Weatherford Superintendent Jill Henderson said Weatherford Public Schools, and all Oklahoma public schools, are not subject to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate put in place by President Joe Biden.
This mandate requires all federal employees to be vaccinated. It also requires businesses with more than 100 employees to have those employees get vaccinated or test weekly for COVID-19.
Henderson said this information comes from the Oklahoma State School Board Association (OSSBA), which provides partnered school boards and superintendents with policy assistance and legal information.
The vaccine mandate will be implemented through emergency rules by the Occupations Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“Public schools in Oklahoma are not subject to OSHA regulations, so the vaccine and testing rules would not apply to the school district employees – including those whose salaries are funded by federal dollars,” Henderson said.
Other points during the superintendent’s report included the district accounts and budget status, various building projects and ongoing professional training.
Revenue for the district is up from the previous year and expenditures are on budget. Gross production is a little more than double from the previous year. Building and child nutrition funds are healthy and on track for the year.
The turf and track projects at Woody Roof Field have been completed. The final walkthrough for the track project will happen before the Homecoming Rally Friday afternoon.
Henderson said the new schools are moving along steadily, but it may be difficult to see much progress at this point because a lot of work is being done on the inside.
All administrators have completed training for the Tulsa model evaluation tool. Assistant Superintendent Steve Callen and Curriculum Director Doug Gunselman will attend training for the administration evaluation tool.
District administration will be attending a SWIFT Conference in Elk City which will include all three Project AWARE school districts.
Parent-teacher conferences are noon to 7 p.m. Monday. Parents have the option of scheduling a conference inperson or on the phone.
The annual drop-out report indicates Weatherford High School only had one student drop out during the 2020-21 school year.
The Weatherford principals also gave their monthly reporting during the school board meeting Monday evening.
Burcham Principal Brooke Brown said the school site had 511 students enrolled with 155 in Pre-K, 190 in Kindergarten and 166 in first grade.
All required safety drills have been completed and baseline testing has been done. Brown said the site had its first Students of the Month Assembly. While parents still are not attending, the children are able to gather as a group.
Health screenings by District Nurse Jane Cole have been completed with help from the SWOSU nursing students.
Pre-K students have their first field trip to the Custer County Free Fair Friday morning.
East Elementary Principal Brad Howl said the school site has 322 students enrolled.
Third grade students have begun ACT Mosaic, which replaces ACT Aspire, assessments and began health screenings this week. After school programs began Monday.
West Elementary Principal Meagan Merkey said the school site has 342 students enrolled.
Fourth and fifth grades have begun using ACT Mosaic. The annual fundraiser kicks off Friday. Items for purchase include various flavors of cookies dough and fall décor.
Weatherford Middle School Principal Dru Svitak said the school site has 509 students enrolled.
A new student recognition program titled #GOALS, which stands for Gives great effort, Offers help to others, Amazing attitude, Leadership skills and Self-control. Twelve students have been recognized so far and every nine weeks one of those already recognized will be named a top student.
All students have completed their ACT Mosaic placement tests and will begin interim tests in the coming weeks.
Three special education students and three unified partners attended the Oklahom Special Olympics to compete.
Fifteen students are participating in speech and debate.
Weatherford High School Principal Garrett Smith said 590 students are enrolled at the school site.
October 5, the district will be offering free ACT testing to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
The Homecoming ceremony will be 6:30 p.m. Friday before the game against Woodward. The pep rally will be 1 p.m.
September 15, a WHS studen will be named as a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist.