SPS Board Highlights
June 3, 2019
Recent music graduates from Oklahoma Baptist University presented a $5,000 check to Dr. April Grace and Shawnee School Board members during Monday's board meeting. The students had raised the money to benefit Shawnee Middle School and Shawnee High School choir programs.
Pictured are (bottom row, from left) Dr. Christopher Mathews, Dean of the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts; Larry Walker, board president and OBU director of campus services; Dr. April Grace, superintendent; Bradley Hetherington, recent OBU graduate; Julie Welch, recent OBU graduate; and Dr. Will Smallwood, senior vice president for advancement and university relations. Top row, from left, are Mark Betterton, board clerk; Keith Sandlin, 2nd vice president; Bobby Canty, board member; Misty Heath, board member; and April Stobbe, 1st vice president.
Central Office and Board Reports
Dr. April Grace recognized several students during her board report:
- Shawnee High School choir students recently traveled to New York City where they attended workshops with renowned conductor and composer John Rutter. The students also performed at Carnegie Hall.
- SHS wrestler Jose Cervantes received the Leadership and Character All-American Award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the U.S. Marine Corps. He is one of only seven Oklahoma wrestlers to receive the award.
- Both SHS and Will Rogers are now Blue Zones Project Approved.
- The SHS Class of 2019 received almost $1 million in scholarships.
- A total of 15 SHS students have signed up for internships with local businesses and organizations for the 2019-2020 school year. Administrators hope to have 25 students signed up for the program by August.
Other Central Office Reports
Meggan Wilson, executive director of academic services, reported that administrators from across the district recently participated in a training on Enneagram personality profiles. She also reported that academic services is working on a diagnostic screener to meet the needs of students in the Response to Intervention process.
Board Reports
- April Stobbe commended the SHS choir for their hard work during their recent trip to New York City.
- Bobby Canty mentioned the upcoming Faith 7 basketball games will be held Saturday, June 8, on the campus of OBU. Recent Shawnee graduate Lauren Fields will be one of the players representing Oklahoma during the game. The girls will play at 1:30 p.m., and the boys play at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
- Larry Walker praised Dr. April Grace for being named as one of the Shawnee Forward 15. The awards are scheduled for Tuesday, June 4. He also commended the 275 students who recently graduated from SHS, and he congratulated basketball players Fields, Makyra Tramble, and DeAndre Love for participating in the All-City basketball games. He praised the SHS wrestlers who were recently honored by Gov. Kevin Stitt for finishing in first place in the high school relay division of the OKC Memorial Marathon. Finally, Mr. Walker noted that the recent bond election failed by only 24 votes, and he promised to work harder on the next bond election.
Other Board Business
- All consent docket items and contracts/agreements were approved.
- The board declared May 20 an emergency leave day for staff. Shawnee Public Schools closed on May 20 due to the possibility of dangerous weather.
- All but two open transfers were accepted by the board.
- All certified and support personnel were approved as presented.