The Henryetta Board of Education convened Monday, Aug. 11, at the district’s Board of Education Office for its regular meeting, focusing on final preparations for the 2025-26 school year. Superintendent Jason Price reported significant progress in maintenance, safety upgrades, and student enrollment, while the board approved a series of policy updates required by state law and addressed several staffing changes.

Superintendent Price began with a comprehensive update on district readiness, noting that transportation inspections had been comp leted and CMG kits installed on all buses. “We’re really waiti n g on final items at the pumps to be installed,” Price said, adding that a transportation meeting earlier in the day had ensured all drivers were updated on procedures.

Maintenance crews have completed summer projects, including auditorium HVAC work, parking lot striping, painting of the Knight Center lobby and exterior doors, and concrete repairs at the elementary school. New safety signage is being installed throughout the district. “We have looked at purchasing new trash cans throughout our entire district, on the outside of our facilities, and also down at the football stadium as well. The ones we have are leaking and t h e y ’ r e peeling faded blue,” Price told the board, noting the replacements will arrive soon.

Child nutrition services are ready for opening day, with the district continuing to provide 100% free meals to students. Safety enhancements include the addition of two new security cameras and upgraded parking signage. Staff will now use numbered key cards for facility access, with the numbers recorded on parking passes for security monitoring.

— Enrollment on the Rise

Price reported a notable increase in student numbers across the district. High school enrollment has reached 309 – up about 40 students from last year with a freshman class of 96. Middle school numbers are steady, and elementary enrollment has risen by 36 students, including 84 in early childhood, 54 in kindergarten, and strong numbers in grades one through four. “There’s a lot of students and families wanting to be a part of the district now,” Price said.

The board reviewed financial reports for the 202425 and 2025-26 fiscal years. Price said the district’s cash position is “healthy,” though state and federal allocations – normally received before the school year – had not yet arrived. He also explained the district’s use of “blanket” purchase orders, which set an annual estimated spending limit for recurring expenses. “Any PO that runs through those still has to come through me for approval,” he emphasized. “We always hope to come in under those areas so we can carry money over.”

Board members unanimously approved the district’s updated policies for 2025–26, which incorporate new state-mandated changes. These include:

• Student Transfers for Children of Active Duty Military – clarifying enrollment procedures.

• Support Personnel & Teacher Standards of Conduct – adding identical provisions regarding suspension, demotion, non-renewal, or termination.

• Cell Phone Policy – restricting student phone use from bell to bell, with exceptions for IEP or medical needs, and holding teachers to the same in-class standards. Price noted some districts have seen improved student interaction under similar rules: “Students are actually starting to talk to one another.”

• Medication Administration – outlining EpiPen protocols, requiring parental provision and authorization, and securing medications in designated offices.

Price stressed compliance: “Quite frankly, if we don’t pass [these], we vote against the law.”

— Staffing Actions

The board approved hiring for several positions:

• One special education teacher

• One paraprofessional/teaching assistant

• Three elementary paraprofessionals

• One child nutrition worker

• One assistant maintenance/grounds/custodian The board also accepted the resignation of Stephen Morgan, effective Aug. 6, 2025.

Members approved contracts for special education services with Pamela Boatright and for psychoeducational evaluations with Sherri Fairchild. The district also renewed its contract with the Okmulgee County Sheriff ’s Office for school resource officer services.

The board approved multiple fundraisers for the coming year, authorized activity fund transfers, and declared surplus a list of outdated equipment, including 148 wireless access points and three switches.

Price confirmed that planning continues for a proposed no-tax bond, with a target election date in November. Meetings with architects and the construction manager are scheduled for this week, and community meetings will follow board approval of the final plan.

School starts Wednesday, August 13, with district leaders expressing readiness for students to return. “We’re excited about these areas of improvement,” Price said. “And we were able to accomplish them at a very low cost.”