 61.4% of available workers are currently employed. For comparison, Kansas is at 66.8%. Getting Oklahomans to work is going to be no small feat, but I’m looking forward to working with the HELP task force to understand barriers to workforce entry for mothers, particularly the cost of childcare. I’m also looking forward to connecting with the Department of Rehabilitation Services to understand opportunities for Oklahoma’s disabled citizens. Working with re-entry programs for incarcerated workers and veteran re-entry programs are also high on my list.

Our CareerTech system also provides an opportunity for low-cost training and education for the most in-demand jobs in our state. Working with them helps both existing and potential businesses create a workforce pipeline uniquely trained for their specific needs.

We also must invest in public education. In the 2021-2022 school year, 3,460 Oklahoma teachers were emergency certified. This totaled 7.7% of the total teacher population, a massive increase from the mere 0.2% we had in the 2012-2013 school year. That number is unacceptable. We need to work with teachers to ensure they’re getting the resources and support they need to stay. Oklahoma’s future workforce is sitting in our classrooms, and they deserve a high-quality education from professional educators.

While I wish that was enough, we must look outside the state to fill the workforce gap. Marketing our low cost of living, low tax rates, family values, and overall quality of life to recruit workers to Oklahoma is the last piece of the complicated workforce puzzle.

As the Secretary of Workforce Development, I certainly have my work cut out for me, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Championing Oklahoma businesses and showcasing Oklahoma to the world is my favorite thing to do. Imagine that.

Senate Review by Senator Todd Gollihare

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(Oklahoma City) - This week, a historic education funding agreement was unveiled at the state Capitol by leaders of the Senate, House and Governor Kevin Stitt, which will provide $625 million in recurring total investment in public education.

This agreement places $500 million directly into the education funding formula and I believe these investments will be instrumental in helping us attract and keep the best and brightest education professionals in our public schools. That investment will cover teacher pay raises of $3,000 for teachers with zero to four years of experience; $4,000 for teachers with five to nine years of experience; $5,000 for teachers with 10 to 15 years of experience; and $6,000 for teachers with 15 or more years of experience.

The agreement, for the first time ever, includes funding for six weeks of paid maternity leave. Again, we want to provide funding that better supports our professional educators and makes Oklahoma schools more attractive for those considering teaching as a profession.

The agreement also includes putting an additional $10 million into a three-year literacy program to employ a literacy instructional team to support school districts. Reading at grade level is essential for success in school and throughout life.  This is an investment in the future of Oklahoma’s children. The agreement also includes $125 million to the Redbud Fund that largely benefits rural schools that don’t have the same ad valorem tax collections as districts. This package also includes an additional $150 million for a three-year pilot program for school safety and security. This will provide each district with a school resource officer, or security upgrades, depending on what is needed. For each year of the program, each public school district will receive approximately $96,000.

We’ll soon be hearing details on other areas of the state budget. As education makes up the lion’s share of state appropriated dollars, reaching consensus on that clears the way for final announcements on the rest of the budget.

Meanwhile, work continues on legislation and executive nominations. I expect floor votes soon giving final confirmation for John Longacre, of Kellyville and Jay Rotert, of Sand Springs. John is the principal of Crown Auto World, RAM , Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep in Bristow and Taft Motors in Sapulpa, and has been nominated by Governor Stitt to serve a fourth term as chair of the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission. Jay is a professional educator and spent 15 years in the classroom at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs.  He’s currently serving as the director of the Sand Springs Virtual Academy and as district state testing coordinator. Jay has been nominated to serve as a member of the State Textbook Committee. It is my pleasure to carry both of these nominations forward.

I also wanted to update you on my legislation naming a section of Highway 66 the Army SPC Ryan J. Grady Memorial Highway. Ryan, formerly of Bristow, was a combat engineer in the Vermont National Guard’s Special Troops Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He was killed after his vehicle was hit in a roadside bombing near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The legislation honoring his life, service and sacrifice is now on its way to the governor for final consideration.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you in the Oklahoma Senate. If you have any questions or concerns about legislation or other issues related to state government, please feel free to contact my office by calling 405-521-5528, or email Todd.Gollihare@oksenate.gov.

Sean Kuehn selected to serve on Oklahoma Student Advisory Council

Sean Kuehn (center) receives the August 2018 Sandite Spirit Award. Kuehn was recently selected to serve on the Oklahoma 2021 Student Advisory Council.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister has named 97 Oklahoma high school students to her 2021 Student Advisory Council, the sixth consecutive year the group has been convened to assist Hofmeister and the Oklahoma State Department of Education in matters of policy. 

“Students have a lot to say about their education, and it is critical that we listen to them. The direct insight we receive from our students is incredibly valuable, and each year I am encouraged by the thoughtful reflection and fearless vision of these brilliant young leaders,” Hofmeister said.  

The 2020 Student Advisory Council last met virtually in June, where students voiced their challenges about learning amid a global pandemic and how racism impacts the classroom experience. Other past discussion topics have included the importance of personal financial literacy, increased awareness of student mental health needs, and how trauma can impede student success. Feedback from the Council has been instrumental in state-level initiatives to provide teachers more professional development in trauma-informed instruction, replace end-of-course high school testing with the ACT or SAT, and pilot Individual Career Academic Planning (ICAP). 

Recommended by their district superintendents, the students hail from across Oklahoma and represent rural, urban and suburban schools of all sizes. Forty-four are returning members who have served on the council in previous years. 

The first virtual meeting of the Student Advisory Council is scheduled for Jan. 26. Sand Springs student Sean Kuehn was selected to serve on the council for the second-straight year.

Sand Springs elementary schools to shift to distance learning

The Sand Springs Public School District announced Wednesday that it would be shifting to distance learning for all elementary sites, including the Early Childhood Education Center, effective Friday, November 20th. The district already went to distance learning for grades 6-12 last week. In-person learning is expected to resume for all grades on Monday, November 30th, following Thanksgiving Break.

“We have had an incredibly successful twelve weeks of school this year,” said Superintendent Sherry Durkee in a letter to district parents. “I am proud of our staff and students who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to give their very best effort in the teaching and learning process, and we have made some tremendous gains. With tenacious determination, we continue to deliver quality instruction to all students.”

“For those of you who are following our district’s data on positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines, you are keenly aware of the rising numbers in our district. Last week we were forced to shift to distance learning at Clyde Boyd Middle School, the Freshman Academy, and Charles Page High School. We are also experiencing a high number of quarantines at our elementary sites affecting our ability to adequately staff our classrooms. Our staff and students’ health and safety must be protected to the greatest extent possible. As such, we are making the difficult decision to shift to our Distance Learning Model for all elementary sites including our Early Childhood Education Center beginning Friday, November 20th through Tuesday, November 24. Students will return to in-person instruction on Monday, November 30, immediately following Thanksgiving Break. This decision was made through much deliberation with our Leadership Team. We feel this is the right decision, giving our students and staff the time to distance themselves from others while continuing the education process. The 21st Century after-school program at Garfield STEAM Academy and Northwoods Fine Arts Academy will be cancelled Thursday afternoon on November 19. Page Academy and our Virtual Academy will be open and continue regular operation.”

“The school breakfast and lunch program will continue to offer free meals to all children ages 18 years and younger at all sites with the exception of Charles Page High School. Lunch, and breakfast for the next day, will be available for pick up from 11 to 12:30 Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Your child does not have to be present to receive the meals.”

“While we understand this learning model is not optimal for all students, we are committed to giving our best effort to make sure we continue to meet students’ needs. Teachers will be working from their classrooms during the DLM period and will provide instruction and support to students. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time,” concludes the letter.

In Monday’s COVID-19 Weekly Update, there were 57 current positive cases and 639 active quarantines across the district, with the majority coming at the high school level. Page Academy was the only school, on Friday, without an active case. 11.91% of the district population (students and faculty combined) were in quarantine as of Friday’s census.

As of Wednesday’s daily report from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there are a record-high 242 active cases in Sand Springs, 4,497 in Tulsa County, and a record-high 29,823 active cases in the state.

Sand Springs Public Schools shifting to Distance Learning for grades 6-12

The Sand Springs Public School District announced Wednesday that grades 6-12 will be shifting to the Distance Learning Model for two weeks, beginning Thursday, November 12th due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the district and the community at large.

“We have had an incredibly successful ten weeks of school this year,” reads a statement from Superintendent Sherry Durkee. “I am proud of our staff and students who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to give their very best effort in the teaching and learning process, and we have made some tremendous gains. With tenacious determination, we continue to deliver quality instruction to all students.”

“For those of you who are following our district’s data on positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines, you are keenly aware of the rising numbers in our district. Last week we saw a significant increase. This week those numbers have continued to increase to a level in which our staff and students’ health and safety must be protected to the greatest extent possible,” said Durkee.

In the weekly update published on Monday, based on data collected on Friday, 7.98% of the district population is in active quarantine. The 428 quarantines includes both students and faculty. Of those, 26 have confirmed positive cases, and the rest have been isolated due to contact tracing.

The vast majority of those quarantines are at the secondary level. There are five positive cases and 125 quarantines at Clyde Boyd Middle School and 19 positive cases and 225 quarantines at Charles Page High School. Thus far, elementary schools have remained relatively unscathed with only two positive cases and 76 quarantines across all six sites. Those numbers were collected on November 6th, and according to Durkee’s statements, they are likely higher at press time.

“The ability to adequately staff our classrooms has become a challenge as well,” reads Durkee’s statement. “As such, we are making the difficult decision to shift to our Distance Learning Model for our secondary students in grades 6 through 12 beginning Thursday, November 12, returning to in-person instruction on Monday, November 30, immediately following Thanksgiving Break. This decision was made through much deliberation with our Leadership Team. We feel this is the right decision, giving our students and staff the time to distance themselves from others while continuing the education process. Pre-K and Elementary sites will remain open and continue in-person instruction. Page Academy and our Virtual Academy will be open and continue regular operation.”

“Please be reminded that students in the Distance Learning Model are expected to complete their assignments while at home. Unlike last spring, assigned work that is not completed may affect student grades.”

“Transportation for the elementary students will continue as usual, and the district will provide transportation for secondary students who attend Tulsa Technology Programs. The school breakfast and lunch program will continue at both CPHS and CBMS.”

Free meals will be provided for students throughout distance learning. Students or parents can pick up their meals at either CPHS or CBMS between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Packages will include lunch for that day, as well as breakfast for the following day. Meals are free for all children 18 years or younger, even if they are not enrolled in SSPS. Non-students must fill out a meal order form on the SSPS website each day.

“While we understand this learning model is not optimal for all students, we are committed to giving our best effort to make sure we continue to meet students’ needs. Secondary teachers will be working from their classrooms during the DLM period and will provide instruction and support to students.”

The increase in COVID numbers isn’t unique to the district. Sand Springs reported a record-high single-day increase of 24 new cases city-wide on Wednesday, bringing the active total to a record-high 141. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 2,177 new cases statewide, bringing the active total to a record-high of 21,720, and state hospitalizations are at a record-high 1,248.

CPHS Freshman Academy and STEM Center receives Excellence in Construction Award

KKT Architects and L.D. Kerns Contractors were recently awarded the Excellence in Construction Eagle Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Oklahoma for their work on the new Freshman Academy and STEM Center at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs. The project was entered in the Institutional $10-25 million category.

The 58,000 square foot addition to the high school unified the district’s high school students for the first time in decades, replacing the old Central Ninth Grade Center in downtown. The project included 24 classrooms (including four STEM classrooms), a cafeteria/commons space, administrative offices, and a grand lobby and entrance.

KKT previously shared an Eagle Award with Flintco LLC for their $1.3 million renovation at the Ed Dubie Field House in 2011, and won an AIA Oklahoma Award of Excellence Merit Award for their work at Charles Page Library in 2003.

Pictured: Football, Dance, Cheer, and Band Senior Night

Sango Whitehorn is the son of Sango and Lisa Whitehorn, and special son to Adam and Amanda Dudley. He has been a Sandite Football player for four years.

Lane Webster is the son of Adam Webster and Sarah Jordan. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Jamon Sisco is the son of Samico Morgan and Jelani Sisco. He has been on the Sandite Football team for two years.

Brycen Peterman is the son of Chad Peterman and Candice Hopkins. His grandparents are Andrew and Marilyn Flores. He has been on the Sandite Football team for two years.

Tyyee Atkinson is the son of Katherine Atkinson. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Nate Casebolt is the son of Tony Casebolt and Autumn Brown. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Bryson Wooten is the son of Rachel Julich and Jeff Wooten. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

JaRighteous Evans is the son of Anthony and Shannon Evans. He has been on the Sandite Football team for one year.

Trevin Corona is the son of Ashley Corona. He has been on the Sandite Football team for two years.

Noah Gourd is the son of Richard and Kelly Gourd. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Thomas Huckelberry is the son of Michael and Cheryl Rettig. He has been on the Sandite Football team for one year.

Jacob Weathers is the son of Ron and Laura Weathers. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

John Reed is the son of John and Melissa Reed. He has been on the Sandite Football team for one year.

Katie Daniels is the daughter of Rustin Daniels and Tamra Lovell. She has been a Football Trainer for two years.

Madeline Bateman is the daughter of Lance and Melanie Bateman. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for four years.

Renise Gabriel is the daughter of Rex and Kimberly Gabriel. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for two years.

Jaslynn Mock is the daughter of Tirita and Ari Montross, and Jason and Sherri Mock. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Katie Smith is the daughter of Brian and Amy Smith. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Shelbie Winzenburg is the daughter of John and Jamee Winzenburg. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Corri Evans is the daughter of Rikki Evans and Shawn Haskins. She has been in Sandite Cheer for three years.

Kathryn Call is the daughter of Jeff and Diann Call. She has played French horn and mellophone in band for seven years. After graduation she plans on joining the National Guard for Engineering.

Alyssa Crutcher is the daughter of Kendall and Shannon Crutcher. She has played saxophone in band for seven years. She has been a Drum Major for two years. After graduation she plans on attending the University of Arkansas.

Samren Gillispie is the son of Anita and Eric Gillispie and has played percussion in band for seven years. After graduation he plans on studying multimedia.

Cheyenne Hampton is the daughter of Ric and Miranda Hampton. She has played clarinet and saxophone, as well as holding positions of responsibility in the band for seven years. After graduation she plans on attending Oklahoma State University and opening a restaurant.

Tamika Jones is the daughter of Aaron and Anita Jones. She has played french horn and mellophone in band for seven years. After graduation she plans on attending Northeastern State University to study Music Education and Jazz Studies.

Olivia Moore is the daughter of Amy and Caleb Solomon. She has been in color guard for four years. After graduation she plans on attending Oklahoma State University.

Sara Nance is the daughter of Steve and Lori Nance. She has played percussion and held positions of leadership in the band for seven years. After graduation she plans on attending Oklahoma State University.

Katy Pinson is the daughter of Melinda Smith and Staff Sergeant Clint Pearson. She has been in color guard for four years. After graduation she plans on attending Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University to study Special Needs Education.

Hudson Shelton is the son of Tammy and Tommy Shelton. He has played trumpet in band for seven years. After graduation he plans on attending Northeastern State University.

Bryson Chase is the son of John and Krystal Chase. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Daren Hawkins is the son of Durrell Hawkins and Sacora Poncil. He has been on the Sandite Football team for four years.

Caden Harris is the son of Sherman and Megan Faulkner. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Micah Calico is the son of Bobby and Casey Duck. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Kale and Kyle Hilligoss are the sons of Keith and Ronee Hilligoss. They have been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Ian Britt is the son of Stephanie Ledbetter and Allen Britt. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Zach Heinen is the son of Alisha Heinen and Zane Pidcock. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Alex Favela is the son of Terri and Pete Lowe. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Ryan Johnson is the son of Tom and Stephanie Johnson. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Shawn Brauer is the son of Glen and Tiffany Brauer. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Samuel Higgins is the son of Willie and Teresa Higgins. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Jacinto Rodriguez is the son of Jacinto and Lacey Rodriguez. He has been on the Sandite Football team for three years.

Kali Baker is the daughter of Ronald Baker and Lois Deppe. She has been a Football Trainer for three years.

Kylin Coonce is the daughter of Sarah Coonce. She has been a Football Trainer for three years.

Maddie Bristow is the daughter of Johnie and Tiffany Bristow. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Zandi George is the daughter of David and Roxanne George. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Karlie Roulet is the daughter of Chris and Kendra Roulet. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Reanna Smith is the daughter of Lowren Smith, and Preston and Kim Smith. She has been in the Sandite Dance program for five years.

Mattie Dorsey is the daughter of Carla and the late Gerald Dorsey. She has been in Sandite Cheer for three years.

Claire Smith is the daughter of Janet and Kelly Smith. She has been in Sandite Cheer for two years.

Stevie Courrier is the daughter of Anastasia Mollenhauer and Samuel Courrier and has been in the color guard for four years. After graduation she plans on being productive.

Jessica Essley is the daughter of Susan Areneault and Reanna Phillips and has played flute in band for seven years. After graduation she plans on working hard.

Bryce Gregory is the son of Johnny and Buffy Gregory. He has played percussion in band for seven years. After graduation he plans on attending the University of Oklahoma.

Brooklyn Jines is the daughter of Donna and Tom Jines. She has been in color guard for three years and plans on studying Environmental Engineering after graduation.

Kerrigan Koss is the daughter of Michelle Beyard. She has been in color guard for two years. After graduation she plans on becoming an EMT.

Zachary Moreo is the son of Brittany and Manny Jiminez and has played trombone in band for seven years. After graduation he plans on being an astronaut.

Quinn Paden is the daughter of Wendy and Todd Paden. She has played percussion and held positions of leadership in the band for seven years. After graduation she plans on studying psychology.

Delaney Roberts is the daughter of Todd Roberts and Tonya Lawley. She has played saxophone in band for seven years. After graduation she plans to study nursing.

Carl Wilkerson is the son of Leonard and Laura Wilkerson. He has played saxophone and held positions of responsibility in band for three years. After graduation he plans on attending Oklahoma Baptist University.

Zander Zieman is the son of Michelle Nicholas and Clifford Love. He has played trumpet and baritone in band for seven years. After graduation he plans on attending Wichita State University to study Music Composition and Performance.

Unavailable for photo was Lincoln Medlin. Lincoln is the son of Joseph and Joyce Medlin. He has played trumpet in band for eight years. After graduation he plans on learning more about the culinary and restaurant industry.

Angus Valley Elementary breaks ground on new gymnasium and storm shelter

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Sand Springs Public Schools officials, students, and community leaders gathered Friday afternoon for a ground-breaking ceremony on a new gymnasium at Angus Valley Elementary. The gym will also serve as a hardened storm shelter.

Sand Springs voters overwhelmingly approved the project in March of 2019 as part of a $32.85 million bond proposition. Of the nearly 2,000 votes cast, 92.83% were in favor of the proposal, which also funded the recently-completed Freshman Academy and STEM center at Charles Page High School.

“This is the last elementary school that has yet to have a separate cafeteria and gym in our district,” said Superintendent Sherry Durkee. “They’ve been having to share a space as a place to eat, a place to do assemblies, and a place to hold P.E. classes. Now we have the versatility of having different schedules, so that P.E. can be held in a separate place.”

Construction will officially begin next week, and the project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2021, before the new school year. Part of the construction will be to include a reinforced grass surface that will be able to support fire trucks, while still maintaining a natural look, instead of a paved fire lane.

The gym will be large enough to hold the entire school, both students and staff, in the event of a serious weather event.

The project is expected to cost approximately $2 million, with half coming from the 2019 bond election, and half coming from existing building funds.

McTeacher's Night raises $1500 for grants to Sand Springs teachers

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When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Oklahoma, it resulted in the cancelation of the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Sand Springs Education Foundation. When the Sand Springs McDonald’s found out, they stepped up to help out.

McDonald’s held a fundraiser Saturday, October 3rd from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and pledged to donate 20% of all sales to the foundation’s Grants for Teachers program. But they also committed to donating a minimum of $1,500, regardless of turnout.

“I think everyone in the community understands how supporting (the SSEF) are for teacher grants,” said District Superintendent Sherry Durkee. “They work really hard to scour the community in terms of fundraising to make sure they’re very supportive. What happens now is they will form a grant committee and teachers are submitting those (applications) right now and then before Thanksgiving they’ll be visiting site by site to give those grants away for innovative ideas for the classroom.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacted the event in many ways. In a normal year, district teachers take over behind the counter to serve up food and give the kids some familiar faces to look for. This year there was no indoor dinning available, only carry-out and drive-through. District personnel were on hand to greet customers in the drive-through, however. The event was also moved to the morning time.

McDonald’s stepped up and not only made a big donation to the foundation, but they also held a laptop giveaway for registered customers. Kelly Durborow was selected as the winner of the Lenovo computer. Event organizers expect to make the event an annual occurrence in Sand Springs.

Sand Springs McDonald's to donate 20% of Saturday morning sales to school district

The Sand Springs McDonald’s will be hosting a fundraiser for the Sand Springs Education Foundation Grants for Teachers program Saturday, October 3rd from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The popular McTeacher’s Night fundraiser will be moved to the morning time, and 20% of food sales will be donated to the SSEF with a minimum of $1,500.

The Education Foundation was unable to host its annual Hall of Fame Banquet this April, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which amounted to a loss of approximately $30,000 in fundraising that the organization relies on. Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson helped organize the McDonald’s event to help make up for that loss.

Sand Springs Public Schools personnel will be on hand to greet customers, and there will be a “Sand Springs” balloon sign available for photos. There will also be a free laptop giveaway, and the winner will be called at 2:30 p.m.

The Sand Springs McDonald’s is located at 99 South Highway 97.

Sand Springs Board of Education meeting focuses on pandemic, virtual schooling

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The Sand Springs Public Schools Board of Education met in a special meeting Tuesday evening at Charles Page High School. Prior to dealing with official district business, the Board handed out a Sandite Spirit Award to the Fitz Family.

“The teachers always talk about how wonderful you guys are, how wonderful your kids are. They say the Fitzes should just keep having children,” said Board President Whitney Wagers.

Karen Biggs, a teacher at Limestone Elementary, nominated the family, and Wagers read aloud Biggs’s comments on the nomination form. “The Fitz family have been such a blessing to Limestone. They work behind the scenes to support our school. Many of our teachers’ Donors Choose projects would not be completely funded without the generous donations from the Fitz Family.”

Virtual Academy Director Jay Rotert was presented with a Coin of Excellence. “He has done a phenomenal job,” said Vice President Mike Mullins. “There’s like a 1066 kids in Sand Springs schools right now that are either in full time virtual or blended virtual schools.”

“Last year in our virtual academy we served right at 300 at any given time,” added Superintendent Sherry Durkee. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that number more than tripled this year. “This man did nothing less than something miraculous to get them all enrolled.”

“The biggest obstacle honestly was the time period right before school started because we had a lot of parents who were up, until the last minute, undecided about what learning option they wanted. We had a pretty big influx of kids at the last minute.”

Durkee also discussed the district finances. “There is not a day that goes by that Greg Morris and I don’t think about the state of the budget…We’re taking about a $1.8 million reduction from last year based on state revenue.”

The district suffered roof damage during spring hailstorms and just recently received a report from their adjuster. According to Maintenance Director Mike Bynum, the district sustained $1.5-2 million in damages, which will be covered by the insurance.

The hottest topic of the evening was district protocols regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to Durkee, only 3.58% of individuals in the district are currently being quarantined due to the infection or exposure. The number combines both students and district personnel.

Board member Bo Naugle was skeptical of the district’s contract tracing methods and criticized the decision to cancel football practices and games for the entire 8th and 9th grade teams early last month after individuals involved with the program tested positive.

“We’re disrupting kids’ education because we think that they were exposed,” said Naugle. “Not everyone on the football team tackles the same person. Not everyone on the wrestling team wrestles the same person. We need to figure that out before we start sending the whole teams home. We’ve already done it, we’ve already messed that up.”

Durkee said that she had discussed with CPHS Head Football Coach Bobby Klinck the possibility of videotaping tackle drills so that contact could be better identified at an individual level. “I understand the frustration…I understand that we need to get better at that…but I promise you that it is a little tricky to say the least.”

The Board approved out of state travel for the high school dance team to fly to and compete at Dance Team Nationals in Orlando in February. Durkee encouraged the Board to approve the item with the caveat that they could change their minds down the line if pandemic conditions look too risky to go forward.

Naugle said he would rather let parents make that decision rather than cancel it outright. “I don’t think it’s our position as a board or as a school system to determine if a kid can go to a dance competition or not. That should lay solely on the parents. If the parents feel that the kid can safely go to this competition, then we should support them 100%. We should not sit here and say that a kid could or could not go, even if the parents feel like they’re safe enough to go.”

In other news:

The Board accepted the resignations of two teachers: James Martinez at CPHS and Sallem Tullis at Garfield.

The Board approved Donor’s Choose grants to Megan Cabe, Carole Cothran, Celeste Thompson, Megan Sowers, Jennifer Reeves, Kami McCable, Beth Russell, Amy Garrison, and Marlene Elifrits.

The Board approved scores of appointments to various boards and committees.

The Board approved the employment of six new teachers and four new paraprofessionals.

Sand Springs cuts ribbon on new freshman academy

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Sand Springs Public Schools officials and guests held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Charles Page High School freshman academy and STEM center Monday morning.

The $14.28 million addition was part of a $32.85 million bond package that Sand Springs residents voted 92.83% in favor of in March of 2019. The project reunified the district’s ninth grade students with the rest of the high school, relocating them from a century-old building downtown. In addition to 26 freshman classrooms, the project also included a lunch/commons area, new office space, and a new central lobby to connect the freshman wing with the existing high school.

“We cannot be a top ten state if it is not about making sure that we champion public education across 77 counties,” said Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. “You all are a leader.”

“In our Department of Commerce, every day, what we are talking about is keeping business owners happy, trying to keep them in Oklahoma, and going around the world, and I mean the world because it is a global competition for talent now. We’re not just competing against 49 other states. It is a global competition for talent. If we don’t prioritize public education across the state, then it’s going to be very difficult to keep businesses happy and to recruit new business to the state. You all are in the economic development business.”

“This is world class in my opinion. For us to do public education the right way, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education has to be at the forefront…We want kids growing up in a state that they can be proud of. I think we have kids leaving this high school that are proud, because they see that the administration supports them, they see the teachers supported…So on behalf of the state of Oklahoma, I just want to tell you how proud we are of you, of the way that you are leading and you are a model for the state of Oklahoma.”

“In the midst of a year that’s just been filled with challenges and obstacles, we have so many really positive things that are happening in the district,” added State Representative Jadine Nollan. “That does not happen without great leadership. This leadership team is amazing. I just want to say how much I appreciate the hard work, but more than that I just really appreciate the can-do attitude…We innovate, we create, we think outside of the box.”

Sand Springs holds Masonic ceremony at new freshman academy

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Sand Springs Public Schools officials, City of Sand Springs leaders, and other community members gathered together Friday afternoon at Charles Page High School for a Masonic Cornerstone Ceremony. State Representative Jadine Nollan and State Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman also attended as the Sand Springs Masonic Lodge set the ceremonial cornerstone on the recently completed freshman academy.

The district is putting the finishing touches on the new $14.28 million freshman academy and STEM center that will unify grades 9-12 on one campus for the first time in decades. The old Central Ninth Grade Center will now be utilized for administrative purposes, and will be offer lab space for virtual students to receive hands-on instruction outside of the regular classroom setting.

In addition to providing class space for the district’s freshmen, the new construction also offers a new central lobby, office space, STEM labs, and a freshman cafeteria. The first day of school for the district is set for August 24th. For families that aren’t comfortable with physical schooling this year, the district also offers blended learning and a virtual academy. The deadline to enroll in virtual schooling is Monday, August 17th at this link.