The Sand Springs Board of Education approved a series of personnel, policy and facilities measures at its regular monthly meeting while district leaders warned the Community Eligibility Provision (universal free school meals) is unlikely to continue next school year as carryover funds decline.

Superintendent's staff and board members framed the meeting around three fiscal pressures: flat state funding, falling enrollment and rising construction/materials costs. “Right now we're sitting at a retention rate of 93%,” Miss Durkee said, citing the district’s current teacher-retention calculation as a sign of stability even as administrators plan for a “flat budget.”

Why it matters: decisions on budgets, contracts and staffing will affect whether the district can continue some programs, how quickly a large remodel at Clyde Boyd Middle School finishes and whether the district can absorb higher supply costs tied to tariffs.

Board members heard a finance update and several grant and program reports. Cassidy (district finance staff) gave a carryover estimate that factored into the free-meal decision: the district “did have $1,700,000 carryover in there,” and staff estimated the testing of universal meals used roughly “around 4 to 500,000,” leading district leaders to conclude continuing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) next year is unlikely without additional funds. District staff said they will communicate the change to families if the program cannot be funded.

The board received a report on a Pathways to Partnership grant to expand transition programming for students with significant disabilities. Miss Laubers described the award as “a 3 year 120000 dollars grant” and said funding will allow the district “to hire a support paraprofessional to be trained as a job coach” and to start two simulated businesses at the middle-school level (a plant business and a mobile spirit store) to teach students job and life skills.

Administrators also reported other student-engagement support and donations: the district acknowledged a $10,000 donation from Erin and Bo Noggle to the district BMX program and highlighted recent additions to extracurricular offerings (BMX, archery, fishing, welding, esports and others) intended to boost retention and recruitment.

Facilities updates: the Clyde Boyd Middle School renovation remains on schedule for July completion, district staff said, while the board approved $157,000 to VIP Technology Solutions Group for a central administration access-control and alarm system. Staff warned tariffs and supply shortages are increasing costs; the district noted a roughly $600,000 lighting package could face a 20–30% price increase if not ordered promptly, and the administration authorized moving forward to avoid added charges.

Policy and operational changes included revisions to leave and nondiscrimination language, a cleanup to the district Internet/Google platform agreement and steps to reduce administrative friction around paying officials (arbiter onboarding and a separate checking account for referee payments).

Board members and administrators emphasized the need to be conservative on hiring and budgets while protecting services: “When we know our student enrollment's down…then we adjust accordingly,” Miss Durkee said, noting the district must plan for personnel costs that represent the majority of its budget.

Votes at a glance — significant actions taken by the board (motion totals follow each item):
- Consent agenda approved (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye). The consent agenda included routine items and travel requests (for example, Clyde Boyd Middle School archery team national bid).
- Employment recommendation approved: one paraprofessional at Garfield STEAM Academy (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Executive session entered to discuss resignation agreements (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Nay; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye). Following executive session the board returned to open session.
- Resignation agreement accepted for Stacy Isaac (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Resignation agreement accepted for Mark Garrett (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Five policy revisions approved, including updates to personal leave language and nondiscrimination/Title IX coordination (motion passed; Hanlon Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Instructional-calendar revision for seven inclement-weather days approved to avoid extending school into June (motion passed; Hanlon Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Bid award approved: VIP Technology Solutions Group — central administration access-control and alarm system, $157,000 (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Roof repair/upgrade contracts for Limestone and Clyde Boyd approved (motion passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).
- Arbiter onboarding and a separate activity/referee bank account approved to manage officials’ payments and TRS (teacher retirement system) burdens (motions passed; Hamlin Aye; Naugle Aye; Spoon Aye; Mullins Aye).

What’s next: district staff said they will notify families about the likely end of universal free meals for all students and continue posting and filling positions that are open. Administrators also said they will proceed with the ordered lighting materials to avoid tariff-driven cost increases and expect the Clyde Boyd project to be complete in July.

The meeting included multiple recognitions and awards to students and staff earlier in the evening; the board recessed into a short executive session to discuss the two resignation agreements and returned to accept those agreements by formal vote. The board closed the session with routine announcements about the Sand Springs Education Foundation event and other community activities.