Enid board approves AP exam fee, tougher honors pathway, free meals and security upgrades

The Enid Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved a package of academic, operational and safety measures, including a $15 fee for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, a restructuring of its honors pathway into pre‑AP coursework, a four‑year districtwide free‑meal program under the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), expanded staff buyback pay, upgraded door‑entry card readers and wearable panic devices for staff.

The package was presented during the superintendent's report and in follow‑up agenda items and passed on routine voice votes. Superintendent Dr. Darrell framed the handbook changes as an effort to raise academic rigor and increase students' follow‑through with AP testing, and finance and operations staff described the safety and pay changes as budgeted uses of bond and building funds.

Board members said the combined actions are intended to increase academic preparation, reduce stigma in cafeteria lines and improve school safety. “This is a win‑win,” the superintendent said of the CEP decision, adding that the measure will let “every kid get a free breakfast and a free lunch” for the next four years. Mitch Liddell, who outlined the honors and AP changes for Enid High School, said the district is shifting honors courses to a nationally aligned pre‑AP curriculum in eight courses and will add two semesters of accelerated coursework to create a clearer pathway to higher‑level college work.

What the board approved

Handbook and academic pathway changes — The board approved revisions to the district handbooks at the elementary, middle and high school levels. High‑school changes included two principal items highlighted by administration: (1) a $15 charge for students who take AP exams and (2) replacing the district's traditional honors designation with a pre‑AP curriculum in eight courses (biology I, pre‑AP chemistry, Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry and English I and II, plus the eighth course noted by staff) to raise rigor and better align with AP and college expectations. Liddell said AP courses will remain available, but the district will increase out‑of‑class supports (morning/afternoon study groups and weekend options) for students pursuing AP credit. Staff said fee waivers will be available for students who cannot afford the $15 exam fee.

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) — The board approved the district's CEP application, which district staff said will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students for four years. Administration reported that last year 79% of students met free/reduced eligibility thresholds and that recent changes to CEP rules made districtwide adoption financially viable. Dr. Darrell and nutrition staff said parents will no longer need to submit free/reduced lunch applications but should still complete a one‑page low‑income report used for federal Title funding.

Employee personal‑day buyback — The board approved a second‑year expansion of the program that allows certified and 12‑month staff to sell back unused personal/vacation days. Administration said the district raised the cap on the per‑day buyback to $350 for certified staff and administrators (or an employee's daily rate, if lower) and set a support‑staff cap at $150 per day (or the employee's daily rate, if lower). District finance staff reported last year the program paid roughly $137,000 to employees and said the increase in the per‑day cap will increase program costs but is expected to reduce substitute staffing expenses and improve classroom continuity.

Security and safety upgrades — The board authorized purchase of upgraded door‑entry card readers across the district and wearable panic devices for all teachers. Administration said the existing readers are more than 15 years old; the replacement system will use more secure readers to reduce cloning risk. The wearable panic device is sized like an ID badge, designed to be worn on a lanyard, and will trigger a 911 call and lockdown sequence when activated; staff said the system will be geofenced to each site and includes a three‑year service/license component the district cited in its cost estimate.

Facilities and partnerships — The board authorized continuing a contract with the Head Start provider Big 5 for use of Carver Elementary, granting the superintendent (Randy Rader) authority to sign an updated agreement prior to the next meeting. Under the arrangement, Big 5 will staff and operate its program, reimburse the district for cafeteria meals served to its students and handle building repairs in lieu of rent; the district will continue routine grounds maintenance. The board also approved Henson Construction to continue serving as construction manager/consultant on district building projects and received an update on the Eisenhower school project, including fundraising led by the mayor.

Other operational votes — The board approved updated student‑capacity and inter‑district transfer numbers (the only change noted was adding a kindergarten section at Prairie View), a routine financial report closing FY25 with carryover funds, the elimination of credit‑card transaction user fees for district payments, and adopted next year's board meeting dates.

Why it matters

Administrators said the handbook and curriculum changes aim to increase student preparedness for college‑level work and to encourage students who enroll in AP classes to complete the national exams. The CEP adoption removes the need for household free/reduced applications, which nutrition staff said reduces potential stigma and ensures every student has access to a meal. The safety upgrades and buyback program were presented as measures to improve classroom stability and staff safety.

Votes at a glance

- Approve handbook updates (elementary, middle, high school, athletic): motion passed unanimously. Recorded votes called in roll: Matt Lowman, Joe Blackwood, Randy Long, Kim Tinius, Tory Turnbull, Chad Mance — all "Yes." Motion to approve moved by Matt Lowman; second recorded on the transcript. - Approve updated student capacity/inter‑district transfer numbers (added kindergarten at Prairie View): unanimous "Yes." Moved by Tory Turnbull; second by Joe Blackwood. - Approve expansion of employee personal‑day buyback (increase cap to $350 certified/$150 support): unanimous "Yes." Motion by Randy Long; second by Matt Lowman. - Approve board meeting dates for next year: unanimous "Yes." - Authorize contract continuation with Big 5 for Carver Elementary and delegation to sign updated contract: unanimous "Yes." Motion by Matt Lowman; second by Joe Blackwood. - Approve district financial report for June/FY25 with corrections to typographical entries: unanimous "Yes." Motion by Matt Lowman; second by Tory Turnbull. - Approve installation of upgraded card readers and purchase of wearable panic devices using Fund 35, 1:1 and security bond funds: unanimous "Yes." Motion by Tory Turnbull; second by Matt Lowman/Joe Blackwood as recorded. - Approve Henson Construction as construction manager/consultant for district projects: unanimous "Yes." - Approve elimination of credit card user fees for district transactions: unanimous "Yes." - Approve Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) application to provide free breakfast and lunch districtwide for four years: unanimous "Yes." Motion by Tory Turnbull; second by Joe Blackwood.

What the board did not decide

The board did not change the underlying AP curriculum or list specific AP course capacities beyond the administrative plan to expand supports and to charge a $15 exam fee (with waivers available). Several projects (Eisenhower construction phase details, final contracts and purchase orders) remain in the design/contracting stage and will return to the board for final approvals as needed.

Sources and attribution

The reporting is based on the board meeting transcript and on statements made on the record by Enid Public Schools superintendent Dr. Darrell; Mitch Liddell, who presented the high school handbook and curriculum changes; Dr. Robinson, who discussed the buyback program and finances; Randy Rader, who discussed the Big 5 contract; and other board members during roll‑call votes and discussion. Direct quotations are attributed to speakers as recorded in the meeting.

Closing

Administrators urged families to review the updated handbook materials posted online, to note the no‑cell‑phone policy for secondary students, and to complete any district low‑income reporting forms that support federal funding even though household free/reduced meal applications will no longer be necessary under CEP. The board set its next regular meeting for 2025‑08‑18 at 6 p.m. in the district boardroom.