The Henryetta Public School Board of Education convened for its regular meeting on Monday, as the district prepares for the first day of class on Thursday. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to approving contracts for various services that benefit the students and the district. The board also heard from HPS counselors about their work this summer preparing for the upcoming school year, and their aim in helping the students. The trio also announced new “regulation station areas” in the elementary, in the Kindergarten and one for the Early Childhood program. “Those are just rooms that kids can go to regulate,” they said as they described the rooms. “If they’re coming in and they’re upset and they’re in crisis, they’re just needing that time to calm down, they’ll have a calm space that they can kind of get some deep breaths in. We have all kinds of tools in there for kiddos that can calm down, that are having a hard time… “We have little trampolines that they can hold on to, and they can bounce that energy out. We have some sensory swings in the calm down room. We have crash pads, different kinds of lighting and sensory tools, lighting on the walls that they can touch, and different tactile things, different things that they can step on, little gel like floor tiles. So there’s all kinds of different things that this grant has provided… “And for a lot of kids, that deep pressure is what they need to regulate themselves again. So a lot of the things that we have offer deep pressure, whether it be like the weighted animals, the blankets, the sensory swings that they’re wrapped up in, they’re pretty neat.. The one in the middle school we’re going to share with the high school.” The counselors shared some of the new items received from the grant with the board so they could see firsthand the tools to assist the district’s youngest students. Agenda items approved were: • Minutes of the July 8 board meeting. • Encumbrances and Financial Reports for 2023-24 & 2024-25. • HPS Student Handbooks for 2024-25. • HPS Faculty Handbooks for 2024-25. • Contract with Barlow to prepare and submit IDEA Application for 2024-25. • Assistant Drama Director Stipend for $1,000 for 2024-25. • Adjunct Teachers Aundrea Lee for Native American Studies and Kristin Hargis for High School English for 202425. • Resolution for the 2023 Okmulgee County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. • Contract between Okmulgee County Sheriff ’s Office and Henryetta Public Schools for 2024-25. • Service Agreement with Barrett Pest Control ($350 per quarter) for 2024-25. • Psychoeducational and Psychological Evaluations Contract Agreement for 2024-25. • Speech Therapy Services Contract with Wonderfully Made 2024-25. • School Districts Beverage Vending Agreement with Coca-Cola Southwest for 2024-25. • Fundraisers for 2024-25. • New Activity Sub-Accounts for 2024-25: General Miscellaneous Account, Community & School Promotions (CASP) Account and M.S. E-Sport Account. Advisers for district E-Sport program spoke briefly about the great success of the program. E-Sports has helped struggling students, including one who improved significantly in social skills. The advisers discussed the impact of a mentorship program on elementary school students’ social skills and leadership abilities. • Cafeteria Surplus List. The board accepted resignations from Karen Willis as HPS Choral Director, Rebecca Wilbourn, cafeteria staff; Colt Treagesser, paraprofessional; and Sandy Hart, cafeteria staff. Before the agenda items were approved, the board heard reports from staff and administration about the upcoming school year. • HESA Report • HEA Report • Superintendent Report: Supt. Price gave an overview of the upcoming year and preparations, including news of free breakfast and lunch for students, along with the launch of Knight Vision TV which will be broadcasting school sports and events. • Principal’s Report • Counselor’s Report • Athletic Director’s Report: Not available • Maintenance Director’s Report Assistant Tennis Coach Casey Williams presented a fundraising initiative. The program is seeking sponsorship from the community and individuals that will be used to purchase bags for the tennis team as they attend matches, and also install banners at the high school promoting community supporters. Williams also stated that they would like to take the team on a trip to watch a pro tennis tournament. Band Director Alan Montgomery informed the board about their current drive to collect shoes. He hopes the program members can collect at least 150 bags of shoes that will be donated, with the funds raised used to purchase needed items for the marching band. The Knight Brigade is working tirelessly to raise money for their upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. in May 2025 for Memorial Day. “We leave for the National Memorial Day Parade in 284 days, 16 hours, 28 minutes, five seconds,” Montgomery said. The board went into executive session to discuss hiring of three paraprofessionals for Special Education Dept. and two part-time speech pathologists. Also discussed was security upgrades for the district.