Piedmont board approves multiple operational items, sets names for two new schools and accepts labor agreement

The Piedmont Board of Education approved a slate of operational items Tuesday, including a compensation schedule for a sign-language interpreter, updated extra-duty stipends, the proposed names for two new schools, an agreement to host speech pathology clinicals from Saint Augustine University, and a revised instrument quote paid from bond funds. The board also approved the consent agenda, employment listings, and the 2025–26 agreement with the Piedmont Association of Educators (PAE).

Votes at a glance: the board approved the sign-language interpreter compensation schedule; approved extra-duty stipends as listed in Attachment D; approved the proposed names Stone Ridge Intermediate School and Scissortail Elementary School; approved an agreement with Saint Augustine University for speech-pathology student clinicals; approved a revised quote from Edmond Music for concert toms in the amount of $6,092 to be paid from bond funds; approved consent agenda items A through U; approved employment as listed on Attachment C; and approved the 2025–26 PAE negotiated agreement. The board also voted not to convene an executive session that had been listed on the agenda.

On the sign-language interpreter item, staff said the district needs a schedule because a student in the district requires an interpreter and no schedule was previously on the salary schedule. The motion to adopt the compensation schedule passed on a roll call; the transcript records favorable votes by Matt, Derek Jones, Jared Mosher and Lane Jones.

The extra-duty stipends motion likewise passed by roll call with all present voting in favor. The board approved the proposed naming of Stone Ridge Intermediate School and Scissortail Elementary School after reviewing a community survey and discussing local naming conventions. The board noted the district had considered other names and that some overlap with names in other districts is common.

The board approved an agreement to host clinical placements for speech pathology students from Saint Augustine University; the staff noted the student whose clinical placement is sought resides in the district. The board also approved a revised quote from Edmond Music for concert toms for $6,092 to be paid from bond funds; a presenter said the vendor provided a lower price on a revision.

Financial and personnel actions: the business report noted July collections were low as expected, citing a little over $470,000 collected in the general fund for July, $3,034 collected in the building fund, $0 collected for child nutrition in that month, bond proceeds of $11,925,000 from a July bond sale, and $36,733 collected in the sinking fund. Staff said final carryover numbers remain preliminary pending the auditor’s closeout and that new state requirements for child nutrition have extended auditing work.

On personnel and labor matters, the board approved employment items listed on Attachment C and unanimously approved the 2025–26 negotiated agreement with the Piedmont Association of Educators; board members praised the collaborative bargaining process. The agenda included a proposed executive session to discuss employment and negotiations under 25 O.S. § 307(B)(1) and (2), but the board voted not to convene.

Superintendent’s report: the superintendent said the district held a new-teacher academy with about 40 new teachers (compared with roughly 120 two years earlier) and noted enrollment had increased by about 140 students compared with the previous year. The superintendent showed progress on a new parking lot at the football stadium (estimated informally at about 300 spaces, which the speaker cautioned was not a precise figure) and confirmed the district expects to have storm shelters in all schools by spring; Stoneridge Elementary is the fastest-growing campus. A local bank, identified as F and M Bank in the meeting, contributed $750 tied to a half-court-shot activity and distributed two $250 awards.

No further action was taken beyond the approved items listed above; the meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m.