Meeker Board of Education members this week approved the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year, accepted a couple of resignations and honored one of their own.
Becky Briggs completed her second consecutive five-year term on the board Monday night and fellow members recognized her as School Supt. Jeff Pruitt presented her with a gift certificate.
She decided last year not to seek another term.
Briggs also worked for the school district prior to running for the board. She said she had enjoyed serving on the board and “would do it again.”
Between her being a board member and previously working for the school system she had more than 30 years with the district, she said.
School patrons will vote on selecting a new board member during the April 2 General School Election. Running are Leonard Buoy and Jason Hessman.
The board accepted the resignations of Melissa Pyatt, elementary school teacher and Lindsey Potts, high school cheer coach.
Board members also renewed OKTLE for Teacher Observation and Evaluation for the 2024-2025 school year and renewed the contract with Municipal Accounting Systems for the 2024-2025 school term.
They approved purchasing a truck for the Vo-Ag Department on state bid.
They approved an agreement for the 2024-2025 school year between Meeker Public Schools and Gordon Cooper Technology Center allowing Meeker High School students attending Gordon Cooper to receive academic course credit for classes approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education and allow sophomore level students to enroll in appropriate CTE courses.
High School Principal Brad Buxton told board members, “We’re rocking and rollin’ with all kinds of activities. We have quite a few going on during Spring Break next week,” he said.
He reported enrollment was at 234 students, saying, “It’s about the same, staying steady.”
Middle School Principal Matt Jones echoed what Buxton said about the number of activities, pointing to four students, Bryston Bizzell, Cooper Miller, Edgar Thompson and Nick Parker who are competing today in the state powerlifting competition at El Reno.
He said Middle School enrollment is at 174. “We’ve been losing some eighth graders, but the sixth grade keeps growing,” he noted.
Elementary Principal Sarah Flowers stated enrollment continues to grow, noting, “The third grade is just soaring.” Total enrollment is at 348 and at the beginning of the year it was 327.
She advised board members state testing is the week of April 22.
In his superintendent’s report, Pruitt updated the board members on legislation related to schools, telling them, “There are 119 bills related to education. This week is pivotal,” he added, telling them, “the bills have to be heard in their chamber of origin this week.”
He informed the board that Vo-Ag Instruction Logan Johns finished in the top 18 for State Teacher of the Year.