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January 22, 2024
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
This evening, it is my pleasure to share several recent noteworthy achievements and activities within our school district. First, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association honored Susan Clothier, a distinguished retired educator of PC North of 19 years, into the OKMEA Hall of Fame last week. Hall of Fame inductees must have completed at least 25 years of active service as a music teacher or music administrator, have been a member of OKMEA for a minimum of 15 years, and have made significant contributions to music education in Oklahoma. Susan led the way in our District in so many ways. I specifically remember her contribution to the combining of all three high school bands to perform an original song during the 2014 Centennial Celebration of our District. She is very deserving of this recognition by her peer organization, OkMEA.
We want to recognize the PC West JROTC program for their outstanding performance, securing the top positions in their tier or division during a recent CyberPatriot defense competition within the state of Oklahoma. Equally commendable are our middle school students who also actively participated in this competition as an extracurricular from Mayfield and Western Oaks Middle Schools. Our middle school teams secured first place in the state qualifying for the national semi-finals. It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm of our JROTC students and the early engagement of our middle school students paired with the expertise and dedication of their instructors to achieve success in these uniquely competitive learning opportunities.
Last Friday, our Putnam City Schools Legislative Day session occurred with both informative and engaging conversations between students from all three high schools and many of our local legislators. These students converged to pose insightful, well-articulated and researched questions to the legislators and then were able to hold one-on-one conversations about the topics they are passionate about. This annual event showcased the intellectual curiosity and civic involvement of our students. I have to say that these students made us so proud as they represented themselves, their schools, and our District to the highest level.
And finally, a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated support staff who continue to work tenaciously, behind the scenes, through good weather and the bad, to keep our schools operational and efficient. What many may not realize is that their work doesn’t even stop during winter break, when many of us are enjoying a break away from school. It is difficult to convey how much our support staff mean to the everyday functions of our school district and we want them to know that their unwavering work and professionalism do not go unnoticed.
-Dr. Fred Rhodes, Superintendent
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
STAFF REPORTS:
-Dr. Jason Memoli, Chief of Staff, presented the 5-year Strategic Plan Annual Report to the Board.
-Ryan Spilman, Chief Financial Officer, presented the Mid-Year Allocation Report update.
BOARD ACTIONS
Board Members approved the following items:
-Course Description Guides for the '24-'25 school year
-revisions to District Policy BF - District Services
-revisions to District Policy DK - Professional Development Program
-MOU with Delta Dental for elementary students of Hilldale and Apollo.
-MOU with Neighborhood Services Organization for elementary students of Hilldale and Apollo.
For a full list of board meeting items, please view the full agenda on our website.
COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS
Judy Mullen Hopper
Mrs. Mullen Hopper thanked everyone for attending the meeting, especially those who spoke during the public participation portion. She also echoed Dr. Rhodes in commending the PC Legislative Day. She said how she heard from a legislator who praised the District for the event and the honest conversations that were sparked. Mrs. Mullen Hopper also acknowledged the upcoming Safe Schools Committee meeting and wanted to emphasize that she has heard from constituents regarding recent safety concerns.
Jay Sherrill
Mr. Sherrill thanked everyone who spoke during the public participation portion of the meeting. He praised the Legislative Day event and the accountability-based conversations that took place.
Gail LoPresto
Mrs. LoPresto praised everyone for attending the Legislative Day. She was impressed with our students and the overall attendance at the event.
Charity Avery
Mrs. Avery thanked everyone who attended the meeting. She also thanked those who make the difficult decisions on whether to hold school or not during bad weather days. She pointed out high school basketball and wrestling and their successes lately. She mentioned the recent safety concerns in the District and is looking forward to working with administrators to continue to keep safety at the forefront of everyone's decisions. She thanked the teachers and staff of the District for everything they do each day, especially the new employees as of late. She also acknowledged some concerns with the Special Education staffing issues. In addition, she encouraged parents to volunteer in schools and encouraged the community to communicate with our building and district leaders to see how they can help.
DISTRICT EVENTS
February 5 - Asynchronous Day: Students Virtual Learning, Staff On Site - District Offices Open
February 8 -District Career Fair, PC Administration Building, 4-7pm
February 19 - No School, Professional Day
HAPPENING AROUND PC
Francis Tuttle at PCW
Francis Tuttle visited PCW and organized tables showcasing various career paths. The event featured hands-on materials, allowing students to explore and experience the practical aspects of different professions. We are grateful for the opportunities Francis Tuttle provides for our students.
PC Positivity In The News
STUDENT SUCCESS
CyberPatriot Cyber Defense Competition
Congratulations to the Putnam City West JROTC teams along with teams from Western Oaks Middle School and Mayfield Middle School for placing in the top tiers of their divisions during a recent cyber defense competition. Many of the teams have qualified for the national semi-finals! We are extremely proud of these students and their dedicated instructors.
PCH Cheer Competes on the Nationals Stage
Congratulations to the Putnam City High School Cheer Team for placing 4th in their division and winning the COED Excellence award at NCA Nationals in Dallas, TX this weekend. Way to go, Pirates!
PC PROUD
PCH, Brenda Ortiz, Honored with Fans Choice Award
Congratulations! Last Friday, OECU and Vype Magazine honored PCH Girls' Soccer Coach, Brenda Ortiz with the Fans Choice Soccer Coach Award. Pictured: Coach Ortiz with PCH Athletic Director Jerrod Gatz.
School Board Appreciation Month
Thank you to our amazing Putnam City School Board for their selfless dedication and countless volunteer hours to our District. You make "Go Boldly" happen!
THINGS TO KNOW
Our Districtwide attendance is currently at 61%*. Our District goal is 90%. By sharing this data, we hope to spark conversation and encourage all of Putnam City to work together to pave the way for a bolder future for our students. #BePresentBeBold
*percentage measures students in good attendance standing
Check out our online District store for fun graphic tees, jackets, and polos!
Once your items are ready, they will be delivered to the school site of your choice for pick-up. You can also pay to have items directly shipped to you.
Questions? Email: info@putnamcityschools.org
Be PC Proud! Have a story of an amazing achievement by a PC student teachers, group or team? Share it with us, and we’ll spotlight their accomplishments in our next edition!
Meeting Date: Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, 5pm | Location: Administration Building | Next meeting: Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, 5pm | In Attendance: Superintendent Dr. Fred Rhodes, Deputy Board Clerk Chantil Baldwin, Board Members Judy Mullen Hopper, Jay Sherrill, Gail LoPresto, and Charity Avery.
Putnam City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, or disability. Translations are completed by Google Translate.