Midwest City-Del City board approves virtual assessment days, instructional purchases, construction work and personnel moves

The Midwest City-Del City Public Schools Board of Education on Wednesday approved two virtual instructional days this school year to accommodate state assessments, authorized purchases of classroom software and equipment, approved multiple construction and repair contracts and confirmed several personnel appointments.

The board voted to allow two virtual instructional days tied to the administration of state-required assessments for 11th graders and recommended college-readiness assessments for ninth and 10th graders, citing compliance with Senate Bill 758. Board members also approved the related virtual-instruction plan that must be submitted to the state superintendent by Nov. 1 under the bill’s requirements.

Why it matters: The virtual days change the instructional calendar for the affected grades and require a formal plan and state approval. District administrators told the board the days are specifically to facilitate testing and linked the action to the state statute cited during the meeting.

Board members considered and approved several policy updates and accreditations-related revisions recommended for compliance with state accreditation and OSSBA guidance, including changes that move some procedural material into a regulation so the district can update contact information for coordinators without a full policy revision. The board also approved updates to the district’s child-abuse training and student-records policy to incorporate FERPA-related requirements.

The board received and approved an estimate-of-needs document that sets the district’s millage planning. Staff reported the district targeted 32 mills but the calculated millage for the estimate needs form is 29.3 mills, a result district staff attributed to roughly 7% growth in net assessed valuation. Board members discussed how auditors produce the estimate needs using bond maturity schedules and assessed valuation figures.

On curriculum and instructional tools, the board approved districtwide access to IXL as a supplemental standards-aligned practice tool. School-level license examples discussed during the meeting included roughly $27,000 for one site and $5,600 for another; district staff said they will rost er IXL through ClassLink and pull usage and outcome data for review. Board members requested a clearer dashboard of vendor tools, spending and measurable effectiveness linked to student outcomes before future vendor approvals.

Facilities and capital work approved included: continuing bond-funded construction at multiple campuses (Townsend Elementary, Epperly Heights, Karl Albert Middle, Midwest City Middle School, Del City Middle School and Carl Albert High School), approval of selected architecture/engineering fees for a practical-nursing and health-career remodel and related maintenance-building work, authorization for structural repairs to the Midwest City High School field house following an engineering study, and authorization to proceed with critical roof/partial reroute work on a district transportation/building facility. The board also approved an RFP-based purchase of industrial-technology training equipment for a new program and other smaller maintenance contracts. Timelines for some repair projects were described as pending contractor scheduling.

Personnel decisions: The board approved routine human-resources recommendations, including hiring and resignations listed in the HR report, and confirmed the district’s recommendation to appoint Tiffany Broyles to the Tinker Tech director position and Sarah Small as assistant principal at Townsend Elementary.

Public comment and other business: During public comment, George Smith, identified as mayor of Forest Park, said his city submitted a bid on a district-owned property at 36 Schroeder and expressed interest in developing a walking park. The board accepted the bid notice as a public comment item; no board action on the property was taken at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the consent agenda; approved two virtual days and the required virtual-instruction submission under Senate Bill 758; adopted the estimate-of-needs document (millage estimate reported as 29.3 mills, target used in planning 32 mills); approved policy revisions for accreditation (C20, C21, J25) and the separation of C22 into a policy and regulation (R1); approved the IXL district access/purchase; approved adult meal-price increases for employees/adults (breakfast from $2.50 to $3.00 and lunch from $5.00 to $5.25); authorized multiple facility contracts and architecture/engineering fees for remodeling and repairs; approved industrial-technology equipment purchases; approved HR recommendations including appointments of Tiffany Broyles and Sarah Small; and authorized waiver requests for library staffing at specified elementary schools.

The board did not identify any items that were tabled or failed during the session; motions presented were seconded and recorded as approved. Several agenda items referenced required follow-up actions, including state submission deadlines and contractor scheduling.

The district’s bond program update included slides and verbal reports showing active construction at multiple campuses and progress on storm shelters, kitchen/cafeteria renovations, media-center plumbing and other projects funded through the bond program. District staff cautioned that weather and permit delays had affected start dates on several sites.

The meeting concluded after routine approvals and the board moved on to other business on its agenda.