SPS Board Highlights
June 8, 2020
Oaths of Office and Reorganization of the Board
Mark Betterton administered the Oath of Office to Board Members Keith Sandlin (Office 2) and April Stobbe (Office 4).
- Keith Sandlin, president
- Larry Walker, first vice president
- Kristen Wilson, second vice president
- April Stobbe, clerk
Central Office Reports
Dr. April Grace introduced the Board to Keli Kinsey, who will be the new executive secretary to the superintendent and board minutes clerk following the retirement of Nancy Brooks.
Dr. Grace also announced that Brent Houston had been named the Region 9 Assistant Superintendent of the Year.
Board Reports
Larry Walker commended the District for its commitment to feeding children during distance learning and during the summer. Almost 500,000 meals have been delivered to children since the District started these meal deliveries. He also commended the District for continuing to pay staff during the pandemic.
Mass Action Litigation Against Juul Labs
The Board approved an agreement with the Frantz Law Group to enter into a mass action litigation case against Juul Labs, Inc. Dr. Teresa Wilkerson and an attorney from the Frantz Law Group explained that by entering the agreement, the District is taking steps necessary to protect students from the harms of the vaping epidemic. The litigation seeks monetary funds necessary to place vape detectors in all secondary campus bathrooms and to recoup any lost Average Daily Attendance funds from students being out of school due to vaping related suspensions and expulsions. In addition, the case seeks to recoup the money lost from the time wasted by teachers and administrators having to deal with vaping related incidents. Also, the litigation seeks funds for the District to provide educational programs to students and parents on the harms of vaping. Moving forward with this litigation will be of no out-of-pocket cost to the District.
Other Board Business
The Board also took the following actions during the meeting:
- approved all consent docket items
- approved additional appropriations for the Child Nutrition Fund
- approved a quote from the Oklahoma School Assurance Group for the workers' compensation insurance for FY 2021.
- accepted open transfer requests from students for the 2020-2021 school year
- approved all personnel items as presented
Board Agendas Available Via Public Link
Current Shawnee Public Schools Board of Education meeting agendas and minutes are available at our public link. Board meetings are usually scheduled for the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Board Room located at the SPS Central Office, 326 N. Union.