Parents and students urge Broken Arrow board to halt proposed changes at Vanguard Academy

Dozens of parents and current students told the Broken Arrow Board of Education on Jan. 13 that a set of proposed changes to Vanguard Academy could undermine the school’s project-based curriculum and the four-year capstone experience that students say drives the program.

At the start of public comment, Shauna Conway, introduced by the board as a parent and former educator, said district messages about Vanguard have conflicted: "The messages are conflicting and confusing," and she warned that removing the application process risks reducing student buy-in that makes the program work. She asked board members to experience Vanguard classroom life firsthand.

Student speakers amplified that concern. McKenna Layton, a Vanguard junior, said parents received an email on Jan. 7 announcing up to four changes—removing freshmen, opening enrollment to all high-school students, changing bell schedules and removing the application process—while subsequent news reports and district videos gave differing accounts. "At this point, nobody knows what's happening," Layton said, urging transparency and consultation with staff and students.

Sophia Perano and other students described Vanguard as a campus that centers project-based learning, internships and senior capstones. "By closing Vanguard to freshmen, students are being robbed of the opportunity to experience Vanguard fully and develop all the skills learned," one student said, arguing that the program’s small size, block scheduling and consistent four-year pathway are central to its outcomes.

Jake (Jacob) McCoy, a Vanguard junior, told the board the program builds community and connections that lead to internships and college-level collaborations; Braden Curtis and other students said they were concerned the announced changes would disrupt continuity, capacity and specialized schedules across subprograms such as Expo and BadLab.

The commenters also pointed to inconsistent statements in the media and district communications: Layton cited stories from local outlets and a district video that at times characterized the changes as one, two, or four separate items. Students requested that the district present the underlying data referenced in press releases—enrollment, retention and program outcomes—and to involve Vanguard teachers and students in planning.

Board President Allen (first referenced in roll call) acknowledged the comments; no formal board decision on Vanguard changes was recorded at the meeting. The public comment period closed after six speakers were given three minutes each under the district’s rules for non-agenda items.

What happens next: The meeting record shows the district has discussed Vanguard changes publicly and in media statements; the board did not take action on Vanguard during this session and took no formal vote related to the program. Parents and students asked the board to delay or rework proposals until staff, teachers and students can review the data and participate in planning.