Deer Creek Board approves curriculum, communication platform, playground, policy updates, calendars and E‑rate contract

The Deer Creek Board of Education approved a package of purchases, policy updates and calendar changes during its meeting, including a $413,814.60 contract for network infrastructure at a new middle school and a $35,580 contract for a districtwide communication platform.

The actions, taken by a 3-0 vote on each item, included curriculum and playground purchases, adoption of several new or revised board policies, revisions to the 2025–26 calendar and approval of school start and end times for 2025–26. The board also approved the 2026–27 calendar and a personnel schedule, and met in executive session to evaluate the superintendent.

Why it matters: the purchases and policy changes affect classroom materials, campus facilities, daily schedules and how staff and families communicate with schools; the E‑rate contract uses federal discount funding and carries a defined district cost.

The largest single contract approved was an E‑rate-funded bid from Scribe to provide network infrastructure at the district’s new middle school. The total contract amount is $413,814.60; federal E‑rate discounts cover a majority of the cost, leaving the district responsible for $193,393.89. In answering a question about the program, Dr. Hester said, “E rate is, federal government. So every time you pay, like, your phone bill and things like that, we get a portion of that. And for us, we're 60%, discounted district.”

The board voted 3-0 to adopt ParentSquare as the district’s comprehensive…