1. Call to order and recording of members present and absent.
2. Introduction of guests:
Discussion:
There were fifty-four guests present. The sign-in sheet is attached to the minutes.
3. Discussion with community on possible annexation with Paoli
Discussion:
Alex Young started with the following statement:
This meeting is for discussion and information sharing regarding the proposed annexation of Paoli School District into Whitebead School District. No formal action (no vote) will be taken at this meeting. All participants must be respectful to speakers, board members, staff and other attendees. Disruptive behavior (shouting, interruptions, insults) will not be allowed. Any violation will result in your removal from the building.
There were 18 people signed up to address the board. They were the following:
Terry Shamley-Terry expressed his love of Whitebead and his good memories. Terry mentioned how North Rock Creek went from a K-8 to a K-12, and said they did a good job. Terry said the Methodist church bought 2 acres around the school that maybe could be used to help the school expand.
Katie Pletcher-Katie asked if Whitebead would be required to be a K-12 school? Will the students be required to go to the HS? Also, do the Paoli staff or school board members have students that go to Whitebead? Mr. Midkiff said we would be a K-12 school, explained the state open transfer policy, and stated that Whitebead would not have the information regarding the Paoli staff and school board members' children.
Alfonzo Colmenares declined the opportunity to speak.
Debra Arthur declined that opportunity to speak.
Amanda Satterfield-Amanda asked if we could merge just the K-8 and not the high school. She also expressed that she believes Whitebead to be a special place because it is a K-8. Mr. Midkiff said we would be annexing the district, not certain grades.
Sabrina Anderson-Sabrina has a 5th grader at Paoli, and she was wondering if he would have to come to Whitebead for school. Mr. Midkiff explained that the Whitebead board would not be the board making those decisions, so they could not answer those questions.
Steve Weatherford-Steve talked about tax districts, and wondered if we got the taxes from Walmart since they were in our district. Mr. Midkiff said we do get the property taxes, but not sales tax. No school gets sales tax unless there was a vote to do so in their district. Steve spoke another time, and told the board members they needed to consider what was best for Whitebead.
Deanya Brobst-Deanya stated that her kids and grandkids have gone to Whitebead. Deanya wanted to know if there is a mentor who could help with the annexation, and is there an election of the people in the district? Mr.Midkiff said they would have someone from the state department assigned to the annexation. He described the process: both would have to vote to send a resolution to the state department to annex, then a minimum of 60 days after there would be an election in the Paoli district.
Jill Luker-Jill said that they live in the Whitebead district. She is a CPA, and in the past did school audits. She did some research and said that the ADM in Paoli has gone down 31%, and there has been an increase in expenses of 36% since Covid. In her opinion, K-8 schools do a lot more with a lot less money. She likes the small school atmosphere. She has kids with Individual Education Plans, and she wants to have the freedom to send her kids where she wants.
Jeff Luker-Jeff said they intentionally bought their house in the Whitebead district in 2007. He is not interested in taking over Paoli's bond and paying it back.
Ricky Manning-Ricky expressed that if the names of the schools could not stay separate, he would most likely be a no vote. He believes when the two schools combine, the finances will change. He feels the reason for the increased spending is because of Covid.
Lisa Whitman-Lisa has had kids in the Whitebead district 22 of the last 23 years. She said the board could not satisfy the wants and desires of the people if they could not answer questions because they will not be the board in charge of making the final decisions. She wants Whitebead to continue to be a part of the Oklahoma Rural Elementary Schools. She would like a question to be added to the survey about how many parents would send their children to Paoli.
Erica Rushing-Erica wanted to know what subjects the high school offered, was Whitebead their first choice, what happens if Paoli doesn't annex with Whitebead, and why did Paoli pick Whitebead.
Josh Smith-Josh wanted to know why Whitebead kids would want to attend Paoli high school? Was there anything being offered there that would make students want to go to Paoli.
David Morris-David Morris answered questions about Paoli's thought process in asking Whitebead. He said some of the different classes they offer are aviation, archery, FFA & hunter education. He said that Whitebead was Paoli's first choice.
Spud Whitman-Spud made positive comments about Whitebead as it is.
Mike Eubank-Mike expressed his support for annexation.
Ronald Patton-Ronald expressed his support for annexation.
Blanca Walker-Blanca said she likes the smaller class sizes, and expressed that she likes Whitebead as it is.
Jaime Walker-Jayme questioned how transfers would work if we did the annexation. Would everyone have to redo their transfers and start over? Mr. Midkiff did not know the answer to her question, and said he would try to find out before our next meeting.
4. Vote to adjourn
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion was made to adjourn at 4:59 p.m. This motion, made by Belinda Hunt and seconded by Sandy Arroyo, Passed.