Sand Springs Board of Education approves hiring of new baseball coach

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Northwoods principal Laura Hamilton is presented with a Coin of Excellence by Board of Education Chairman Rusty Gunn.

The Sand Springs Board of Education met in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening at the Sandite Performing Arts Building. 

Northwoods Fine Arts Academy principal Laura Hamilton was presented with a Coin of Excellence. "Under pressure, this girl is amazing," said Superintendent Sherry Durkee in reference to a high-speed police pursuit and shooting that occurred on school grounds last year. Prior to being promoted to Principal, Hamilton was also the site teacher of the year for the 2012-2013 school year.

The Sand Springs Pilot Club and Sand Springs Women's Chamber were also presented with special recognitions for their contributions to the school district. 

Superintendent Durkee discussed the school partnership with Daybreak for mental health services. "They've been a really healthy partner...we have a councilor in every building." She also talked about Sandites Teaming for Academic Results (STAR). School administrators will hold more frequent meetings with site representatives throughout the year.

According to Assistant Superintendent Kristin Arnold, the district doesn't expect to receive the results from Spring testing till October, while A-F report cards won't be received till March.

The district is working towards having enough chrome books to follow students from grade to grade.

Durkee also discussed the possibility of having a new sound system installed at the Ed Dubie Field House. The court was recently repaired and new LED lights are soon to be installed. "It's our premier 6A facility for three sports," said Durkee.

The Lady Sandite basketball team won a conference title and made the State Semifinals this past season while the wrestling team won both State and Dual State titles. The Boys' Basketball team fell a few games short of a winning season, but is demonstrating consistent growth and improvement under fifth-year head coach Eric Savage. The Volleyball team also had one of their best seasons in school history under Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year Janna Green. 

The high school is without full-time security officers on staff for the first time in years and administration doesn't have any immediate plans to hire new officers. According to Durkee, the school has gotten by fine in the past year while the previous officer missed substantial workdays due to health issues. The Sand Springs Police Department will continue to assist with security during sporting events, but for the time being the district will consider the potential cost-savings of eliminating the position for the foreseeable future.

The Board unanimously approved the filling of twenty-two positions, including that of Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Baseball Coach. Former Edmond Memorial Head Coach James Garrison will take over the reigns from retiring coach Bill Hutson. He will be joined by new pitching coach Matt Brown, also from Edmond Memorial.

James was an assistant coach at Union for two State Championship seasons. He spent one year at Edmond Memorial and amassed a 14-19 record. His contract was terminated after the season.

This Week in Sand Springs

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Monday

  • 4:00 p.m. Sand Springs Planning Commission - regular monthly meeting
  • 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drive
    • Sand Springs Church of Christ. 4301 S. 113th W. Ave, Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Board of Adjustment - regular monthly meeting was CANCELED
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game
    • Bartlesville High School. 500 S Madison Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006

Tuesday

  • State and Federal Taxes are due
  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Golf - Union Tournament
    • Lafortune Park. 5501 S. Yale Ave. Tulsa OK 74135
  • 5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - road game
    • Union Intermediate High School. 7616 S. Garnett Rd. Tulsa OK 74012
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - home game
    • Sandite Baseball Complex. 405 W. 55th St. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum Trust Authority - regular monthly meeting
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - home game
    • Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 7:00 p.m. CPHS Band Booster Club - meeting and elections
    • Charles Page High School. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
    • Positions up for election: President, Vice President, Secretary, Co-Treasurer, CPHS Representative. Appointed coordinator positions also open.
  • 8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - home game
    • Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Wednesday

  • Sand Springs Development Authority - regular monthly meeting

Thursday

  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys' Golf - 6A State Preview
    • Karsten Creek Golf Club. 1800 S. Memorial Dr. Stillwater OK 74074
  • 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Guns n' Hoses Community Challenge Blood Drive
  • 4:30 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game
    • Cascia Hall. 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. Tulsa OK 74114
  • 5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - double header road games
    • Jenks High School. 1561 N. Birch St. Jenks OK 74037
  • 5:30 p.m. Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame dinner
    • Ed Dubie Field House. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Friday

  • 3:00 p.m. CPHS Choir Trip - Branson "Music in the Park" Choir Contest
  • 3:00 p.m. CPHS Track and Field - Muskogee Track Meet
    • 3200 E. Shawnee Rd. Muskogee OK 74403
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - home game
    • CPHS Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - home game
    • CPHS Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Saturday

  • 9:00 a.m. 28th Annual Herbal Affair & Festival
  • 10:00 a.m. Sand Springs OKUSA Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament
    • Clyde Boyd Middle School. 305 W. 35th St. Sand Springs OK 74063

This Week in Sand Springs

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Monday

  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - Home game
    • 405 W. 55th St. Sand Springs OK 74063

Tuesday

  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys' Golf - Bishop Kelley Tournament
    • Lafortune Park Golf Course - 5501 S. Yale Ave, Tulsa OK 74135
  • 4:00 p.m. CPHS Tennis duel
    • Edison High School, 2906 E. 41st St, Tulsa OK 74105
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - Road game
    • Union High School, 6636 S. Mingo Rd, Tulsa OK 74133
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - Home game
    • 500 N. Adams Rd, Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - Home game
    • 500 N. Adams Rd, Sand Springs OK 74063
  • CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - Jenks Festival
    • 1610 N. Birch, Jenks OK 74037
    • 10:00 a.m. vs Broken Arrow
    • 12:30 p.m. vs Southmoore

Wednesday

  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Golf - Sapulpa Tournament
    • 1200 W. Dewey Ave, Sapulpa OK 74066
  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Tennis duel - Highway 97 Rivalry home game
    • 500 N. Adams Rd, Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 10:30 a.m. Sand Springs City Council Meeting

Thursday

  • 8:00 CPHS Girls' Golf - Del City Tournament
    • Trosper GC, 2301 SE 29th St, Oklahoma City OK 73129
  • 5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - Road game
    • Bixby High School, 601 S. Riverview Dr, Bixby, OK 74008
  • 6:30 p.m. Estate Planning Seminar by Monica L. Maple
    • Green Tree Assisted Living, 4402 S. 129th W. Ave. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 7:30 p.m. CPHS Band Spring Concert
    • Ed Dubie Field House, 500 N. Adams Rd, Sand Springs OK 74063

Friday

  • 2:30 p.m. CPHS Track and Field - Booker T. Washington Track Meet
    • 1514 E. Zion St, Tulsa OK 74106
  • 5:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - Road game
    • Broken Arrow High School, 1901 E. Albany St. Broken Arrow OK 74012
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - Road game
    • Westmoore High School, 12613 S. Western Ave. Oklahoma City OK 73170
  • 8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - Road game
    • Westmoore High School, 12613 S. Western Ave. Oklahoma City OK 73170

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. Case Community Park River Run
  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Golf - Frontier Valley Conference Tournament
    • Indian Springs GC, 16006 E. 131st St. S. Broken Arrow OK 74011
  • 10:00 a.m. Maxx Roofing 4th Annual Special Needs Bass Tournament
    • Mannford Lake Prairie View Boat Ramp
  • 7:00 p.m. CPHS Prom

Sand Springs Board of Education recognizes excellence in students and faculty

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The Charles Page High School Wrestling Team starting lineup all received Sandite Spirit Awards for winning the State and Dual State Championships this last month. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

There were plenty of awards to go around at Monday night's regular monthly Sand Springs Board of Education meeting. The Board presented Rusty Vann, Elbert Moore, and the Charles Page High School Wrestling Team with the Sandite Spirit Award. Wrestling Head Coach Kelly Smith was presented with a Coin of Excellence, and Bob Jackson, Ryan Dannar, and Eric Hartley were presented with Pacesetter Awards.

The Sandite Spirit Award recognizes students and community members who have gone above expectations while representing Sand Springs Public Schools. The Pacesetter award is a similar recognition specifically for SSPS faculty and staff members.

CPHS alumnus Rusty Vann is presented with the Sandite Spirit Award.

The Sandite wrestling team recently completed a perfect 20-0 season. They won the Owasso Ram Duals, the District Dual Quadrangle, and the first 6A Dual State Championship in school history. They also won the Perry Tournament of Champions, the Jerry Billings Invitational, the 6A East Regional, and the 6A State Tournament. Riley Weir, Daton Fix, Jack Karstetter, Beau Bratcher, and Payton Scott all brought home individual gold.

Head Wrestling Coach Kelly Smith has been with the Sandites for fifteen seasons as a coach, and is also a Charles Page alumnus. The school has crowned nine individual State Champions during his tenure, and this was their first team State Title since 1971. 

Substitute Teacher Elbert Moore receives the Sandite Spirit Award.

CPHS Class of 2006 graduate Rusty Vann was presented with the Sandite Spirit Award. Vann graduated from the University of Tulsa before entering medical school at Lincoln Memorial University and DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently in his second year of residency and often works with the Sand Springs special-needs students.

Substitute teacher Elbert Moore was also presented with the Sandite Spirit Award. "He is absolutely integral to our staff," said CPHS Principal Stan Trout. "You are not a substitute teacher, you are a part of our staff and community. He does everything we would expect out of a full time teacher and more."

Members of the SSPS IT Department are honored with the Pacesetter Award.

Bob Jackson, Ryan Dannar, and Eric Hartley were presented with the Pacesetter Award for their work in the IT department. After long-time Director of Technology Danny Wasson passed away last December, the other members of the IT department stepped up to make sure nothing missed a beat. Coworker Shannon Chapman nominated the three for the award, and did so with high commendation. "More than just coworkers, this is my family," said Chapman. "These guys are the foundation. Without them you guys wouldn't have internet in the morning." She also bestowed each of them with nicknames recognizing their varied strengths and character attributes. 

Board member Mike Mullins recites the Oath of Office.

Former Board President Mike Mullins was sworn into office for a new term after running unopposed. The Board also reorganized the various officers as they do every March. Church That Matters Pastor Rusty Gunn was named the Board President, Bo Naugle took over as Vice-President, and Jackie Wagnon was named Deputy Clerk. 

Following the awards presentations the Board also discussed matters of curriculum, finances, and political affairs.

Faculty members discussed the future of Sand Springs curriculum and the potential to focus instruction around career pathways with classes customized around certain career fields that students are interested in.

A report was given on the state of the Ed Dubie Field House gym floor. The floor has become slightly raised due to a potential leak in the slab, causing it to be unplayable. This resulted in the Girls Basketball Regional Tournament being moved to Broken Arrow last month. As of now, the floor is expected to be recoverable once the leak is fixed.

Superintendent Sherry Durkee gave an update on the ongoing plan to convert all SSPS properties to LED lighting. The district is currently considering using a company utilized by the Ponca City school district. LED lights are more expensive up front than traditional lighting, but last far longer, provide better quality lighting, and save on energy costs. The district is currently estimating between eight and ten-thousand dollars in monthly energy savings once the conversion is complete. 

Assistant Superintendent Rob Miller discussed the future of student safety precautions and the possibility of equipping school staff with a smart phone app called Crisis Go. The free app features a panic button, allowing teachers and staff to report a situation by sending a direct alert to the principal and security officer in the event that they can't reach their desk phones. SSPS teachers spend the time between classes standing in the halls to monitor the students, making it difficult to get back to their desks in the event of a fight or other emergency situation.

According to Superintendent Durkee, the district continues to be financially stable in spite of continued cuts to education funding, due to drastic measures taken during the last school year. She does not expect the district to have to make further reductions to staff in the next year, but remains concerned about the near-future as the State Legislature continues to grapple with a $900 million budget shortfall.

She also discussed current State Legislation that could be concerning for public schools, such as limiting bond elections to certain times of year.

The Board approved the hiring of a fourth grade teacher for the current school year.