Cherokee BOE hears financial update
The Cherokee Board of Education met at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 9 for their monthly meeting.
The meeting was called to order with Kory Littlefield, Kurtis Goodwin, Shane Parker, Desiree Gibson and Amber Wilhite present.
The first item of business was the reorganization of the board. The board voted to leave it the same with Littlefield as president, Gibson as vice-president and Wilhite as clerk.
No action was taken on Pat Carrol from Chas W. Carroll presenting the 2019-2020 financial audit to the board. No action was also taken on approving the audit.
Next, the minutes, general fund encumbrances, purchase orders and warrants, building fund encumbrances, purchase orders and warrants, child nutrition encumbrances, purchase orders and warrants and activity fund report were approved.
Superintendent Bryce Schanbacher reported that they are paying utilities out of the building fund and two cafeteria salaries out of the child nutrition fund to help ease the pull on the general fund.
A transfer from the 835 elementary cheer activity fund to the 813 elementary account in the amount of $1,620.55 was approved. The transfer was required due to the wrong account being inadvertently used to pay an invoice.
Next, the treasurer’s report was approved. Schanbacher reported that one of the tax protests was settled on with an oil field company for the amount of $127,000 and the school should receive the money in maybe March.
The school calendar was approved as submitted to the board. Key dates for the upcoming school year are as follows:
• August 19: First day of school.
• October 14-15: Fall break.
• November 22-26: Thanksgiving Break.
• December 20-31: Christmas Break.
• January 3: Back to School.
• March 14-18: Spring break.
• April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: No school.
• May 6, 13: No school.
• May 19: Last day of school.
The calendar is set up for 1135 hours. The required time is 1080 hours.
Elementary Principal Ruth Richmond gave her report:
•The third and fourth graders will play in a basketball tournament in Jet on Feb. 16.
• There are currently 241 enrolled in the elementary.
Jeremy Hickman gave his report:
• National FFA Week is Feb. 14-19, with activities everyday.
• The local show is at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 21 and the county show is Feb. 22-24.
• Gaby Solis and Riley Hensley were selected to be a part of the Northwest District Show Leadership Social Media Team.
• Solis and Drake Williams were awarded the OYE Scholarship.
• FCCLA Week is Feb. 8-12.
• Basketball playoffs will begin Friday and Saturday at Laverne. Regional will be at Seiling and Mooreland and area at Enid.
• The school has had students return from EPIC.
• Cherokee will host three track meets and was selected to host the Class A regional and State track meet.
“It is quite an honor to host state track,” Hickman said.
Schanbacher gave his report:
• The maintenance staff has taken on more duties. The school is wanting them to do more in-house.
• The school received some tax protest money back, but will have to start pinching pennies in the general fund.
• They are looking into creative ways to help with finding money in ways of grants and other forms.
• A waterline broke between the field house and administration building. The school is working with the insurance company and will get an estimate to see how much it will cost to fix it.
• There are currently bills being introduced to help schools. The administration will keep an eye on legislation being proposed.
• There will be lots of decisions ahead with the projected revenue being down $1 million or more.
• Tuesday, Feb. 9 is a snow day and any additional days missed due to the ice and cold temperatures will be virtual days.
After hearing no new business, the meeting adjourned.