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Board Proclaims Youth
Arts Month
The board on Monday night approved a proclamation declaring March as Youth
Arts month in the district. The proclamation recognizes the benefits of arts education
to students at all levels and identifies arts as “necessary for the full development of all
students.” (The full text of the proclamation is on page 2.)
The proclamation was presented to the board for consideration by Cristy Gosset,
music director at Western Oaks Elementary School and the Elementary General Music
Coordinator for the district.
Fine Arts Program Chairs
As part of a presentation on fine arts in Putnam City, Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist
Jason Memoli introduced to the board the district fine arts chairs within each discipline:
• Kimberly Scott, Elementary Visual Art
• Cristy Gosset, Elementary General Music
• Steve Whitfield, Secondary Visual Art
• Rose Mary Baker, Drama, Speech, Dance and Stagecraft
• Susan Clothier, Band
• Jo Ann Struck, Secondary Vocal Music
• Anne Guevara, Orchestra
(continued on page 2)
Nhu Dang of Putnam City High School and Austin Bennett of Putnam City North
High School have been named to the 2015 Academic All-State Class by the Oklahoma
Foundation for Excellence. Ms. Dang and Mr. Bennett are two of the 100 top public
high school seniors in Oklahoma selected from 558 nominations statewide and hailing
from 74 different schools in 66 Oklahoma school districts. Since the award program’s
inception in 1987, Putnam City has the third-highest number of Academic
All-Staters in Oklahoma, ranking only behind Edmond and Tulsa.
The District’s annual teacher job fair will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday,
April 14, at the District Administration Building. Please help us spread the word because
each year, surveys tell us that many teachers and young people about to become teachers
hear about the job fair from friends, family and district employees. Getting the word
out is one way we can all do our part to continue to add the brightest and most talented
teachers to our classrooms.
(continued on page 2)
March 2, 2015
Two parents of district students
addressed the board Monday night.
Christine Watson spoke to the board
about what she described as bullying
incidents at Putnam City North.
Stephanie Abston spoke on behalf of
Londaryl Perry and the positive impact
he has on Putnam City North students.
Board members thanked the
district’s fine arts staff for their work and
talked about the ways in which fine arts
benefit students. They expressed support
for arts programming and Youth Arts
month. They thanked Putnam City North
student Yana Dyachkova for donating a
piece of her art for permanent display in
the district. They also thanked Putnam
City High School Principal Diana
Lebsack for her presentation.
Tammy West congratulated
Western Oaks Middle School on winning
a $40,000 AVID grant. She also thanked
Cindy Gibbs for her inspirational
message.
(continued on page 3)
Meeting Date:
Location:
Roll Call:
Next Meeting: Monday, March 2, 5 p.m.
Administration Building
Three members of the board
were present: Cindy Gibbs, president;
Becky Haliburton, vice president;
and Tammy West. Also present were
Dr. Fred Rhodes, superintendent;
and Sandy Lemaster, deputy
board clerk.
Monday, April 6, 5 p.m.
Putnam City Schools does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin,
age, marital or veteran status, or disability.
March 2, 2015
Youth Arts Month
(continued from page 1)
Donation of Art
As part of Youth Arts Month, Yana Dyachkova, a senior at Putnam City North High
School, donated for permanent display in the district a print of her acrylic painting,
“The Evils of Men.”
Student Performances
Two Putnam City High School students, Abigail Schmitz and Meranda Griffin,
performed “Stepsisters’ Lament” from Cinderella. Students at all three high schools will
soon be staging productions. Putnam City High students will present Cinderella at 7 p.m.
on March 6 and 7 in the school auditorium. At Putnam City West, Damn Yankees will be
on stage at 7 p.m. on March 5 and 6 and 7:30 p.m. on March 7. At Putnam City North in
the school’s Little Theatre, No Child will be offered at 7 p.m. on March 21 and You Can’t
Take it With You will be presented at 7 p.m. on March 27 and 28.
In addition to the musical performance at the meeting, five members of Putnam
City’s Silver Strings orchestra – Travis Myers, Oliver Nguyen, Noah Bowles,
Claire Dittelmier and Sydney Borkins – performed before the meeting started.
Superintendent’s Report
(continued from page 1)
One of Putnam City’s most meaningful and longstanding traditions is raising money
for cancer research. Since this is the district’s centennial year, we have set the goal of
raising at least $100,000 to support the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in
the battle against cancer. Students at every school across the district take part in this
worthwhile community project. The most recent event was the 6th annual Putnam City
United Against Cancer Soccer Classic, which took place Wednesday, Feb. 25. We
commend the players and coaches at all three of our high schools who put this event
together, and we also thank Mustang, Edmond Santa Fe and Northwest Classen for
competing in these games and helping in the cause.
In Putnam City, we educate the whole child. In addition to teaching the academics, we
want to encourage our students to be service and community minded. Each year, many
of our students spend time and energy in service to our community in a variety of ways
such as volunteering at the Regional Food Bank, Feed the Children, the Infant Crisis
Center and many other community organizations and events. For our Centennial year, we
set the goal of at least 100 acts of community service. Our teachers and administrators
record these efforts on .pc, the district’s intranet. Right now, the records indicate our
students and staff have engaged in 89 acts of community service involving 2,111
volunteers and spending 1,257 hours in these efforts. All are to be congratulated and we
look forward to exceeding the goal of 100!
The Board of Education is seeking a new member for the board seat of District 2 that
was left vacant due to the resignation of board member Bren Smith. District 2 is
an irregularly shaped district that stretches as far north as Wilshire, as far south as
N.W. 46th, as far west as Rockwell and as far east as May Avenue. Anyone who wishes
to be considered for the District 2 seat must be a resident of District 2 and must be a
registered voter in that area. The board is accepting applications for that seat until
4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 and interviews with candidates will be held at a
special meeting on Monday, March 23. For those interested, full details about
District 2 and the process of naming a new board member are in a press release on the
district website at https://www.putnamcityschools.org/News/NewsReleases/NewsItems/
tabid/2137/newsid/52/Default.aspx
Youth Arts Month
Proclamation
WHEREAS, fine arts education
contributes powerful educational benefits
to all elementary, middle and secondary
students, including the following:
• Fine arts education develops
students’ creative problem-solving
and critical-thinking abilities,
• Fine arts education teaches
sensitivity to beauty, order and
other expressive qualities,
• Fine arts education gives students
deeper understanding of cultural
and multi-cultural values and
beliefs,
• Fine arts education reinforces and
brings to life what students learn in
other subjects, and
• Fine arts education interrelates
student learning in art production,
art history, art criticism and
aesthetics, and
WHEREAS our national leaders have
acknowledged the necessity of including
fine arts experiences in all students’
education and that support should be
given to fine arts teachers as they
attempt to strengthen art education in
their schools and communities
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that
support should be given to fine arts
teachers as they attempt to strengthen art
education in their schools and
communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is proclaimed
that March be observed as Youth Arts
Month. All citizens are urged to take
interest in and give full support to
quality school arts programs for children
and youth.
PAGE 3
March 2, 2015
Board Approves Summer School
Summer school dates, times and locations were approved at Monday night’s board
meeting. The summer school schedule looks like this:
High School Summer School
These sessions allow students the opportunity to take classes they need to meet
graduation requirements.
Location: Putnam City West High School
Dates: June 2 – June 26 (Monday through Friday)
Time: 8 – 11:30 a.m., 12:30 – 4 p.m.
Cost: $220 per session
Middle School 21st Century Learning Skills Camp
The 21st Century Learning Skills Camp provides a fun, technology-rich opportunity to
enhance language arts and math skills.
Location: Western Oaks Middle School
Dates: June 2 – June 26 (Monday through Friday)
Class Time: 8 a.m. – noon
Elementary Summer School
Elementary summer school provides intensive reading instruction for Title I students in
grades 2 and 3 on an academic progress plan.
Locations: Central Elementary, Hilldale Elementary
Dates: June 2 – June 26 (Monday through Friday)
Time: 8 a.m. – noon
Elementary Summer Reading Academy
The elementary summer reading academy provides intensive reading instruction for
non-Title I 3rd-grade students on an academic progress plan.
Locations: Ralph Downs Elementary School
Dates: June 2 – June 26 (Monday through Friday)
Time: 8 a.m. – noon
Counterpoint
This class provides opportunities for talented students in Putnam City schools to work
with professionals in the performing arts areas.
Location: Capps Middle School
Date: June 1 – June 12
Time: 8:30 a.m. – noon
Cost: $100
Summer Spectacular
These classes provide options for students in kindergarten through grade 5 to be involved
in high-interest, hands-on and creative endeavors.
Location: Will Rogers Elementary School
Date: June 2 – June 19
Time: 8 a.m. – noon
Cost: $175
Extended School Year (Special Education)
This class helps prevent and reduce educational regression over the summer.
Location: Putnam City West High School
Dates: June 2 – June 26 (Monday through Friday)
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Board Comments
(continued from page 1)
Becky Haliburton thanked Christine
Watson and Stephanie Abston for
bringing their concerns to the board.
Cindy Gibbs congratulated Zachary
Moore of Putnam City High School,
who finished first in the state wrestling
tournament in the 145-pound weight
class, and Evan Hudson of Putnam City
North, who took second place in the
195-pound class. She also noted that
Central Elementary teacher Lou Ann
Chumbley, who is retiring at the end of
the year, will be missed.
Test Coordinators
to Receive Training
The board on Monday night
approved a contract with Dr. Peter
Pierro to provide training to building test
coordinators.
Pierro is a retired professor of
education, teacher, curriculum director
and testing supervisor, will talk to test
coordinators about the history, purpose
and use of standardized tests.
The $500 cost of the training will be
covered by the district’s General Fund.
PAGE 4
March 2, 2015
Approval Given for Projects to
Move Ahead
The board on Monday night approved the hiring of Pope Contracting to manage
construction of a new set of rest rooms on the second floor at Northridge Elementary
School. The cost of the job, not to exceed $85,833,will be covered by bond funds
approved by voters in November 2009.
The board likewise approved the hiring of Pope Contracting for construction
management of a ceiling project at Northridge. The job includes replacement of the
ceiling grid and tiles in the halls and 13 classrooms in the original two-story section of
the building. The cost of the job, not to exceed $270,000 will be covered by bond funds
approved by voters in November 2009.
The board also approved the hiring of BNJ Builders to manage renovation of the
kindergarten playground. The deteriorating asphalt on the playground will be torn out,
the soil will be stabilized and new asphalt will be put in place. The cost of the job, not
to exceed $122,000, will be covered by bond funds approved by voters in November
2009.
All three projects are expected to begin shortly after school gets out in May and be
completed before classes begin in August.
The board also approved a change order from Globe Construction that will allow
modification to doors and underground sanitary and storm sewer lines.
The $35,661 cost of the change order will be covered by bond funds approved
by voters in November 2009.
Board Highlights is not a comprehensive review
of every item that takes place at board of education
meetings. Its purpose is merely to provide
information about items that seem of most
interest to district employees and patrons.
Complete board meeting minutes may be found at
http://www.putnamcityschools.org/BoardofEducation/BoardMeetingMinutes/tabid/565/Default.aspx