Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Board Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School board approves three construction bid packages, calendar, teacher-conduct policy and bond sale authorization
Summary
The Norman Public School Board approved multiple construction bid packages for Oklahoma Aviation Academy, Cleveland Elementary and Longfellow Middle School; adopted the 2026–27 instructional calendar and a revised teacher standards policy; and authorized two series of general obligation bonds. All items passed on recorded roll-call votes.
The Norman Public School Board of Education voted unanimously to approve multiple construction bid packages, adopt the 2026–27 instructional calendar, adopt a revised teacher standards policy, and authorize two series of general obligation bonds during its regular meeting.
Board members approved bid packages for the Oklahoma Aviation Academy, Cleveland Elementary Innovations (phase 2) and Longfellow Middle School after presentations from district staff and Manhattan Construction subcontractor tabulations. Brett Collins, vice president of operations for Manhattan Construction, reviewed the bid tabulations and said the teams vetted sole-source and limited-competition bids for specialized items — for example, hangar doors and operable glass partitions — and confirmed pricing and product compliance. Board members asked specific questions about unusually low bids on certain line items and were told the low bids were due to bidder scope clarifications or bid breakdowns; Collins said project teams verified product compatibility and compliance.
The board also adopted the district’s 2026–27 instructional calendar following a review by the calendar committee. Holly Nevills said the committee surveyed more than 900 respondents and that more than 60% favored keeping fall break adjacent to the University of Oklahoma’s OU-Texas weekend and retaining the professional day at that time.
Board members approved a new Board Policy 3013, consolidating the state’s standards of performance and conduct for teachers into one policy to align with the Oklahoma Administrative Code revisions adopted in 2024. The policy adds a required item (item G in the presented draft) clarifying due-process information related to educator misconduct or the promotion of certain materials in settings with younger students. Board members asked whether the change would affect librarians; staff said it was not intended to apply to librarians.
Zach (district finance staff) presented two separate action items to call bond sales and accept bids: one series of combined-purpose, tax-exempt general obligation bonds and a separate federally taxable series. The board authorized staff to accept bids on both series on February 24 and to report back to the board the evening of the sale. Finance staff explained the district is issuing both series this year because of timing and use-of-proceeds constraints; taxable bonds were minimized, staff said, because taxable yields have been relatively higher.
All motions were adopted on roll-call votes with the board voting "Yes" on the recorded items.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (Items A–L): approved on roll call — Tina Floyd: yes; Dirk O'Hara: yes; Alex Regiers: yes; Dawn Brockman: yes; Ms. Sassa (presiding): yes. - Approve bid package for Oklahoma Aviation Academy with listed subcontractors: approved unanimously (same roll-call: all yes). - Approve bid package for Cleveland Elementary Innovations (Phase 2): approved unanimously. - Approve bid package for Longfellow Middle School: approved unanimously. - Approve Norman Public Schools 2026–27 instructional calendar: approved unanimously. - Adopt Board Policy 3013 (Standards of Performance and Conduct for Teachers) as presented: approved unanimously. - Authorize sale of general obligation combined-purpose bonds (bond sale to accept bids Feb. 24): approved unanimously. - Authorize sale of general obligation building bonds, federally taxable series 2025 (separate series, bids due Feb. 24): approved unanimously.
Context and next steps Presenters said most construction bid packages fall within the district’s 2023 bond budget and that project teams plan to maximize summer construction windows to limit impacts to students. Finance staff said they expect to accept bids on Feb. 24 and return to the board that evening with the results and final sale details. The adopted teacher-conduct policy takes effect immediately, according to staff. The board also entered and exited an executive session to discuss the superintendent’s evaluation under the cited Oklahoma statute; staff reported no votes were taken in closed session.
