Okemah School District 26

The meeting addressed several agenda items, including the approval of the October 13, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes and various financial matters such as General Fund and Building Fund expenditures, revenue reports, and supplemental appropriations. The Superintendent's Report covered updates from the Building Principal, Indian Education, Special Education, Curriculum Director, and Director of Student Services/Athletic Director. Key actions included the declaration of a list of items as surplus, approval of the 2025-2026 Title VI Bylaws, approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Muscogee (Creek) Nation for the Summer EBT Program, and approval of Native American Policies and Procedures. The Board also approved opening interest-bearing sweep accounts with BancFirst, approved repairs to the rock building, and approved the 2026-2027 Virtual Instruction Plan and the 2026 Board of Education meeting schedule. Employment actions involved approving employee contracts and extra-duty contracts for the 2025-2026 school year. The Board also authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Okemah for hiring a School Resource Officer for the 2025-2026 school year. The session concluded with an executive session to discuss hiring staff (hiring Keith Robertson as School Resource Officer and Pamela Stark as certified staff member), the Superintendent Evaluation, and entering negotiations with the Okemah Education Associations for both support and certified staff for the 2025-2026 school year.

The meeting commenced with roll call, followed by a Citizen's Hearing segment. Key discussions and votes included acknowledging the 2025 audit by Bledsoe, Hewett, and Gullekson. The consent agenda, covering minutes from previous meetings (December 8, 2025, and December 15, 2025), expenditures, revenue, and various reports (Superintendent's, Principal's, Indian Education, Special Education, Curriculum Director's, Student Services/Athletic Director), was approved. Specific actions taken involved a vote to approve the Days to Hours System for the 2026-2027 school year and approval of the Internet Access Renewal with Vyve for the 2026-2027 funding year. The Board entered and exited executive session to discuss personnel matters, resulting in a vote to hire RL Vick as Superintendent with a two-year contract. The meeting concluded with a vote to adjourn.

Key discussions and actions during the meeting included the approval of the consent agenda, expenditures/revenue reports across General Fund, Building Fund, Sinking Fund, and Activity Fund, and the Treasurer's Report. The Board approved the 2025-2026 final estimate of needs and budget, and voted to pass the 2026 Annual School Election Resolution. Several Board policies (FNC, DOAC, DBCA, FFACA) were approved. The request to waive the usage fee for Okemah Little League to use the middle school gymnasium was approved. The Gifted and Talented Plan for the 2025-2026 school year and the Alternative Education Cooperative Memorandum of Understanding with Mason Public Schools for the same period were approved. The Board also approved sanctioning several Booster Clubs and approved the Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Response Plan. Discussions were held regarding the 5 Year Strategic Plan, School Resource Officer, and Student Handbooks, as well as High School/College Remediation and Dropout Reports. Finally, the Board approved giving the ACT test to eligible juniors under the state contract and declared attached lists as surplus. The meeting included an executive session to discuss resignations (Annette Yocham, Kim Sharp, Kim Viviers), the hiring of Charles Eaton as an adjunct science teacher, the hiring of support and certified staff, and entering negotiations with the Okemah Education Association for the 2025-2026 school year, with subsequent actions taken on the resignations and Mr. Eaton's hiring.

The special meeting included a citizen's hearing segment. Key actions involved the approval of expenditures for the General Fund and the Building Fund. The Board conducted an opening bid process and subsequently approved the purchase of three 2026 diesel buses and two 2027 gasoline buses. Furthermore, the Board voted to hire Box Construction as the construction management company for the 2025 bond projects.

Key discussions during the meeting included the approval of routine items listed under the consent agenda, review of expenditures and revenue including General Fund and Building Fund encumbrances, and reports from various departments such as Building Principal, Indian Education, Special Education, Curriculum Director, and Director of Student Services/Athletic Director. Significant items involved discussion regarding the hiring of a construction management company for the 2025 bond projects. The Board also approved providing space through OSU IT to host Adult Basic Education (ABE) online instruction classes during non-school hours. Furthermore, the Board considered and approved employee contracts for the 2025-2026 school year. An executive session was held to discuss the hiring of support and certified staff, as well as the Superintendent Evaluation, followed by votes on these matters in open session.