Durant Board of Education was given multiple reasons to be proud at its monthly meeting Monday evening.
The board recognized Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OMEA) and Oklahoma Choral Directors Association (ODCA) All-State students during Monday’s meeting.
Students recognized won All-State in women’s choir, mixed choir, jazz, concert band, orchestra, Junior High honor chorus and Intermediate School choir.
Also recognized by OMEA and ODCA was Assistant Superintendent Duane Merideth who was awarded the 2013 OMEA Administrator of the Year.
As she expressed her pride in the students recognized, Choir Director April Raines said, “We are definitely a fine arts school.”
The board also had the opportunity to watch a video created by Beth Bean’s 1st grade class at Northwest Heights.
The video was the winner of the 2013 Agriculture in the Classroom contest. The video was illustrated and narrated by students in the class.
It showed how pizza related to agriculture. The video included everything from the wheat for the dough to the meat and cheese topping the pizza.
The class will receive not only a pizza party as a reward but also a citation of congratulations from the U.S. House of Representatives.
Durant High School teachers also gave a presentation. The presentation was to suggest that a change of sequence for the End of Instruction tests (EOI).
The teachers said they felt that if the history and English tests were paired together at the junior level leaving freshman to only concern themselves with algebra, all test scores would improve. No official decision was made on the matter.
Two over-night, out-of-state trips were approved. The Future Educators Association will be going to Orlando, Florida, for the FEA National Conference Apr. 26-29.
The High School Key Club will be traveling to Dallas, Texas, to attend the State/District Convention for Key Club in Texas and Oklahoma on Apr. 4-7.
The board also agreed to a contract between the school and the Bryan County Ambulance Authority to allow the Ambulance Authority to purchase fuel from the school for its fleet.
The Ambulance Authority will purchase the fuel wholesale from the school and also take responsibility for the first $10,000 worth of damage to equipment.
Also approved at the meeting was the hiring of Debbie Neal as a fifth grade teacher at the intermediate school, Crystal Thompson as assistant girls’ soccer coach at the high school and Lloyd Lee as a substitute and paraprofessional at the intermediate school.
Ben Sanders, Roger Hedgecock and Lloyd Lee were hired for part-time temporary positions fin the transportation department.
Durant ISD will also be hosting the Summer Bridge Program this summer. The program is designed to aid incoming 9th grade students get up to grade level before entering high school.
Hires for this program include B.J. Albright (Math), Amanda Cresse (English/Language Arts), Asia Willingham (English/Language Arts) and LouAnn Lively (Life Skills).
The program is available through the Carl Perkins Grant. The last time the school was awarded this grant was four years ago.
Also approved in the meeting was the renewal of contracts for the assistant superintendents Duane Merideth and Larry Scott, Clerk of the Board Kelly Dillard, Treasurer Bonnie Webb and Superintendent Jason Simeroth.
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