PCPS District Administrators Attend Meeting

Administrators from Ponca City Public Schools met Monday afternoon and discussed the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.

Randy Empting, director of transportation, said that due to a federal mandate until Sept. 13, 2021, all students riding a school bus will be required to wear a mask. “All riders and bus drivers must wear a mask or face covering,” said Empting.

Empting said the district is still in need of bus drivers with a starting pay of $15 per hour.

Jeff Denton, director of the Child Nutrition Program, said all breakfast and lunches are free this year for all students. “The cost for an adult meal will be $4.15 this year,” said Denton. He also said the department has had to replace 12 employees this summer, including five of the site secretaries.

Denton said he plans to start Chef Jeff assemblies again possibly once a month at the elementary sites. The assemblies discuss how eating affects your body.

Parents/guardians are still urged to submit a low-income application for free and reduced lunches even though students will be eating for free this year. “These numbers benefit the district because we receive funding.”

New cafeteria tables are being added at many of the school sites. “The high school tables should be here before we start school,” said Denton. “Some of the tables at the high school have been used since the 1970s.”

Athletic director Jason Leavitt said a new online ticket system called GoFan will be used this fall. “We are really excited to be able to offer this to our fans,” said Leavitt. “We will still sell tickets at the ticket booth but fans can download the app on their phone and buy tickets that way.”

Leavitt said the district’s first home game will be a softball game on Aug. 9.

Bret Smith, Executive Director of Operations, reminded site principals that the first fire drills of the season would be held within the first 15 days of school. He also reviewed CASPR units being installed in every classroom throughout the district and the implementation of It’s Nanoed, which is a sanitization and barrier product.

Dr. Dalana Hawkins, Director of Secondary Curriculum, gave administrators an update on Ponca City Virtual Academy. “I was at registration the last two weeks and overall most parents are eager to have their children go back to school,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins said the district has received 10 elementary applications, nine middle school applications and 36 applications for students to attend PCVA this year. “The numbers are very low because we just feel kids are ready to go to school.”

Teri Vogele, Director of Elementary Curriculum, reminded principals to have teachers apply for grants from the Ponca City School Foundation. “Grants are given in the fall and spring to teachers,” said Vogele.

She also said advanced registration for the 2021-2022 school year was over but said the Registration Center will reopen on Aug. 5. The center will be closed on Aug. 13 and will then be open part of the following week. Vogele noted that the district transfer meeting is scheduled on Aug. 4.