Timberlake BOE employs principal
The Timberlake Board of Education met at 6 p.m., May 12 for their monthly meeting.
The meeting was called to order with Mindy Finney, Chad Greb, Jay Jenlink, Levi Johnson and Logan Judd present.
Following the prayer, the first item of business was re-organization of the Board of Education as follows:
• President: Jenlink.
• Vice-President: Johnson.
• Clerk: Finney.
Next, the consent agenda was approved as follows:
• Minutes from special meeting on April 21.
• Monthly financial reports of activity funds.
• Treasurer’s report.
• Encumbrances.
• Renewal agreements with Oklahoma State School Board Association for superintendent evaluation tool, school membership, policy maintenance subscription services and employment service program.
The administrative reports were given by Principal Ryan Dayton, Principal Chance Grider and Superintendent Kale Pierce.
The school then approved the list of surplus items.
Three resignations were approved from Hadley Walters, Isaac Sanders and Taner Jackson.
The board adopted the OSSBA Nepotism policy BAAB and amended the sick leave pool policy.
At 6:15 p.m. the board convened into executive session to discuss the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any individual salaried public officer or employee.
They returned to open session at 6:27 p.m. and approved the re-employment of Joni Barnett.
Next, they tabled the Co-op agreement with Tonkawa Public Schools for counseling services.
The board then approved hiring Taylor Hedrick as math teacher and girls’ basketball coach and Jeremy Hickman as elementary principal.
Johnson left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., the board convened into executive session to discuss the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any individual salaried public officer or employee.
They returned to open session at 6:32 p.m. and approved hiring Deidea Johnson as secondary math teacher.
After hearing no new business, the meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
April 21
The board met for a special called meeting at 6 p.m., April 21.
The meeting was called to order with Finney, Jenlink and Johnson present.
The first item of business was swearing in Judd as a new board member for seat one.
Next, the reduction in force hearing process was done as follows:
• Call to order.
• Roll call.
• Order of procedure for reduction-in-force hearing for the following positions:
– School Nurse.
– Elementary Custodian.
A. Opening statements by superintendent.
B. Open statement by employees.
C. Presentation of superintendent’s evidence followed by cross-examination of witnesses by the employees of the positions.
D. Questions by board members.
E. Redirect, recross or additional questions by board members.
F. Presentation of evidence by the employees.
G. Cross-examination of witnesses of the positions in question by the superintendent.
H. Questions by board members.
I. Redirect, recross or additional questions by board members.
J. Presentation of rebuttal and surrebuttal evidence as necessary.
K. Closing arguments by superintendent.
L. Closing argument by employees.
At 6:36 p.m. the board convened into executive session to discuss possible implementation of reduction-in-force and to deliberate possible findings of facts regarding employment of the school nurse and elementary custodian.
They returned to open session at 6:49 p.m. and voted to adopt proposed evidence of fact concerning the superintendent’s recommendation to reduce the two positions.
Next, they approved that a financial basis existed for a reduction-in-force.
The board approved eliminating the nurse position and reducing the elementary custodian to half a day.
The final item was voting to not renew the nurse position and to reduce the elementary custodian position to part-time.
The reduction-in-force hearing adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
Next, on the special board meeting, the board approved the consent agenda as follows:
• Minutes from March 10.
• Minutes from April 15.
• Monthly financial reports of activity funds.
• Treasurer’s report.
• Encumbrances.
The administrative reports were given by Dayton, Grider and Pierce.
The following resignations were approved:
• Darral Barnett.
• Tanner Slovacek.
• Taylor Grider.
• Chance Grider
• Kevin Cosper.
The board approved the Timberlake Fair Barn Lease for the next school year.
At 7:37 p.m. the board convened into executive session to discuss the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any individual salaried public officer or employee with Jenlink abstaining from the vote.
They returned to open session at 8:21 p.m. and the board approved re-employing certified and non-certified employees.
Next, the board approved a motion that due to the overreaching, illegal and unconstitutional nature of the action by the State Board of Education, the board demanded that the State School Board of Education meet and rescind the action of March 25 adopting a resolution to equalize funding between all public schools and charter schools and to settle the lawsuit with Oklahoma Public Charter School Association.
They also approved authorizing the superintendent and district’s legal counsel to pursue appropriate actions including litigation against the State Board of Education or any other appropriate entities, organization or persons regarding the State Board of Education’s actions of March 25, 2021.
After hearing no new business, the meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.