The school year is in full swing, as reported to the Geary School Board Monday in regular session.
According to Tasha Jefferson, the elementary school principal, that facility is hosting 35 students at a mini-cheer camp and there are about 45 in the after-school program. In addition, Captain Supertooth is scheduled to come to the school to teach children about oral health care. That program is through Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. Care Van will come to Geary Elementary soon to catch students up on immunizations they may have missed, and Girl Scout signup is this week for all grade levels.
The fifth graders are set to compete in Design and Do, a STEM program sponsored by Devon and held at Southwestern Oklahoma University.
All these events are geared toward a single goal, Jefferson said. “We are trying to build a positive culture among the kids and staff,” she said.
It was much the same at the middle and high school, according to Kirk Wilson, the principal there. The climate and culture at the school is changing, he said. The number of discipline reports from the beginning of the school year until Oct. 1 was significantly reduced from the same time span last year, he said. “It’s way down, and the teachers and staff are doing a great job.” The FFA has been very busy and active, attending the state fair for livestock judging competition. And even though the girls softball team was eliminated at the regional level, Wilson said he is seeing positive signs in the program.
There have been two wins for the football team. Wilson said he was very proud of those young men, but was even more proud of the turnout for parent-teacher conferences.
“Seventy percent turnout for parent teacher conferences at the high school is phenomenal. I’m very proud our patrons show that kind of interest in their students,” Wilson crowed.
There are 45 students running cross country, the band is growing and performing better and SkillsUSA is headed to workshops this week.
“We’ve got some good things going on and it’s just going to get better,” Wilson said. He also noted the new janitorial service employed by the schools when their former janitor resigned is doing a great job and he is very pleased with their work.
Superintendent Sean Buchanan told the board the annual audit had been completed and the initial report was good. He will present the entire audit when it has been approved by the state auditor.
The new driver’s education vehicle has arrived, Buchanan said, meaning the school would soon be able to offer driver’s education for the first time in many years. In addition, the vehicle would be available for educators and staff to use when traveling to conferences and training, rather than taking a larger, more fuel demanding vehicle.
Following the business segment of the meeting, board president Afton James said “It’s awesome to see the spirit coming back to the schools.”