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 communication platform for the 2025–26 school year at a quoted cost of $35,580, to be paid from activity funds. Presenting the item, Miss Lippage said the district piloted ParentSquare at two sites and saw improved teacher–family communication: “Parents can view their messages in the app if they choose, but we know some parents are anti downloading apps and that's fine. They can still get texts and emails through Parent Square similar to how we use school messenger.” The board approved a motion to replace or retire some existing messaging subscriptions as part of the rollout.

Other purchases approved by unanimous vote included a $39,798 six‑year curriculum adoption quote from Cengage Learning for business, accounting, web design and desktop publishing at Deer Creek High School (to be paid from state textbook funds) and a $45,556 quote from Happy Playgrounds for Spring Creek Elementary playground updates (to be paid from activity funds).

The board adopted several new or revised policies: KP (registered trademarks), B-20 (board agenda responsibilities), B-21 (reconsideration of previously voted items), FB (naming of facilities, revised and expanded) and a consolidation of INDB into INDA to combine flag‑display and patriotic‑exercise language. Doctor Perez summarized the revised naming policy as creating a community committee to nominate up to three names for board consideration and setting criteria for naming facilities or portions of facilities after people.

The board also approved proposed start and end times for the 2025–26 school year, a change aimed at easing bus routing and reducing crowding. Superintendent Dr. Jason Perez described a planned move from a three‑tier to a four‑tier bus routing system and said the changes are intended to reduce the perception of overcrowding on buses and to improve elementary pick‑up reliability. He explained the schedule shifts in detail: intermediate (fifth and sixth grade) end times move 5 minutes later, middle schools start and end 15 minutes earlier, high schools start and end 15 minutes later, and elementary sites start 5 minutes later and end 10 minutes later. Perez said the district will also recommend extending the parent transport zone from one-half mile to one mile (affecting only students with a safe walking path) to reduce the number of bus routes.

Calendar revisions were approved as well: the board removed previously scheduled remote learning days from the 2025–26 calendar (adding a professional development day on Oct. 20) and approved the 2026–27 calendar, which staff selected after multiple drafts and a staff vote. The 2026–27 calendar will start on a Thursday and converts President’s Day to a staff professional development day.

Routine business passed included approval of the consent agenda (items 1–7) and approval of employment as listed on the personnel schedule. Votes on each listed motion were recorded as unanimous (3-0).

The meeting ended with a motion to convene an executive session to discuss the superintendent’s ongoing evaluation under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(1). The board convened in executive session and later returned to open session; the minutes state no action was taken in executive session. The board adjourned at approximately 7:01 p.m.

Votes at a glance (each carried 3–0): - Consent agenda (items 1–7): approved. - Cengage Learning curriculum quote, $39,798 (state textbook funds): approved. - Happy Playgrounds quote for Spring Creek Elementary, $45,556 (activity fund): approved. - ParentSquare communication platform, $35,580 (activity fund): approved. - Policy KP (registered trademarks): adopted. - Policy B-20 (board agenda): adopted. - Policy B-21 (reconsideration of previously voted items): adopted. - Policy FB (naming of facilities): adopted (revised/expanded). - Combine INDB into INDA (patriotic exercises and flag displays): approved. - School start/end times, 2025–26: approved. - Revision to 2025–26 calendar (remove remote days; add PD day Oct. 20): approved. - 2026–27 school calendar: approved. - E‑rate/Scribe network infrastructure contract for new middle school, $413,814.60 (district responsible $193,393.89; E‑rate + bond funds cover remainder): approved. - Employment as listed on personnel schedule: approved.

The board’s approvals will allow district staff to finalize vendor contracts, launch the districtwide ParentSquare rollout and begin communications with families about schedule and calendar changes.