Sand Springs schools take steps to prevent future carbon monoxide scares

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After a recent carbon monoxide scare at Clyde Boyd Middle School, Sand Springs schools are taking steps to make sure it never happens again anywhere in the district.

Superintendent Sherry Durkee gave updates on the district’s reaction to a half-week school cancellation at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. CBMS and the Sixth Grade Center were closed for several days last week after students began exhibiting signs of carbon monoxide exposure.

An investigation into the school’s HVAC system revealed 8 out of 47 units at CBMS had become compromised, all of which have now been shut down, and replacements have been ordered. Workers are checking units throughout the district now and detectors are being installed in every single classroom throughout the district.

Durkee says she’s never even heard of a problem like this, that many districts do not have detectors, and some of those districts are reaching out to learn from the experience. Sand Springs will be educating all teachers on detecting signs of carbon monoxide poisoning going forward despite it not being a state requirement.

It’s common for HVAC units to develop leaks over time, and the mass failure was due to many of the units being purchased at the same time and aging simultaneously. The district already has quarterly inspections, exceeding those required by State law.

The Board also approved a resolution allowing Durkee to spend up to $75,000 following an emergency declaration without having to seek Board approval.

The middle school already has fifteen more minutes of instruction time than mandatory each day, so the lost days will not need to be made up.

In other news:

Charles Page High School Performing Arts Instructor Andrea Campfield was awarded a Sandite Spirit Award for her work with the CPHS Drama Department. She recently wrote and directed “When Merry Comes Home For Christmas,” which the Sand Springs Community Theater performed this past weekend.

CBMS students Kaitlyn Gurley and Hunter Cathey were given Sandite Spirit Awards for large donations they made to the Shop With a Cop program that helps provide Christmas presents for underprivileged youth in the area.

CBMS Life Applications for Students (LAFS) teachers Coy Caviness and Brad Ehmke were presented with Coins of Excellence.

The Board voted to rescind ballot language passed in the previous monthly meeting in favor of more specific verbiage that includes band equipment, wrestling mats, desks, and other items that will be purchased following a March bond election. None of the bond election plans have changed, Superintendent Sherry Durkee simply wanted to offer more transparency to the public on what the money will be going to specifically.

The Board voted to enter into an agreement with KKT Architects for designs for the new Central Ninth Grade STEM Academy Project.

The Board approved out of state travel for six district employees to attend the Solution Tree Response to Intervention at Work Conference in San Diego in March.

The Board accepted the resignations of Tammy Green and Dawn Jones, paraprofessionals at the Early Childhood Education Center, and Northwoods Fine Arts Academy, respectively.

The Board approved the hiring of a U.S. History teacher for CPHS, a science teacher at CBMS, and a paraprofessional at ECEC.

The Board voted to accept the resignation of Office No. 1 Board Member Krista Polankski. Because Polanski served more than half her term, the Board is able to either appoint a new member or leave the spot vacant till the next regular election.

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.