Freedom Public Schools board approves hires, credit policies and vendor renewal; tables senior trip proposal

The Freedom Public Schools Board of Education on an evening meeting approved a slate of routine items, hired two temporary staff for the 2026–27 school year, accepted multiple college-credit pathways for students and renewed a food-service contract, while tabling a proposal on the frequency of senior trips.

The board voted to approve the consent agenda, which included the student and staff handbooks (no substantive changes), crisis-management materials and related administrative policies. The board noted an increase to policy V that adds six hours and one additional day to the prior 1,080-hour figure. The motion to approve the consent agenda passed on a roll-call vote; Kyle Rhodes, Philip Kirkpatrick, Amanda Schrader and Shane Morris voted yes.

The board entered executive session under Oklahoma Statute 25 §307 to discuss employment-related matters and returned to open session at 7:28 p.m. A compliance announcement stated that the only matters discussed in executive session were those listed on the agenda and that no votes were taken while in executive session.

Personnel and staffing: The board recommended hiring Reta Matthews and Kaylee Clyburn on temporary contracts for the 2026–27 school year. The motion to hire both individuals was seconded and carried on roll call (Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris voting yes). The board also approved the appointment of Brookmeyer as an adjunct instructor for anatomy and physiology at Northwest Technology Center for fiscal year 2027; that motion passed by the same recorded vote.

Credits and curriculum: The board approved continuing to accept approved concurrent-enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) courses as credit toward high school graduation and separately approved accepting dual-enrollment credits, including math and science credits from Northwest Technology Center. Both votes were carried by roll call (Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris yes).

Procurement: The board authorized renewal of the district’s Child Nutrition Program (CNP) prime-vendor arrangement by piggybacking off Edmond Public Schools to continue using US Foods, noting the district has used that approach for several years. The vendor renewal motion carried on the board’s roll-call vote.

Senior trip proposal tabled: The board discussed a proposal to make the senior trip a high-school–wide trip held once every four years beginning in May 2027 for graduates from the classes of 2027 through 2030. Board members expressed concerns about small class sizes, fundraising burdens and student maturity for a combined trip. A motion to table the proposal passed on roll call (Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris yes).

Governance and administration: The board affirmed its current officer alignment by acclamation — Shane Morris as president, Philip Kirkpatrick as vice president and Kyle Rhodes as clerk — and approved a policy allowing the use of a signature stamp for official signatures with permission; board members said the president or clerk are typically contacted before a stamp is used. Both items were recorded as approved.

Other items: Board members announced upcoming events including the FFA and all-sports banquet and noted graduation dates (May 8 or May 9 were both mentioned in discussion). The board recorded that it had no resignations to accept and reported no hires for support certified staff at this time.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (roll call: Kyle Rhodes, Philip Kirkpatrick, Amanda Schrader, Shane Morris — yes). Outcome: approved. - Enter executive session (Oklahoma Statute 25 §307): motion carried; board entered at 7:05 and returned at 7:28. Outcome: executive session held; no votes taken in session. - Hire Reta Matthews and Kaylee Clyburn (temporary contracts, 2026–27): approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: approved. - Accept concurrent/AP credits toward graduation: approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: approved. - Accept dual enrollment credits (including Northwest Technology Center math/science): approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: approved. - Appoint Brookmeyer as adjunct for anatomy & physiology (FY 2027): approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: approved. - Renew CNP prime vendor via piggyback (US Foods/Edmond Public Schools): approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: approved. - Senior trip frequency proposal (make trip quadrennial starting May 2027): motion to table approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: tabled. - Board officers confirmed by acclamation (Morris president, Kirkpatrick vice president, Rhodes clerk): acknowledged/approved. Outcome: approved. - Signature stamp for official signatures: approved (roll call: Rhodes, Kirkpatrick, Schrader, Morris — yes). Outcome: approved.

What this means: The board’s actions were largely procedural and operational — approving staffing recommendations, formalizing credit-acceptance policy, and renewing a longstanding vendor arrangement. The senior trip proposal was postponed for further consideration. The transcript records discussion about a possible state teacher pay increase of $2,000, but board members noted uncertainty about whether the legislature would allocate funds as a line item (which would deliver the full $2,000 per teacher) or via a formula tied to enrollment; the fiscal impact to the district depends on that decision and was not resolved during the meeting.

Next steps: Temporary hires will be placed on district contracts for the 2026–27 school year as recorded. The senior-trip proposal remains under consideration and was tabled for future action. The board adjourned after recording authority to sign documents as needed.