The Bethany Public Schools Board of Education approved a package of contracts, budget encumbrances, stipends and policy updates at its June/July board meeting.

Board members voted to approve annual vendor renewals and renewals/agreements that included software and services (Fileware, WatchGuard, Dell, VMware, Follett, Microsoft 365 for teachers, Adobe Creative Suite for teachers and students), as well as operational contracts such as a YMCA bus rental agreement, Landcare athletic grounds maintenance, volunteer coaching agreements and consulting arrangements. The meeting packet also listed a management agreement with Lingo for construction oversight.

The board approved fiscal-year encumbrances and nonpayroll purchase orders to support summer startup and routine operations. Staff presented a multi-year view of district finances showing a projected general-fund carryover of about $4.288 million and a projected fund balance of about $4.288 million; the CFO said those figures keep the district clear of a carryover penalty under state rules.

On personnel and benefits, the board approved a one-time $600 retention stipend for all regular certified and support staff returning for the 2025–26 school year to be paid in July, and a $200 back-to-school stipend to be paid in August; the $600 payment excludes lay coaches but the $200 stipend covers most hourly and lay coaches. The board also authorized the superintendent and chief financial officer to discard or sell unusable equipment for fiscal year 2026 and approved replacing transportation and maintenance vehicles and other capital items as encumbrances were presented.

The board adopted administrative items including converting the school calendar from days to hours for fiscal year 2026 (to aid make-up-day calculations) and approving the district policy manual and revised parent and student handbooks for Bethany High School, Bethany Middle School and Bethany Elementary School. Handbook changes called out in discussion included a return to a three-day absence exemption (pre-COVID standard) and a bell-to-bell cell-phone restriction at the high school consistent with new state law; administrators said middle and elementary schools already operated under similar limits.

The board heard an informational presentation about adding purple street signs with the district logo on the one-block area around the campus; the city will procure signs and the district will pay for them, with final costs pending.

Two student transfer denials (identified in the meeting as student A and student B) were discussed in executive session under Oklahoma statutes protecting educational records; after the executive session the board voted to uphold the superintendent’s denials. The board also took action on personnel items that had been discussed in executive session, approving employments and resignations listed in addenda.

Votes at a glance

- Contracts and renewals (Item 5): Approved (roll-call vote recorded). Voters called in roll: Palmer: yes; Yates: yes; Pettit: yes; Walstead: yes.
- Consent agenda (Item 6): Approved (roll-call vote recorded).
- Encumbrances and purchase orders (Items 7–8): Approved (roll-call votes recorded).
- Athletics track change order (Item 4): Approved (see separate article).
- $600 retention stipend for returning certified and support staff (Item 9): Approved — roll-call vote recorded as unanimous among present board members.
- $200 back-to-school stipend for all staff (Item 10): Approved — roll-call vote recorded.
- Authority to discard/sell unusable equipment (Item 11): Approved.
- Convert calendar from days to hours (Item 12): Approved.
- Policy manual (Item 13): Approved.
- Parent and student handbooks (Item 14): Approved; changes include cell-phone rules and attendance/exemption adjustments.
- Student transfer denials (Item 16): Board upheld superintendent decisions to deny transfer for student A and B after executive session; no additional votes or actions beyond upholding denials were recorded.
- Personnel matters (Item 17 addenda a–c): Approvals for employment and resignations recorded by roll call.

Board members and administrators who spoke during the meeting emphasized prudent fiscal management and staff retention as priorities; Dr. Jasper, the district’s chief financial officer (referred to in the meeting as Doctor Jasper), was singled out by the superintendent and trustees for work closing the fiscal year and preparing the district for the new school year.

The board set dates for the new school year: new teacher orientation Aug. 7; teachers return Aug. 11; first day of school Aug. 14; next board meeting Aug. 12.