Enid Public Schools board approves vendor contracts, DHS partnership and policy updates

The Enid Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve several vendor agreements, program partnerships and routine updates during its regular meeting.

The board approved an update tied to House Bill 3958 that lists employee-to-student communication platforms the district permits staff to use when contacting students. Superintendent Dr. Darrow presented the item and the motion to approve was made by Matt Lohman and seconded by Tory Turnbull. The roll-call vote recorded yes from Matt Lohman, Joe Blackwood, Randy Long, Kim Tinius, Tory Turnbull, Matt Sampson and Chad Mance.

The board also approved multiyear contracts with PowerSchool. The board authorized a long-term agreement for PowerSchool student information systems (including TalentEd records) with guaranteed pricing and a 4% rate increase after fiscal year 2027; the administration described the contract as a multiyear hedge against larger, unpredictable annual increases. The motion to approve the PowerSchool SIS/TalentEd contract passed on a unanimous vote (Lohman moved; Turnbull second).

Separately the board approved PowerSchool eCollect, a three-year subscription the administration said will centralize digital health forms, low-income reports and other parent-submitted records. The district will pay $10,222.97 in year one and approximately $10,584 in year three under the proposed schedule. That contract passed unanimously (motion by Kim Tinius; second by Joe Blackwood).

The board approved an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) to operate an 80% DHS / 20% Enid Public Schools school-based family services program. The program will allow the district to assign existing employees to retitled positions to provide mental-health access, basic-needs assistance, academic support and family services. The administration told the board the final contract amount is still being finalized and ranges between $200,000 and $315,000; the board voted to proceed and approved the agreement unanimously (motion by Matt Lohman; second by Joe Blackwood).

Other routine approvals included a consent agenda covering items 1 through 9, updated capacity numbers (adding a second grade at Glenwood and Garfield, increasing capacity by 18 at each school), and the district financial report for July. Chief financial officer Dr. Robinson told the board the July balances look low because the auditor's estimate-of-needs, which allows cash to be carried forward into the general and building funds, had not yet been provided; the administration said the underlying funds are available and the district expects to approve the estimate of needs in September. The motion to approve the financial report passed unanimously (motion by Tory Turnbull; second by Joe Blackwood).

The board also voted to convene an executive session on personnel negotiations and possible real-property purchase and appraisal; that motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Employee-to-student communication platforms (House Bill 3958 implementation): motion by Matt Lohman; second Tory Turnbull; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Capacity updates (Glenwood and Garfield — add second grade at each): motion by Tory Turnbull; second by Kim Tinius; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - District financial report (July): motion by Tory Turnbull; second by Joe Blackwood; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - PowerSchool SIS & TalentEd multiyear agreement (guaranteed pricing; 4% increase after FY27): motion by Tory Turnbull; second Joe Blackwood; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - PowerSchool eCollect (3-year subscription; Year 1 $10,222.97): motion by Kim Tinius; second Joe Blackwood; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - DHS school-based family services program (80% DHS / 20% EPS; estimated $200,000'$315,000): motion by Matt Lohman; second Joe Blackwood; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Consent agenda (items 1—6): motion by Joe Blackwood; second Matt Lohman; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Executive session (personnel/negotiations/real property): motion by Tory Turnbull; second Joe Blackwood; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).

The board recorded no votes in opposition during the meeting. Several approvals were accompanied by brief staff presentations; the district said most contracts are routine renewals or strategic multiyear commitments intended to stabilize budgeting for critical student information, HR and parent-facing systems.