Bixby School District 4

The board meeting included the presentation of several recognitions, such as the Spartan Spirit Award, the Spartner Award for a partnership with the Homebuilders Association to support a construction program, and the Coin of Excellence awarded to the state champion varsity boys swim team and wrestling team members. Furthermore, the meeting featured a teaching and learning update focusing on the vertical alignment of STEM offerings, the robotics program's success at the state level, and the implementation of a tiered instruction process across the district.

The board discussed and took action on several human resources and operational matters. This included the employment of certified teachers, administrators, and directors for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, and the approval of an addendum to the ESS South Central LLC agreement regarding a speech pathologist vacancy. Additionally, the board considered the potential sale of surplus real property and approved multiple staff resignations.

The meeting commenced with special guests presenting the pledge of allegiance, followed by introductions of students and parents. Key discussion items included recognizing West Elementary highlights, such as student activities like coding and field trips, and recognizing PTO fundraising success. Spartan Spirit Awards were presented to Mike Anthony for stepping in to lead cheers during a state game when cheerleaders were delayed, and to Kari Smith, an instructional coach, for her significant role in increasing student participation in AP courses and supporting teacher development using engaging strategies like Building Thinking Classrooms. District milestones covered the International Robotics Tournament, which demonstrated high levels of collaboration among participating teams, and the success of the Spartans Serving Spartans holiday program, which supported over 457 children from 220 families. Achievements in athletics, including the football team winning their 11th title in 12 years and being recognized as academic state champions, were noted for demonstrating integrity and character development. The board also reviewed professional development plans, including safety training for district administration on January 5th, and received the financial report for the period ending November.

The Bixby Board of Education held a regular meeting where they began with a pledge of allegiance led by the first all-girls flag football team in Bixby. The superintendent was absent, but Principal Chin Sethagot reported on North Elementary's theme of 'firsts,' highlighting the school's diversity with 25 languages spoken and the introduction of a robotics program. Coach McGomery provided a state of the program for Spartan football, discussing the new football facility, additional strength and conditioning coaches, GPS tracking, and the legacy wall. Steve Hops, president of the quarterback club, presented the club's financials, noting a strong cash balance due to revenues from sponsorships and fundraisers.

The meeting included recognition of East Elementary students, a Spartan Spirit Award for Jamie Finley, and recognition of Sloan Vandola and Fay Kindred as co-buddies of the year by the Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa. An update from the executive director of athletics, Kate Creekmore, covered topics such as the installation of a scoreboard at the swim facility, the upcoming wear camera system for baseball and softball, and the progress of fall sports. The discussion also included name image and likeness (NIL) guidelines and the use of Open Doors as a third-party platform to monitor and facilitate NIL deals for student-athletes.