When the Geary School District met Monday in regular session, it was introduced to Allison Brown, who has been hired to serve as the school psychologist, a position funded by a grant.
The arrangement was lauded by Melanie Howe, a representative of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association who was on hand to train the board. She noted how impressive it was for a school the size of Geary to have a psychologist on staff. “It shows you understand the students’ needs and have responded to them,” she said.
The board then moved to address another need of students – use of the school facilities during the summer.
Superintendent Sean Buchanan asked his board whether the district should allow the use of the facilities without a coach or other adult on site. He pointed out that some districts do while others do not and he was looking for guidance.
Afton Jameson voiced her concerns about the liability to the district if there were no staff member on site. Board member Karen Looney suggested there could be an open gym on a regular schedule and reminded the other members there are far more cameras in the gym than in previous years. David Larson worried out loud that if the staff member on site were a coach, it could pose a violation as an illegal sports team practice.
Taylar Burns, who was initially concerned about damage to the building without a staff member to ride herd on the students, suggested a trial period.
“I’d love to give the kids something to do,” Burns said. Since the board does not meet again until August, she proposed a trial of the open facility.
Jameson was in agreement with the caveat a sign-in sheet be used and a small stipend provided for the staffer on duty.
Following an executive session, the board hired Jacob Sappington as a high school teacher and Tiara Johnson as a support staff member.
The superintendent reported that they were moving ahead on the bid process for two new district vehicles, a truck for the ag department and a maintenance truck, each on the state price and he asked for permission to surplus an old floor mixer and cafeteria trays from the elementary school kitchen.
He also notified the board the district had reached an agreement with the City of Geary for a 50-year lease on the ball fields. That document has yet to be signed, though.
Buchanan said the architects who have been hired to build the new school campus had looked at the fields and made up a wish list for a ‘Field of Dreams’ that would be pared down to realistic costs and facilities. And nothing would be undertaken until the contract with the city was signed, he said.
He did present the board members with estimates for initial dirt work to level the fields, though.
“We want to preserve the heritage there,” Buchanan said. “But the basic things will be done first, like operational bathrooms, a place to change and address safety issues.”
Concerning the work on the new school buildings, he said the gas line that formerly ran under the high school had been relocated and the electrical service has been rerouted. Next up is moving the data lines off the electrical poles on the property so that they can be moved.
The board will next meet on August 10 at the Stegall Long Field House board meeting room.