[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6605126,"mediaKeyId","2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b","parentId",2987273,"title","Votes at a glance: Norman Public Schools Board actions, April 14, 2025","audioSeconds",5921,"startMs",873000,"endMs",6794000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b&start=873&end=6794","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b/thumbnail_873000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605126/Oklahoma/Votes-at-a-glance-Norman-Public-Schools-Board-actions-April-14-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605126-71f35b9f5aba278b86099f2395ba9e22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030084&Signature=UnGPxKpx~E8sWuFewkVXHq3N08RkEXWrgKWqcQ~hXvNvPAxTkKhQ6jZ8W60l6j-c0kdGCVC7jh-yUk2hoZMHS3RF151qXLq8tYeoi-XfvQ-EKc5SBndKN4qdeah4fynErTxbmm5-U~a8PH-LeMwsvZv4HgjgExbe79YNwVqjXyCPJ2~TsEjDEDZUbysb3gHv7nKxHr3PXJc1oVFP~iUkg9LSFQz7TqqhuBONvnP44VZfFcjtr3LB2z4zkQbZvDYA1YOyukjZzZU-V0soJWeZ~whAu2uiVoSZquLUg~rSPdGp-5V1xI9FlHwbRSjs8hrxko4nYobBi67vB3YrrFC3dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Norman Public Schools","date","2025-04-15T01:12:42.807Z","article","The Norman Public Schools Board of Education recorded the following actions on April 14, 2025. All roll‑call votes listed below were recorded in the meeting minutes.

Elections and board officers
- Vice President: Alex Regiers — approved by roll call (Dirk O’Hara; Alex Regiers; Annette Price; Dawn Brockman; Tori Collier — all yes).
- President: Dirk O’Hara — approved by roll call (same roll call: all yes).
- Board officers (1‑year term): Kathy Sasser as clerk and minutes clerk; Natalie Eckert deputy clerk; Jill Edson second deputy clerk and minutes clerk; Cameron Cox encumbrance clerk; Shannon Benda deputy encumbrance clerk; Tyler Jones, CPA, treasurer; Carrie Mahler, CPA, deputy treasurer — approved as a slate by roll call (all yes).

Consent and personnel
- Consent docket items a through k — approved by roll call (all yes).
- Renewal of contracts / continued employment for all certified teachers on certified contracts not recommended for non‑renewal or dismissal — approved by roll call (all yes).
- Renewal of contracts / continued employment for support staff on support employee contracts not recommended for non‑renewal or dismissal — approved by roll call (all yes).

Finance and operations
- Increase in lunch prices: 10¢ increase for paid lunches (minimum allowed under the Healthy, Hunger‑Free Kids Act method used) — approved by roll call (all yes).
- Amended 2024–25 budget: multiple revenue and appropriation adjustments including motor vehicle and school land increases, ARPA and other federal funds appropriation (~$20,000,000 increase to set up ARPA spending authority), Apple device resale revenue, and ad valorem adjustment (+1%) — motion approved by roll call (all yes).

Land and projects
- Land exchange with the City of Norman (Adams Elementary / High Meadows Park): approved by roll call (all yes). See separate coverage for details and acreage breakdown.
- Whittier Middle School Solar Project presentation: not presented; item tabled pending presenter availability.

Policies
- Flag policy (Policy 5012) — amended and adopted (see separate coverage) — approved by roll call (all yes).
- Observation of an approximate minute of silence (Policy 5010) — adopted — approved by roll call (all yes).
- Voluntary private prayer (Policy 5013) — adopted — approved by roll call (all yes).

Adjournment
- Meeting adjourned by unanimous voice/roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPS Board of Education Meeting (04/14/25)","oneSentenceSummary","Quick reference of motions the board approved, including officer elections, consent docket, contract renewals, meal price change, budget amendment and the land exchange with the City of Norman.","taxTitle","NORMAN, School Districts, Oklahoma","taxId",14543,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605131,"Norman board adopts flag, minute‑of‑silence and voluntary prayer policies after debate and amendment",892,4283000,5175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b&start=4283&end=5175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b/thumbnail_4283000.jpg","/articles/6605131/Oklahoma/Norman-board-adopts-flag-minuteofsilence-and-voluntary-prayer-policies-after-debate-and-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605131-95ee9cad8e6291dbc4a0c7c9a364054b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030084&Signature=mxGUocLnBJMwotYuvT4HH~p7IdYC1fUuhMrLRtv57MFOwXOK1ZPgfpJsADux0G1StmDaFhiySmuRK5qqrW9zXaQwVk-P2T6LBeEe9VB2vPdUFQBiDUhSH6RDvUKXSa-zmyraHeAfYmm7CUMu7YSgqTe3YtUKmaQhdmJeLmKt1GxnTl4jg8bDujrc8qgDxmuOkxMaFfilyZXnSRFO78enWlo-9g1mK3SjS0mR4fhb1-g7sZHxYtIwH71qouNWt7mItgHITM2jXFAj73dT~ANDY4c0G6v5gQKjoY2HQamW8j88SP87VjqpeSot50pGyo8NSasgVO~6BLMGPQnTfcqjcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Norman Public Schools Board of Education on April 14 voted to adopt three policies addressing flags, an observation of an approximate minute of silence, and voluntary private prayer. Board members debated language in the draft flag policy and approved an amendment before final passage.

Board policy staff presented the three proposals and said the flag policy largely codified existing district practice but added optional display of a City of Norman flag and language to allow building administrators to approve classroom displays related to curriculum. Several board members raised concerns about the policy’s reach, asking whether \"flying\" a flag differed from \"hanging\" classroom displays and whether displays tied to curriculum would be permitted. The policy presenter said the sample policy came from the Oklahoma School Boards Association (OSSBA) with local adjustments.

Board members sought clarification about wall art, collegiate flags and small classroom displays. After discussion, the board amended the proposed flag policy by deleting most of the final paragraph but keeping the first sentence of that paragraph in order to meet an accreditation requirement and allow additional committee review. The board then approved the flag policy as amended.

The board also approved a policy establishing a daily, approximate minute of silence each school morning with an announcement that the time is for reflection, and a complaint procedure consistent with Oklahoma State Department of Education accreditation rules.

Finally, the board adopted a voluntary private prayer policy aligned with recent court guidance and state law. Policy staff cited the U.S. Supreme Court Bremerton decision and subsequent state action as context; district leaders said the policy clarifies that private prayer by students or employees is permitted on personal time but not as a school‑sanctioned activity or during instructional time.

Votes on all three policies were recorded as yes by Dirk O’Hara, Alex Regiers, Annette Price, Dawn Brockman and Tori Collier. The board asked policy staff to return proposed language on hanging displays, wall art and related definitions to the policy committee for further review.","The board voted to adopt three policies required by recent state and accreditation rules, amending the draft flag policy to remove a contested paragraph and approving policies on observation of a minute of silence and voluntary private prayer.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605136,"Norman Public Schools details Spanish Language Academy, plans August opening and advisory panel",827,2320000,3147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b&start=2320&end=3147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b/thumbnail_2320000.jpg","/articles/6605136/Oklahoma/Norman-Public-Schools-details-Spanish-Language-Academy-plans-August-opening-and-advisory-panel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605136-3c129a7c7b584b59d17068504478f479/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030084&Signature=WEkCh6uVxRES48sxrXBamuNL9Hc94Gy3q1vXmDVyXdpyk2wTLAvY6VAeqQIJ1fUNTBCI-GBeh1hJKWwjP-jskzk1jWu~Xty-AixKb6F7ifPLQfJeqXAXu8oOIG69iygQoMOlv6gdJqgoPeep4hCyC-1Vp4d2z7kbT1-l-mxV-l8-97bmUweLx1APOgJNJOURWKqFnKd1DPmSYIq2LEd3wPR2X4aYXOsyIXoYn2Wyn2DAuUH-bzE5O6Xgpuw0Md4kmZnoTLZG0XahKsVkvpLFPWYWPjN6JZQ1-e5HH-pzqs7dR1eRuBzR1U0uadmT-EYiiyXtTeayZsHx-Ft8CJrluw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Norman Public Schools on April 14 presented details of a new Spanish Language Academy that will open this August, offering early language immersion for preK through fifth grade with a phased model and an advisory panel to guide implementation.

District staff said the program aims to maintain grade‑level academic proficiency while developing communicative and academic Spanish and English through immersion instruction. \"Students will be learning academic content areas through Spanish and also through English,\" Janet Horton said, explaining the immersion approach and the district’s intent to use the same district curriculum available in Spanish to preserve consistent academic standards.

Program details presented at the meeting include two entry pathways: preK and kindergarten (no prior Spanish required) and upper‑grade placement after screening for students transferring from other immersion programs or multilingual homes. Maximum class sizes are 20 for preK, 25 for kindergarten and first grade, and 26 for second through fifth grade. District staff calculated maximum capacity at about 174 seats across the planned grade levels; staff reported roughly 100 applications to date and said they would continue accepting interest through May 1, notify parents of status by the following Friday, and ask admitted families to complete online enrollment by May 9.

Staff also described an advisory panel that will include Dawn Brockman (board member), Darcy Pivens (teacher), an OU professor in world language methodology, and Kathleen Skinner, program manager for world languages at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The panel will advise on teacher pipeline development, curriculum selection, family engagement, and partnerships. Leaders acknowledged challenges recruiting teachers who combine bilingual proficiency and elementary certification, and said they are beginning interviews and outreach with higher‑education partners to build a pipeline.

District staff said transportation support will be considered for families where travel is a barrier but is not guaranteed. Staff indicated a public grand‑opening is planned for August at the start of the school year.","District leaders presented an immersion‑style Spanish Language Academy to begin in August, giving entry pathways for preK–5, enrollment timelines, capacity limits, and an advisory panel including state and OU representatives.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6605140,"Norman Public Schools approves land exchange with City to secure Adams Elementary playground and park access",246,1851000,2097000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b&start=1851&end=2097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987273-d8e168d37bf253efbcd205bb2ab2725b/thumbnail_1851000.jpg","/articles/6605140/Oklahoma/Norman-Public-Schools-approves-land-exchange-with-City-to-secure-Adams-Elementary-playground-and-park-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605140-b7629f4de34bf94c5828cff6d8ddf5aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030084&Signature=UeuTINip0SL66MaZQ5HObR9vdCMDMMfJcV6uLxxh4edTX4GF8nGxRQUEErLXg0S~JyXEkLKJyeuWsdr~YjbWM9JpZGdeaf-W8othyxpvqZSbIGNc2VRly6dZTG66tKkJYlv5imsNam6GmmziyBmrvVW-9bdb0230gjgOiVDDeTCZ5J9QYzlF0myFKOVq8tJnJdsbNabuYmFgpusvgmJMCOBw7UqKIM8fszxmNEcvUwgKTri2NrxBtNHiYfXZNxhoaK39KSwwwprjYa-5MOquTkoLOj0oZXo~DdCbkVCreRdNjJqj8tkBxsGYuEtaW76-h5o2s26v23Mqix62V7U11A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Norman Public Schools Board of Education on April 14 approved a no‑cost land exchange with the City of Norman that transfers roughly 2.5 acres to the city and conveys 1.422 acres to the district, including the playground area adjacent to Adams Elementary.

District staff presented the proposal and said the swap would give the city contiguous ownership of High Meadows Park, improving the city’s eligibility for park grants and long‑term master planning, while giving the district land adjacent to Eisenhower and Adams elementaries for potential future parking or campus needs. \"This would allow us to secure that area from the city, and allow us to actually have our playground on the property line within property lines,\" Justin Milner said during the presentation.

The exchange also includes an additional 0.588 acres that currently overlay tennis courts near Eisenhower; Milner said the district would leave the tennis courts in place for now and take ownership of the parcel if the city later relocates the courts as part of a rec center master plan. He said the city and district have worked to arrange an agreement that serves both municipal park planning and school campus needs.

Board members asked whether students would retain access to High Meadows Park after the transfer; Milner said yes and said the district expects to return to the board with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city within about a month to formalize access and related terms. He also said the city attorney is reviewing whether a use easement could be included; the MOU would capture other items regardless of easement availability.

The board approved the motion to authorize the exchange. On the roll call, Dirk O’Hara, Alex Regiers, Annette Price, Dawn Brockman and Tori Collier voted yes.

Meeting minutes and staff materials say the land split is approximately 2.5 acres to the City of Norman and 1.422 acres to Norman Public Schools, plus a 0.588‑acre overlay near existing tennis courts that the district would obtain if the city relocates those courts.","The Norman Public Schools Board approved a no‑cost land exchange with the City of Norman that gives the district 1.422 acres including the Adams Elementary playground and transfers about 2.5 acres to the city, clearing the way for unified park ownership and future improvements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Norman Public Schools Board actions, April 14, 2025

Norman board adopts flag, minute‑of‑silence and voluntary prayer policies after debate and amendment

Norman Public Schools details Spanish Language Academy, plans August opening and advisory panel

Norman Public Schools approves land exchange with City to secure Adams Elementary playground and park access