SPS Board Highlights
Feb. 7, 2022
Central Office Reports
Dr. Grace announced that Shawnee Public Schools is projected to receive more than $460,000 from the Redbud School Grants, and the district has already received more than $200,000 of that projection. The Redbud School Grants are a result of Senate Bill 229 from the 2021 Legislative Session, which awards additional funding to school districts and eligible charter schools to equalize the amount each receives for school buildings. She also said midterm adjustments are up $430,000, good news for the financial start of the year.
Dr. Teresa Wilkerson, assistant superintendent, announced the SHS Senior Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Immanual Baptist Church. The Senior Conference has educational sessions on preparing for life after high school and includes a college and career fair. She thanked the SHS counselors and Michelle Wallace, career development and community partnership advisor, for all their work planning the event.
Meggan Wilson, executive director of academic services, announced that more than 20 SPS teachers had received grants from the partnership between the Oklahoma State Department of Education and DonorsChoose. Wilson gave special thanks to Dr. Jenny Jasper, curriculum coordinator, for creating a grant template that teachers could use to guide them through the project creation process. These grant funds will go toward educational projects that benefit Shawnee students.
Wilson also announced that the Shawnee Teacher of the Year celebration is scheduled for Feb. 28.
Board Reports
Board Member Larry Walker explained how excited he has been to see all the highlights of Shawnee graduates included in district social media posts. He mentioned Sarah Cappo, who works for the Smithsonian Institution; Emma Morris, who works for the Oklahoma Policy Institute; Brandon Davis, a Shawnee police officer; and Creed Humphrey, starting center for the Kansas City Chiefs. He stated how nice it was to look at the crowd at the recent spring homecoming basketball game and see so many parents and grandparents in the crowd who are themselves Shawnee graduates.
Walker commended the SHS swim teams for their academic and athletic successes and noted that junior swimmer Piper McNeil was recently featured in The Oklahoman. He also asked people to thank their school counselors this week, which is National School Counseling Week.
Board President April Stobbe thanked the Shawnee students who gave kind notes to board members in January during School Board Recognition Month.
Board Decisions
The board did not convene to executive session and approved all personnel items as presented. The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m.