[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6560895,"mediaKeyId","3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c","parentId",3305938,"title","Votes at a glance: Guthrie Public Schools Board, May 12, 2025","audioSeconds",2060,"startMs",862000,"endMs",2922000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c&start=862&end=2922","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c/thumbnail_862000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6560895/GUTHRIE/School-Districts/Oklahoma/Votes-at-a-glance-Guthrie-Public-Schools-Board-May-12-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560895-8835f257a1b48fc4eb7c8014047b9696/orig.mp4?Expires=1776305057&Signature=ZWUttgEcx1kYV8CpI4Y7Cqjm5BkXc7NfzgA-RTyvH8G3Gu6ier0WuLq4sbZ6EsMlHVvnEXb5Mgy-MDUq7dVwZH8-ZqaWsRgEEjBz2yXhZ0zlEkeiojAcL6XjP9AEVU5WFVCQzFKxqWGPQhrzCR4iCsQ3AYPMGRJXki6jbeF9LHLyjwOXQK6CXcbeWx64kz9V7jJZiArKj0nEfuAx3M4zZCz-6S78yfrbuRWXg950HQb1Bq3dwzv811~wpyRMbQB3Mc-g~61TpdPdKcBGikPm5~Oqh-ELtqYuXLVf2G-G5KT95GAasOqRqG8-tL5Sw3dt6FFIpvI1qh7v-~rsH80QPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Guthrie Public Schools","date","2025-05-14T22:47:01Z","article","GUTHRIE, Okla. — At its May 12 meeting the Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education approved multiple routine and contract items, adopted handbooks and took a series of personnel actions. Recorded roll-call votes are listed below. All listed motions passed by board vote unless noted.

Summary of actions and outcomes (motions approved):

- Consent agenda: Approved (roll call: Gerard, Husky, Plagg, Pearson, Schroeder, Davis, Smedley — all yes).

- Approve minutes of April 14, 2025 regular meeting: Approved (all yes).

- Approve teachers, aides and administration for 2025 K–6 remedial summer school: Approved (all yes).

- Renewal of National Purchasing Cooperative interlocal participation agreement (Buy Board) for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Contract renewal with Sodexo Inc. for Child Nutrition Services for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Amendment/renewal agreement with Clearwater Enterprises for third‑party natural gas for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Temporary appropriations for 2025–26 (general fund, building fund, child nutrition fund, gifts/endowment, insurance/casualty): Approved (all yes).

- Agreement with Alcohol and Drug Testing Inc. for student and staff testing for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Student substitute staff placement agreement with ESS South Central LLC (one-year): Approved (all yes). See separate summary for discussion.

- Agreement with Oklahoma State Department of Education for 2025 Summer Food Service Program: Approved (all yes).

- Accept bid for lawn services (Hudson Lawn Care): Approved (all yes). Board discussion noted low bidder turnout; administration explained local market and staffing dynamics.

- Approve elementary student handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes). Board noted potential future handbook revision following new device policy (SB 139).

- Approve Guthrie Upper Elementary student handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Approve junior high student handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Approve Guthrie High School student handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Approve Guthrie High School course description handbook for 2025–26 (includes new course \"Launch into Aviation\"): Approved (all yes).

- Approve Favor Alternative School student handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Approve transportation department employee policy and procedure handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Approve school bus riders handbook for 2025–26: Approved (all yes).

- Executive session held under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(1) and (7) to discuss personnel matters; board returned to open session and stated no votes were taken during executive session.

- Action on personnel reports (rehiring and employment recommendations, resignations, transfers, FMLA requests as listed): Approved (roll calls show unanimous yes on each personnel motion recorded in open session).

Each approved item above was recorded on the transcript and passed by roll call with the following board members recorded as voting yes in nearly all instances: Gerard, Husky, Plagg, Pearson, Schroeder, Davis and Smedley. The transcript shows repeated roll calls with unanimous yes votes for the items listed.

Details and provenance: The board packet referenced individual pages for handbooks, bid tabulations and contracts; the transcript records motions, seconds and roll-call votes for each item on the May 12 agenda. Items that were discussed at length (for example, the ESS substitute staffing agreement) are summarized in separate articles rather than repeated here.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a series of contracts, handbooks, appropriations and personnel actions at its May 12 meeting; this summary lists each item, the motion outcome and the roll-call votes as recorded.","taxTitle","GUTHRIE, School Districts, Oklahoma","taxId",46603,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560900,"Guthrie School Board Approves One-Year Agreement with ESS to Increase Substitute Fill Rates",538,1297000,1835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c&start=1297&end=1835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c/thumbnail_1297000.jpg","/articles/6560900/GUTHRIE/School-Districts/Oklahoma/Guthrie-School-Board-Approves-One-Year-Agreement-with-ESS-to-Increase-Substitute-Fill-Rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560900-75c42cb516b4ab96e0ea89aff4402ca8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776305057&Signature=QanoUBsa4meCif1yIwDe8B-FJQu1YLoQvZ3abjjS1mcfnfEIqyeOgaBP4Pacg6HwVWcbn2xe3MXZlawdGZLvckSh4dMpIHuMTEoQQPSWZcF7MBD84eQypZ6zNAkz7egMwX3bWo8mtae1-vqWXetsSg5v8LDUx9KVBcO8ouGVXlCKeSQtlHkNgPfhP6lkEEeIPSje94fX8WSK-TYyZZ62KIHPhIURACfAKGM8j8FcYyHNy71u~-Eek3a2askBuPXGZU2PtD20LHD18a~Y-eP2A2goiWuH6ooErlwcLQCdglBgR3GmEx~fdH5UTfPFHXM3K6Y7Q-JDHXlMWbETwFzxBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","GUTHRIE, Okla. — The Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education on May 12 approved a one-year contract with ESS South Central LLC to place substitute teachers, handle payroll and recruit substitutes, a change the administration said is intended to improve the district’s substitute fill rate.

Administration presentation: Superintendent Dr. Simpson described the district’s difficulty maintaining substitute coverage, occasionally falling to 50% or lower, and recommended the ESS agreement as a one-year trial. He said ESS would recruit beginning early in the summer, perform background checks and interviews, provide ongoing and district-specific training, and offer payroll and benefits options that the district cannot provide directly.

On cost and tradeoffs: Dr. Simpson warned the board the arrangement \"will cost the district money because right now, if we don't have a subfield, we're not paying a sub to teach it. But the problem with that is they're not getting the education they need.\" He said the district is prepared to pay for increased coverage because principals are losing instructional time when they must supervise unassigned classrooms.

Training and operations: The administration said ESS will provide Oklahoma-specific legal training and Guthrie-specific building orientation (cafeteria, restrooms, teacher lounge, student movement procedures). ESS would also receive access to the district’s substitute-assignment system so the vendor can accept and place substitute employees.

Employee status and protections: Dr. Simpson said current substitutes who choose to work through ESS would not lose their existing pay rates; ESS would employ them, pay weekly and offer options such as health insurance and a 401(k), per the presentation.

Board discussion and vote: Board members asked whether ESS performs background checks and how training would address building-specific needs; administration confirmed both. After discussion, a motion to approve the ESS South Central LLC agreement carried on a roll call vote with the board voting unanimously to approve.

Next steps: The contract is for one year and will be evaluated on whether it raises substitute fill rates and reduces the need for principals and other building leaders to supervise classrooms during the school day.","After discussion about training, background checks and cost, the board voted to approve a one-year contract with ESS South Central LLC to supply substitute teachers and handle substitute payroll and onboarding for 2025–26.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560906,"Guthrie Public Schools to Draft State-Mandated Ban on Student Personal Devices for 2025-26 School Year",322,472000,794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c&start=472&end=794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3305938-0c7243bfd5ae7f4913a05ef28a1e6c3c/thumbnail_472000.jpg","/articles/6560906/GUTHRIE/School-Districts/Oklahoma/Guthrie-Public-Schools-to-Draft-State-Mandated-Ban-on-Student-Personal-Devices-for-2025-26-School-Year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560906-b6e63fb10c0e46356a2d5df981f441c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776305057&Signature=N92sFZAF05SIcPSe4IKxHLXpqG1CK95PacNxdnnYK4w6fztiQMnTfgUnpbCj7pdjExzZcwH45M-IH~QD7a6N~vW25yJkB5xPVb8s6F-BjGzSPEwkaRCuKjFSw8VSlQQ6SE4s7kO9a6AnsK4wI7e1eQ6T8Sa-TmnxrjmxFhW3bxZPCEy5vBD2dBnkfwTQAQEeDmBLykcKDmHtveypAS5fzPICA2ZStOXdA6RMYHuJhv~6pyUzVOK4nfIPYk7YLrrj9hwdkKW5tjg4Z4LaD9w0~ib7KF9YiqD6eL909417FhiQ5b9KT2jMn2JUo7Q2B9Y75AlBksNUH6AKvIVTT8w2Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","GUTHRIE, Okla. — The Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education was told Monday that the district must adopt a policy banning student use of cell phones and similar personal electronic devices during the school day to comply with recently enacted state law.

Superintendent Dr. Simpson said Senate Bill 139 \"will require the district to adopt a policy prohibiting student use of cell phones and personal electronic devices, such as smart watches or smart glasses, from the start of the school day until the end. Exceptions may be made for emergencies or to monitor health issues.\" He told the board district attorneys have started drafting the policy and that the board should expect a first reading at the June meeting and an approval vote at a subsequent meeting so the rule is in place for the 2025–26 school year.

Why it matters: The measure changes daily routines for students and staff and will appear in school handbooks. District staff said they are preparing handbook language and will align administrative procedures with the new policy so implementation begins with the next academic year.

Board and staff context: Dr. Simpson presented the update as part of his superintendent's report and noted the attorneys are working to craft language for board review. He said the district intends to present a first-read draft in June and seek approval at a following meeting to meet the statutory deadline.

Implementation details discussed: Dr. Simpson and staff indicated the law allows limited exceptions, including emergencies and health monitoring; the district’s attorneys will bake those exceptions into the policy. The superintendent indicated the administration is taking steps now to minimize the number of subsequent handbook changes needed when the policy is adopted.

What remains unresolved: The board has not yet reviewed the attorneys’ draft, and no final policy text was presented at the May 12 meeting. The exact enforcement mechanics, discipline steps and any building-level implementation guidance were not specified on the record and will be determined as the policy draft is developed.

Outlook: The district expects the policy to take effect for the 2025–26 school year after the board’s review and formal adoption.","Superintendent Dr. Simpson told the Guthrie Public Schools Board that Senate Bill 139 requires the district to adopt a policy banning student use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day, with limited exceptions; attorneys will draft the policy for board review with first reading planned in June.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Guthrie Public Schools Board, May 12, 2025

Guthrie School Board Approves One-Year Agreement with ESS to Increase Substitute Fill Rates

Guthrie Public Schools to Draft State-Mandated Ban on Student Personal Devices for 2025-26 School Year