School Board Meeting Focuses on Resignations, Hirings

Members of the board of education for the Sallisaw Public Schools met for its monthly meeting Monday night at the administration building.

Amanda Trudeau-Hatcher presided over the meeting, attended by all of the other board members – Frank Sullivan III, Mike Daffin, Justin McGrew and Bobby Qualls.

After approving minutes and financial reports, the board heard Superintendent Scott Farmer give an update on the veto referendum. Title 1 Site plans were adopted, service contracts were approved, meal prices will not increase for next year, and the summer school program, which runs from June 4 to July 13, was approved. A request by the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce to use the facility for a fireworks display was also approved.

The resignations of Christina Walters, secondary math; Dusty Sifers, secondary English; Nancy Braund, teacher’s assistant; Jamie Reynolds, early childhood teacher; Ryan Carter, secondary math; and Jarrod Patterson were approved by the board.

“That’s a great group of people and we hate to see them go, but they have better opportunities,” Farmer said, adding that he, too, will be resigning as superintendent. The board was not able to consider his resignation since it was not listed on the agenda.

“There will be no action on my resignation tonight. I want to make sure there is ample time to find a replacement,” Farmer said, advising that he did offer his letter of resignation to the school board. “We have accepted positions at Fort Gibson Public School for family reasons. We are eternally grateful for what the community has done for us.”

“We appreciate you, Scott,” Sullivan said.

After other business, the board entered executive session for approximately one hour to discuss the employment of several faculty and administrative positions.

After the executive session ended and Hatcher continued the meeting, several support personnel and certified teachers were approved for the 2018-2019 school year.

Brad Jackson was employed as the assistant high school principal; Rita Stewart was employed on a temporary contract as a Liberty Elementary teacher; and Stephanie Gregg and Sherri Chambers were employed on a temporary contract at Eastside Elementary School. Christian Campbell was employed on a temporary contract as band instructor, and Dakota Petree was hired on temporary contract as a Sallisaw High School math teacher. Pam Davis was hired as a middle school reading teacher, and Ashley Brandt was hired as a secondary special education teacher.

Sullivan and McGrew were appointed to the negotiating team to negotiate Fiscal Year 2019 contracts with certified staff.

A special meeting of the school board will be held Thursday, May 17, to officially discuss the resignation of Farmer.

Pam Cloud, Managing News Director

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