William Barry Love Foundation pledges nearly $1 million to Muskogee schools for intervention and after‑school programs
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Summary
At the Aug. 12 Muskogee Public Schools Board meeting, a representative of the William Barry Love Foundation presented a check and outlined a three‑year funding commitment to pay for elementary interventionists and after‑school programs, including a $100,000 grant for a sixth‑ and seventh‑grade program.
The Muskogee Public Schools Board of Education on Aug. 12 received a multi‑year funding commitment from the William Barry Love Foundation to pay for elementary reading and math interventionists and to support after‑school programs.
Foundation representative Gulley told the board the foundation has designated Muskogee Public Schools as a recurring beneficiary of funds from Lovett Bowling Company and presented a check on the spot to cover 10 interventionist positions — five reading and five math interventionists — and reiterated the foundation’s intent to support other programs, including Pershing after‑school and a sixth‑ and seventh‑grade after‑school program funded at $100,000. Gulley said the total of the items discussed “comes up to $981,000.” He also said the foundation intends funding to run for three years.
The commitment is intended to pay salaries and benefits for interventionists who will pull students for remediation during the school day, and to continue support for after‑school programs the district reported had lost prior funding. Superintendent Dr. Mendenhall described the donation as an example of strong community support and said the district will track effectiveness over the three‑year period.
Dr. Mendenhall thanked Donna Parker, whom he called the district’s conduit for coordinating with local partners, and noted other local organizations — including the Muskogee Foundation and tribal partners — have provided substantial support in prior years. Foundation leaders asked to take a photograph with the board and to document the gift for their archives.
The board did not take a formal vote on receipt of the funds during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript; district staff said they have already shared some funds with district programs. Dr. Mendenhall said the district will monitor outcomes and will know whether to continue funding in subsequent years.
The foundation presentation and the superintendent’s remarks lasted into general discussion; the district will incorporate the funds into its budget and report back on program effectiveness in future board meetings.