This Week in Sand Springs

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Monday

  • Regular monthly meeting of the Sand Springs Planning Commission has been canceled. 
  • 6:00 p.m. Regular monthly meeting of the Sand Springs Board of Adjustments
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - road game
    • Moore High School, 300 N. Eastern Ave, Moore, OK 73160

Tuesday

  • 4:30 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Softball - Highway 97 Rivalry road game
    • 631 N. Brown, Sapulpa, OK 74066
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - home game vs. Moore
  • 6:00 p.m. Regular monthly meeting of the Sand Springs Museum Trust Authority

Thursday

  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Golf
    • Page Belcher Golf Course, 6666 S. Union Ave, Tulsa OK 74132
  • 5:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Softball - home game vs Barnsdal
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Soccer - home game vs Muskogee

Friday

  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Tennis - Muskogee Tournament
    • 3200 East Shawnee Bypass, Muskogee, OK 74403
  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Girls' Varsity Golf - Jenks Tournament
    • South Lakes Golf Course - 9253 S. Elwood Ave. Jenks, OK 74037
  • 4:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Track & Field - Broken Arrow meet
    • 1901 E. Albany St. Broken Arrow, OK 74012
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - Bartlesville/Collinsville Tournament
    • 2400 W. Broadway St., Collinsville, OK 74021
    • 11:00 a.m. vs Rogers
    • 4:00 p.m. vs Parkhill Christian Academy
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Soccer - Stillwater Tournament

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Tennis - Claremore Tournament
    • 2001 N. Sioux Ave, Claremore, OK 74017
  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Girls' Varsity Tennis - Muskogee Tournament
    • 3200 East Shawnee Bypass, Muskogee, OK 74403
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - Bartlesville/Collinsville Tournament
    • 2400 W. Broadway St., Collinsville, OK 74021
    • 12:30 p.m. vs Hillcrest
    • 5:00 p.m. vs Fort Osage
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Soccer - Stillwater Tournament

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Sand Springs Board of Education recognizes excellence in students and faculty

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The Charles Page High School Wrestling Team starting lineup all received Sandite Spirit Awards for winning the State and Dual State Championships this last month. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

There were plenty of awards to go around at Monday night's regular monthly Sand Springs Board of Education meeting. The Board presented Rusty Vann, Elbert Moore, and the Charles Page High School Wrestling Team with the Sandite Spirit Award. Wrestling Head Coach Kelly Smith was presented with a Coin of Excellence, and Bob Jackson, Ryan Dannar, and Eric Hartley were presented with Pacesetter Awards.

The Sandite Spirit Award recognizes students and community members who have gone above expectations while representing Sand Springs Public Schools. The Pacesetter award is a similar recognition specifically for SSPS faculty and staff members.

CPHS alumnus Rusty Vann is presented with the Sandite Spirit Award.

The Sandite wrestling team recently completed a perfect 20-0 season. They won the Owasso Ram Duals, the District Dual Quadrangle, and the first 6A Dual State Championship in school history. They also won the Perry Tournament of Champions, the Jerry Billings Invitational, the 6A East Regional, and the 6A State Tournament. Riley Weir, Daton Fix, Jack Karstetter, Beau Bratcher, and Payton Scott all brought home individual gold.

Head Wrestling Coach Kelly Smith has been with the Sandites for fifteen seasons as a coach, and is also a Charles Page alumnus. The school has crowned nine individual State Champions during his tenure, and this was their first team State Title since 1971. 

Substitute Teacher Elbert Moore receives the Sandite Spirit Award.

CPHS Class of 2006 graduate Rusty Vann was presented with the Sandite Spirit Award. Vann graduated from the University of Tulsa before entering medical school at Lincoln Memorial University and DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently in his second year of residency and often works with the Sand Springs special-needs students.

Substitute teacher Elbert Moore was also presented with the Sandite Spirit Award. "He is absolutely integral to our staff," said CPHS Principal Stan Trout. "You are not a substitute teacher, you are a part of our staff and community. He does everything we would expect out of a full time teacher and more."

Members of the SSPS IT Department are honored with the Pacesetter Award.

Bob Jackson, Ryan Dannar, and Eric Hartley were presented with the Pacesetter Award for their work in the IT department. After long-time Director of Technology Danny Wasson passed away last December, the other members of the IT department stepped up to make sure nothing missed a beat. Coworker Shannon Chapman nominated the three for the award, and did so with high commendation. "More than just coworkers, this is my family," said Chapman. "These guys are the foundation. Without them you guys wouldn't have internet in the morning." She also bestowed each of them with nicknames recognizing their varied strengths and character attributes. 

Board member Mike Mullins recites the Oath of Office.

Former Board President Mike Mullins was sworn into office for a new term after running unopposed. The Board also reorganized the various officers as they do every March. Church That Matters Pastor Rusty Gunn was named the Board President, Bo Naugle took over as Vice-President, and Jackie Wagnon was named Deputy Clerk. 

Following the awards presentations the Board also discussed matters of curriculum, finances, and political affairs.

Faculty members discussed the future of Sand Springs curriculum and the potential to focus instruction around career pathways with classes customized around certain career fields that students are interested in.

A report was given on the state of the Ed Dubie Field House gym floor. The floor has become slightly raised due to a potential leak in the slab, causing it to be unplayable. This resulted in the Girls Basketball Regional Tournament being moved to Broken Arrow last month. As of now, the floor is expected to be recoverable once the leak is fixed.

Superintendent Sherry Durkee gave an update on the ongoing plan to convert all SSPS properties to LED lighting. The district is currently considering using a company utilized by the Ponca City school district. LED lights are more expensive up front than traditional lighting, but last far longer, provide better quality lighting, and save on energy costs. The district is currently estimating between eight and ten-thousand dollars in monthly energy savings once the conversion is complete. 

Assistant Superintendent Rob Miller discussed the future of student safety precautions and the possibility of equipping school staff with a smart phone app called Crisis Go. The free app features a panic button, allowing teachers and staff to report a situation by sending a direct alert to the principal and security officer in the event that they can't reach their desk phones. SSPS teachers spend the time between classes standing in the halls to monitor the students, making it difficult to get back to their desks in the event of a fight or other emergency situation.

According to Superintendent Durkee, the district continues to be financially stable in spite of continued cuts to education funding, due to drastic measures taken during the last school year. She does not expect the district to have to make further reductions to staff in the next year, but remains concerned about the near-future as the State Legislature continues to grapple with a $900 million budget shortfall.

She also discussed current State Legislation that could be concerning for public schools, such as limiting bond elections to certain times of year.

The Board approved the hiring of a fourth grade teacher for the current school year.

Janna Burch named Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

It was a special night for the Charles Page High School volleyball team Monday at the Sand Springs Board of Education meeting. The Board handed out several awards before getting down to official business. 

Ohio State University-committed junior Gloria Mutiri was recognized for being named Co-MVP in the Frontier Valley Conference, and Head Coach Janna Green was recognized as the FVC Coach of the Year.

When Burch took over the program in 2014, they were coming off a 14-26 season. Despite being a losing record, that was actually one of the school's best years ever. Now, for the first time ever, the Lady Sandites finished with a winning record of 23-13. They ended the year ranked No. 13 in 6A by the OSSAA with wins against Frontier Valley foes Muskogee, Union, Bartlesville, Bixby, and Sapulpa.

Additionally, Caleb Clark was presented with a Coin of Excellence, and Debbie O'Niell received the Sandite Pacesetter Award. 

 

Sen. Dossett takes on school testing issues with legislation filed for 2017 session

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SUBMITTED

Until the 2016 legislative session, Sen. J.J. Dossett was a classroom teacher at Owasso High School. The issues he hoped to address in the Legislature included eliminating unnecessary testing and the issue of high-stakes testing. Dossett, D-Owasso, said he was pleased with the passage of legislation last year eliminating state-mandated End of Instruction (EOI) exams, but said one unnecessary assessment test that isn’t required by the federal government remains on the books—he’s seeking to eliminate that state-mandated test with Senate Bill 2.

“Oklahoma continues to require schools to administer an assessment in U.S. history once sometime from the 9th through 12th grades,” Dossett said. “This test simply isn’t needed. Schools are still going to teach U.S. History, and just like every other class, students will take tests in the subject that will measure how well they’re learning the subject material. This just eliminates an unnecessary test and gives more time to teachers to teach and more times for students to learn.  It’s a positive thing we can do for teachers and students that won’t cost anyone a dime.”

Dossett has also filed Senate Bill 123 which would modify the Reading Sufficiency Act. The measure would eliminate the required retention component for third graders who are found not to be reading at grade level. It would keep in place the remediation and supports put in place in the last few years. The bill also retains the Student Reading Proficiency Team. These teams were created to develop individualized remediation plans for first, second and third graders who are not reading at grade level as well as third graders who take the statewide assessment and were found to be reading below grade level.

“I agree with the concept of making sure Oklahoma students have the fundamental reading skills they need to learn and succeed,” Dossett said. “But I’ve always had an issue with the idea of a high stakes test that may not even reflect a child’s actual knowledge or ability and could inadvertently cause far more harm for the student than anticipated. Furthermore, if you are waiting until the third grade, it’s really too late.  The emphasis needs to be on identifying and assisting children who aren’t reading at grade level sooner and getting them the support they need to get them up to speed. That’s what I hope to accomplish with my legislation.”

Charles Page High School to host Oklahoma Blood Donor Challenge

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Jan. 27, 2017 ─ As flu season and winter weather impact the blood supply, Oklahoma Blood Institute urges Oklahomans to join the “Blood Donor Challenge” to make sure area patients have the blood they need.

Join Charles Page High School for a blood drive with Oklahoma Blood Institute on Monday, February 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the school’s small gym. Donors will receive a free Blood Donor Challenge t-shirt and health screenings at no cost. Donors can post to social media about their donation using the hashtag #blooddonorchallenge.

“As more people are hospitalized due to flu and other viruses, the need for blood increases,” said John Armitage, M.D., Oklahoma Blood Institute president and CEO. “At the same time, some regular blood donors are coming down with illnesses and temporarily can’t give. In addition to hazardous weather conditions, winter presents significant challenges to the life-saving blood supply.”

Whole blood donations can be made every 56 days. Platelets can be donated up to 24 times a year.

Oklahoma Blood Institute relies on donations from an average of 1,200 donors each day to meet the needs of patients statewide. One blood donation can save as many as three lives, and takes only about an hour. Those with negative blood types are especially urged to donate.

In 2017, Oklahoma Blood Institute is celebrating its 40th year of saving local lives. Oklahoma Blood Institute is a non-profit, independent blood center now serving 165 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide.

Appointments can be made by visiting obi.org or calling (877) 340-8777.

*16 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds

Senator Micheal Bergstrom files bill to fund teacher pay raises

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SUBMITTED

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom has filed a bill that would cap tax credits at $25 million statewide for electricity generated by zero emission facilities, including wind energy, and another that could use the savings to provide a graduated teacher pay raise over the next three years.

“Teachers need a pay raise in Oklahoma,” said Bergstrom. “At the same time we have another massive revenue shortfall, which will make funding a pay increase difficult, so I authored legislation to cap the payouts on our wind tax credits and my hope is to use some of the money we save to begin funding that pay raise. The two bills I have submitted would be a good step in the right direction.”

Under the provisions of Senate Bill 95, the proposed $25 million tax credit cap for zero emission facilities would be effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017. The Tax Commission would allocate the credit under the cap, where it could be reduced, depending if more credits are claimed than the $25 million cap. Currently, there is no cap for tax credits for zero emission facilities. In 2014, $113 million was claimed in wind tax credit, which included carryover, but only $59.7 million was actually paid out to taxpayers. Under SB 95, that credit would be limited to $25 million.

“We have good reasons to not only cap the wind credits program payouts, but to close this program. In fact, the Incentive Evaluation Commission has recommended doing just that,” said Bergstrom, R- Adair. “Our program for encouraging the generation of electricity through wind has been successful; however, especially considering the difficult situation we find the state in, with an $868 million revenue shortfall, we can no longer afford these overly generous tax credits.”

Bergstrom has also filed Senate Bill 97, which would give Oklahoma teachers an incremental pay raise over the next three years. The legislation would align Oklahoma public school teacher pay more closely with average national pay schedules, which are outlined in the bill.  For example, an Oklahoma public school teacher with a bachelor’s degree with five years’ experience would earn $34,500 for the 2017-18 school year, $36,500 the next year, and $38,500 in the third year. Bergstrom says he would like to use the anticipated savings from the wind credit cap to fund the bump in teacher pay. The provisions of the teacher pay bill are contingent on the adoption of the wind credit legislation.

Bergstrom says the legislation he’s authored won’t completely shore up the gap in teacher salaries, but it’s a start. 

“Unfortunately, the limit on wind credit payouts is not enough to fund a $5,000 teacher salary increase in a single year,” said Bergstrom. “Keeping that in mind, I have structured Senate Bill 97 so that teachers will receive a $1,000 raise the first year, and $2,000 in each of the next two years. By passing these bills, even in a difficult budget year, we are demonstrating to the public and to our teachers that Oklahoma is serious about education and taking care of those who teach our children.”

Charles Page High School to receive Tulsa Tech funded Pre-Engineering program

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Board of Education met in a regular monthly meeting Monday, December 5th to conduct business and issue several awards and recognitions. Elijah Warren and Josh Taber were to be recognized for attaining National Merit Scholar commendations, but were unable to attend. Their awards were later delivered to them. All-State softball players Jessica Collins and Sydney Pennington were awarded Sandite Spirit Awards, as was Cross Country State Champion Cheyenne Walden. Administrative Assistant Beth Shope was presented with the Pacesetter Award, and Band Director Kyle Wright received a Coin of Excellence.

SEE RELATED: Sandite of the Week: Cheyenne Walden places 34th at Nationals; CPHS Cross Country runners excel in post-season
SEE RELATED: Sydney Pennington and Jessica Collins make All-State Fast Pitch team

Shope works as an assistant to Assistant Superintendent Kristin Arnold and deals with Federal programs. "I have never seen anybody work so hard or learn so fast as Beth Shope," said Superintendent Sherry Durkee. The Pacesetter Award honors Sand Springs Public Schools faculty and staff members who have gone above and beyond expectations in representing Sand Springs. 

The Charles Page High School band recently received Superior ratings at the OSSAA East Regional Marching Contest and was invited to lead the Tulsa Veterans' Day Parade. "I wouldn't want to do this with anybody else," said Wright. "When they do well they get the credit. When things don't go well, I'll take the blame." 

The Sand Springs Education community recently lost a long-time advocate in Director of Technology Danny Wasson, who passed away December 3rd. The 61-year-old was honored throughout the meeting. "I've never met a person more committed to work and the Sandite community," said Durkee.

Tulsa Technology Center Associate Superintendent and former Sand Springs Assistant Superintendent Robert Franklin addressed the crowd to announce that the Tulsa Tech Board will soon be voting to return a long-defunct pre-engineering program to Charles Page High School. According to Franklin, more than forty schools asked Tulsa Tech for the program but Sand Springs was selected, pending board approval. The program will also come with Tulsa Tech funding for a new teacher. 

CPHS Principal Stan Trout spoke to the crowd about a new Response to Intervention (RTI) initiative enacted at the school. The program recognizes three tiers of students. Tier One represents the 80% of students who are able to progress in their learning through core instruction and traditional class structure. Tier Two represents the 15% of students who require extra attention and supplemental instruction. Tier Three represents the 5% of students who require intense intervention, including but not limited to special education students and students with disciplinary issues. 

The fundamental belief of RTI is that schools shouldn't wait until students fall far enough behind to qualify for special ed or drop off the grid altogether before intervening. 

CPHS has also introduced a program called Inspire Challenge Empower (ICE). This is the second year of the program, which gives students an extra class period to pursue their own interests. On Tuesdays and Thursdays students are given time to visit teachers for extra help, work on makeup assignments, pursue hobbies and extracurricular activities, etc.

ICE was created in response to the school's restriction of off-campus lunch to upperclassmen. With split lunch periods, students were no longer able to hold club meetings and take makeup tests at the same time. Students have complete freedom of movement during ICE time, but are required to participate. Each student has an ICE card that is stamped by whatever teacher they visit and checked by their next hour's teacher.  Dozens of teachers host different sorts of activities that are posted online for students to view ahead of time. 

Trout invoked a quote from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. "Do something. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn't, do something else." "We wanted to tie this in to our school culture," said Trout. The acronym references the school motto of "Challenge mind, inspire hearts, empower a community of learners." 

The Board also approved the hiring of a Title 1 Paraprofessional at Garfield STEAM Academy and a teacher at the Early Childhood Education Center. 

OSDE unveils new, stronger school report card system required by federal, state laws

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OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 7, 2016) – Responding to new federal and state laws that set requirements for school accountability, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is proposing adoption of a new, stronger and more reliable A-F School Report Card system. The agency’s recommended calculation will be voted on by the State Board of Education at its Dec. 15 meeting before being submitted to the state Legislature and governor for final approval.

The report card calculation  is the result of months of collaboration between OSDE staff and a 95-member task force representing educators, parents, students, higher education, Career Tech, business and community leaders, tribal nations, lawmakers and organizations advocating for students with disabilities and English learners (ELs).

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said the proposal fulfills mandates established by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced No Child Left Behind, and by House Bill 3218, which Gov. Fallin signed into state law earlier this year.

“This accountability system is the culmination of an intensive and collaborative process that benefited from a diverse array of Oklahoma education stakeholders across the state,” Hofmeister said. “The new report card calculation is valid, reliable and meaningful, and it corrects glaring shortcomings of the previous A-F system. I am grateful for the Assessment and Accountability Task Force members who have dedicated their time, expertise and perspective in helping shape what we believe will help guide school improvement and provide families and communities with important information about their schools.”

A group of assessment and accountability experts worked with the task force to draft the final report of recommendations. The team leader was Marianne Perie, Ph.D., of the University of Kansas’ Achievement & Assessment Institute. Notes and full audio of task force meetings are posted on the OSDE website at sde.ok.gov. 

The new calculation gives equal weight to student performance in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics as well as student growth in these subjects. Other indicators include English language proficiency assessment (ELPA) progress, graduation rate, postsecondary opportunities and chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing at least 10 percent of the school year.

The revised report card system is a significant improvement over the state’s prior incarnation.

Copious research has highlighted the link between chronic absenteeism and low academic achievement.

“The relationship between absenteeism and worse outcomes persists among students of all ages,” noted a Brookings Institution report, “Lessons for Broadening School Accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act,” which was published in October. “As early as kindergarten, school absences lower subsequent achievement levels. Missing school lowers achievement in elementary school and middle school. Chronic absenteeism is also a valuable indicator of whether a student is on track to complete high school.” 

More than 16 percent of Oklahoma high school students were absent at least 15 school days in the 2013-2014 school year. That figure was 9.5 percent for elementary school students and nearly 12 percent for middle school students.

Elementary and middle school report card scores will be factored with a 90-point rubric as follows: 

  • ELA performance – 15 pts.
  • Math performance – 15 pts.
  • Science performance – 5 pts.
  • ELA growth – 15 pts.
  • Math growth – 15 pts.
  • English language proficiency assessment (ELPA) progress – 15 pts.
  • Chronic absenteeism – 10 pts.

Scores will be converted to A-F letter grades:

A > 70
B 57-70.00
C 43-56.99
D 30-42.99
F < 30

While high school grading is similar to that of elementary and middle schools, greater emphasis is placed on college and career readiness. Measuring growth is problematic in the short term given that OSDE is recommending an off-the-shelf college-readiness exam for 11th grade, but the OSDE’s final report details how a growth indicator could be added within several years.

The point structure for high schools is:

  • ELA performance – 15 pts.
  • Math performance – 15 pts.
  • Science performance – 15 pts.
  • ELPA progress – 15 pts.
  • Graduation rate – 10 pts.
  • Chronic absenteeism – 10 pts.
  • Postsecondary opportunity – 10 pts.

In addition, a high school can receive an additional point for high participation and proficiency in U.S. History.

Task force members praised the collaborative spirit that informed the accountability process.

“Under Superintendent Hofmeister's leadership, OSDE met the extraordinary challenge of redesigning our state testing and accountability system. They did this while maintaining an open-door policy for educators and community members,” said Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist. “The first step is complete, and we already see significant improvements. We will make many more important decisions in the coming months and look forward to continuing our close partnership with Superintendent Hofmeister and her team to ensure that the final product works well for students, educators, and schools.”

Others echoed Gist’s sentiments.

“The accountability system is all about kids, and that’s the only thing I care about. This report card system is vital for parents, communities and schools,” said Tracy McDaniel, principal and founder of KIPP Reach College Preparatory in Oklahoma City. “The data it will provide can better inform people about how their schools are doing as well as giving educators tools to improve.”

“I believe our diverse task force developed an accountability system of indicators and calculations that capture the complexity of public education and remove bias against high-poverty schools,” said Dr. Shirley Simmons, assistant superintendent of educational services for Norman Public Schools. “Focusing on the indicators in the accountability system, rather than the summative grade, will provide educators and parents with reliable and useful information about their schools.”

“This was a terrific collaborative process that brought many voices to the table,” said Brent Bushey, executive director of the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center. “It was a truly impressive effort.”

Under the new report cards, the grade scale is designed to reserve A and F designations for the best and worst schools. Subsequently, the bulk of schools will fall into the B, C and D ranges. This change ensures that resources are focused on the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools, designated as comprehensive support schools. Schools with the lowest achievement for one or more student groups, but not in the lowest 5 percent, will be identified for targeted support.

Federal law requires schools to test at least 95 percent of their student population. Under the new report card system, a school that fails to do so with any student group will receive a “minus” beside its letter grade.

The report cards will also contain other information as required by ESSA, such as per-pupil expenditures, that will not factor into the calculation. The report cards will enable people to dive deeper into data.

Sand Springs Pilot Club, serving the community since 1954

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Rotary Club and the Sand Springs United Methodist Church hosted a nonprofit showcase this past Thursday and twenty-nine local organizations participated. The free public event included free food and door prizes to help bring public awareness and attention to the organizations and the opportunities for community involvement. One of those organizations is the Sand Springs Pilot Club.

Pilot International was founded by Elizabeth Leonard in Macon, Georgia in 1921, and has since grown to include more than 7,500 members in nearly 400 clubs across the globe. One of those clubs is located right here in Sand Springs.

The Sand Springs Pilot Club was first chartered in 1954 and currently meets twice monthly for lunch and to learn about the needs of the community and make plans for meeting those needs.

The club is heavily involved in Sand Springs Public Schools as well as meeting other local needs. Members holds a weekly reading program at Garfield Elementary School, help fund school projects, and give scholarships annually to Charles Page High School students. They also sponsor one girl per year to attend The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State—a nonpartisan program that teaches young women about responsible citizenship and love for God and Country.

Another way the club contributes to the community is with Brain Minders. Pilot Club volunteers visit local elementary schools and daycare centers to teach children about the importance of using proper safety equipment when riding bikes, skateboards, etc.

The club also makes donations to Sand Springs Community Services, Senior Celebration, Sertoma Fireworks Event, Special Olympics, and more.

The local chapter meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at noon at Crescent Café. For more information, visit www.pilotclubcares.org.

Sand Springs Board of Education discusses recent State Report Cards

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Board of Education met in a regular meeting Monday evening at Charles Page High School and discussed matters of school performance. Special recognition was given to the CPHS varsity softball team, as well as Church That Matters, Inkwell Printing, and David and Jeanie Kvach. 

Head Coach Shelli Brown and the varsity softball team were presented with a Coin of Excellence.

SEE RELATED: Sydney Pennington and Jessica Collins make All-State Fast Pitch team

Members of the Sand Springs Education Association briefly addressed the crowd about the success of the recent Walk For Kids fundraiser benefiting Dayspring Villa, which raised more than $2300 dollars. They also thanked the local Wendy's for a donation of $500. 

Jeanie and David Kvach were recognized for their recent donation to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Initiative. David Kvach is the owner of KLO, LLC, KVR Energy L.L.C., and Guardian Energy Consultants, Inc. Jeanie is the Architect and Master Planner for the Sand Springs School District and owner of Kvach & Associates. 

"Dave and I just believe in this district. We've had two kids graduate from this district. One is a doctor, graduated from Yale Medical," said Jeanie. "We specifically wanted to help improve math in the district, so when I heard about this opportunity I told Dave, 'put your money where your mouth is.'"

Pastor, entrepreneur, and Board of Ed member Rusty Gunn accepted recognitions on behalf of his church and business for their donations to the STEM initiative. Church That Matters volunteers regularly host tailgate fundraiser events prior to all Sandite Football home games. At each game they sell hot dogs, burgers, snacks, and more to raise money for the Sandite athletics programs. According to Gunn, they raised more than $12,000 this year and more than $60,000 since they began doing it a few years ago. Gunn's business, Inkwell Printing, also made a donation to the STEM initiative. 

As the Board moved on from recognitions to business, they spent a hefty amount of time discussing the recent A-F Report Cards issued by the State. 

SEE RELATED: State Releases A-F Report Cards: Sand Springs Schools average B-

Charles Page High School received a C-, but according to Superintendent Durkee, that doesn't tell the whole story. Durkee pointed to CPHS's 51.16% poverty rating as an indicator of why the school appears to perform poorly. Sandite Pride verified Durkee's claims with the State Board of Education's Low Income Report for 2015-2016 and the numbers more than check out. 6A schools with poverty rates below 50% average a score of 86.57, whereas schools over 50% averaged only 69.46. 

When judged against schools with equally economically diverse student bodies, Charles Page is actually above average. Ponca City High School, which holds a poverty percentage of 53.59 scored only a 63% compared to Sand Springs's score of 71%. Neighboring Highway 97 rival Sapulpa scored a 63% as well. 

The only school with a poverty rates over 50% to score above a C was Union with an 82%. Just below Sand Springs in poverty is Booker T. Washington, who received a 97%. According to Durkee, "it's impossible to compare apples to apples here." 

Firstly, Booker T. Washington is a four-year school, whereas Charles Page is only for tenth through twelfth grade. In overall student growth, CPHS scored a 58% in Algebra I, compared to a 92% at Booker T. The difference? Booker T.'s score was based on participation of 296 students. Sand Springs only had twelve participants. The majority of Sand Springs students take Algebra I in ninth grade, meaning the dozen participants at CPHS are students who are already struggling with the subject. Indeed, Sand Springs's Central Ninth Grade Center scored a 94% overall and a 90% in Algebra I based on 374 participating students.

Secondly, Booker T. Washington has admission standards and isn't a typical public school. Applicants to the school must score at the 35th percentile or above in both the reading and mathematics components of the State assessments. They must maintain a cumulative GPA at or above 2.50 and must maintain superb attendance with no suspensions. 

"I'm not making an excuse," said Durkee. "It's a reason that we can't ignore. It's hard to compare with a school that allows selection." 

This is the last year for the current standards of A-F report cards, and next year's scores could look very different due to new laws passed in the most recent legislative session. Next year's reports will be based on math, biology, English, reading, and U.S. history.

"Even if Charles Page gets an A+, I will have a hard time celebrating," said Durkee. "There are flaws in the system."

Durkee also discussed the Twin Cities Elementary property that was vacated by SSPS in 2003. "We may want to look seriously at tearing it down." The building is the oldest school in Sand Springs and has had little to no interest from buyers in the last several years. Though the district isn't making any definitive plans one way or another for now, they're considering razing the building and holding on to the property for potential future expansion years down the line.

Sand Springs Public Schools win lawsuit against Oklahoma Tax Commission

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Public School District joined seven other districts in a lawsuit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission earlier this summer, alleging that the Commission was misappropriating funds associated with House Bill 2244. The plaintiffs won their suit Friday.

The School Board initially went straight to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in hopes of enacting a decision before June 30th, but the Court denied the petition in April, sending it back to the district courts. 

Sand Springs claims a loss of nearly $300,000 since the new law concerning motor vehicle tax revenue took effect in July of 2015. The Board was joined by Altus, Ponca City, Muskogee, Mid-Del, Quapaw, Canton and Lone Wolf Public Schools. 

The lawsuit, led by former Sand Springs Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Gary Watts, did not seek reparations for the lost revenue, but demanded that the Commission correct their allocations going forward. 

HB2244 caps the amount of motor vehicle tax money that education receives at 36.2 percent. Previously, Oklahoma law mandated that the schools were to receive the same amount as the previous year, regardless of actual revenue. If revenue dipped one year, the Commission dipped into the State's share of funding to supplement the schools. HB2244 abolished that clause. 

In months where the revenue wasn't high enough to give schools the same amount they received in previous years, the Commission should have decreased allotments equally between all districts based on what they received the previous year. Instead, the Commission dispersed based on average daily attendance.

Oklahoma County District Judge Patricia Parrish sided with the plaintiffs and ordered the OTC to correct future allocations for all schools. 

Montie Box honored at Salvation Army banquet

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Montie Box is honored by the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club with an award.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Sand Springs honored longtime Sand Springs entrepreneur and philanthropist Montie Box with a banquet at Hillspring Church Tuesday night. The event also served as a fundraiser for new playground equipment for the Salvation Army facility. 

Stan Clark, founder and owner of Eskimo Joe's, was the keynote speaker, and several other community leaders also spoke at the Army of Stars Banquet. 

Eskimo Joe's founder Stan Clark was the keynote speaker at the Army of Stars Banquet.

Advisory Council Chairman Bob Anderson introduced the man of honor and read off his seemingly never-ending list of accomplishments. Box was then presented proclamations from the City of Sand Springs and the State of Oklahoma from Mayor Mike Burdge and Councilman Phil Nollan, respectively. Nollan presented the State proclamation on behalf of his wife, District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan, who was away at the Capitol. Senator Dan Newberry also gave an address honoring Box. 

Attendance at the event was $40 a chair and had more than 100 in attendance. The event concluded with a silent auction that generated more than $4,000 in addition to donations taken earlier in the night. 

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Montie Box is a long-time Sand Springs resident with more than half a century of real estate experience. He founded Montie Box Co. in 1958 after graduating from Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University. He served in the army during the Korean Conflict with the rank of First Lieutenant. 

In 1973 he was named Oklahoma Realtor of the Year. In 1988 he was awarded the Sand Springs Education Association Friend of Education recognition. He was a founding member of the Sand Springs Education Foundation in 1990. In 1992 he was given the honor of life membership on the Tulsa Boys' Home Board of Directors as well as the SS Education Foundation. That same year he was inducted into the Sand Springs Education Hall of Fame. In 1995 he was named Sand Springs Hometown Hero. In 1998 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Realtors, which is considered to be the highest honor a realtor can receive and he is a member of the NAR Hall of Fame.

Senator Dan Newberry addresses the crowd and honors Montie Box. Newberry is currently running for reelection against outgoing Superintendent Lloyd Snow.

He served as a regent for Tulsa Community College from 1995-2006 and was the Chairman from 1996-1997. In 2009 he received the Vision in Education Award from TCC. 

His involvement with the Salvation Army goes back 61 years. He was instrumental in getting the new facility built in 1978 at its current location in Sand Springs. He is a life member of the Sand Springs Advisory Council, which is a prestigious appointment only available to members with a minimum of 15 years of outstanding service. He is a former coach and manager of Tulsa and Sand Springs Pee Wee Wrestling and he has served as Ringmaster at the Tulsa State Fair Livestock Auction. 

Lieutenant David Brittle also announced that Box had been confirmed as the 2016 recipient of the prestigious William Booth Award, which is one of the highest honors given by the Salvation Army. He will receive that award in the near future.