Board President Stacey Roemerman swears in Dr. Chris McNeil, who won the Zone 2 election on April 5. The Board will choose officers at its next regular meeting as part of its annual reorganization.
Board Members Approve 2022-2023 School Calendar
Board members approved the school calendar for the coming year, 2022-2023, after mulling over several options.
Under the new calendar, Union would start school on August 17 with the last day being May 31, 2023, with five snow days built in. If no snow days are used, the last day of school would be May 23.
The calendar also calls for Fall Break on October 21 with one parent-teacher conference planned the day before on Thursday, October 20. There will be five professional days and two virtual learning days. Thanksgiving break would run the entire week of Thanksgiving and winter break would be December 19 until January 2, 2023. View calendar.
The Board of Education recognized both the Varsity and Junior High Girls Wrestling Teams who won state championships in their divisions. Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler said, “Congratulations to all of our girls in Union’s wrestling program. It really is a very historic recognition that we are doing this evening. When you’re been around at the district as long as I have, I don’t recall a year when both Jr. Varsity and Varsity teams have gone on to win state championships in the same sport. If I am wrong, somebody please correct me.” Varsity is pictured above, and Junior High below.
Sign-On Bonuses Approved for Child Nutrition Workers
Board members approved sign-on bonuses for Child Nutrition workers thanks to emergency funding from the USDA. Officials hope the incentive of sign-on bonuses will help Union recruit employees for difficult-to-fill staff positions.
Child Nutrition workers hired for full-time positions will receive a $2,000 signing bonus and part-time workers will receive a $1,000 signing bonus. If the newly hired worker leaves before 12 months from the point they are hired, they may be asked to return their bonus pay.
Board Members Approve Updated COVID-19 Response Plan
With mask mandates set aside for now, the Board of Education approved a revised version to its Safe Return & Continuity of Services Plan. You may view the plan here: (In English and Spanish) View plan.
Board Approves Bid for Planned Construction at Union Innovation Lab
The Board of Education accepted the bid of $1.8 million from Magnum Construction to finish work planned at the Union Innovation Lab.
Fred Isaacs, director of Construction Services, said the work will focus on the western half of the lab. “Work will include construction of a professional development/meeting room, HVAC upgrades and associated mechanical plumbing, a construction lab and adjacent classroom, offices, a secured entry, and equipment to facilitate the educational requirements for the facility,” he said.
In a separate matter, Board members agreed to increase the contract for Crossland Construction in the amount of $1.26 million for continued work on the stadium project. Isaacs said, “This amendment will provide for changing the existing spirit room into a volleyball practice facility with two complete volleyball courts. It will also provide for new locker facilities and coaching facilities. Items of work include new flooring, lighting, locker facilities, and general upgrading of the existing space.”
In other related actions, the Board
Accepted a bid for $325,000 from Key Construction to convert the Freshman Academy wrestling room into a gold locker room, with new restrooms, a meeting area and coaches’ offices. This renovation will be adjacent to the new practice area.
Approved an agreement with GS Helms + Associates for architectural roofing services throughout the district at a cost not to exceed $100,000. The Board also approved an agreement with John Roof Consulting, LLC, for roofing consulting services through the district as well, at a cost not to exceed $100,000.
Accepted the bid for freezer/cooler replacements at Andersen and Cedar Ridge from Inside Out Concrete in the amount of $237,700, to be paid for out of Child Nutrition funds. Isaacs said, “The freezers and coolers at Andersen Elementary and Cedar Ridge Elementary are the original units and have been in service for a very long time. Both are moving into a phase of their life where quite a bit of repair work will be necessary to keep them in service. We have determined at this point that it is more economical to replace them with newer and more efficient technology.”
Union To Participate In Teach For America Pilot Program
Citing the teacher shortage, a Union elementary school will be participating in a pilot program with Teach for America.
Under the terms of the agreement unanimously approved Monday night by Union’s Board of Education, Teach for America would bring up to four teachers through its Accelerate Fellows Program to Ellen Ochoa Elementary School starting with the 2022-23 school year.
The Accelerate Fellows Program is open to former Teach for America corps members who have at least two years of classroom experience.
Teach for America will be responsible for most of the costs associated with recruiting, retaining and training the participants and will provide professional development opportunities during the school year.
However, the leadership team at Ellen Ochoa will get to interview the candidates before they are potentially placed at the east Tulsa school.
Although it will be waived for the upcoming school year, the agreement calls for Union to contribute a $4,000 fee for each fellow annually should the arrangement continue beyond 2022-23.
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Fred Isaacs, director of Construction Services, said the work will focus on the western half of the lab. “Work will include construction of a professional development/meeting room, HVAC upgrades and associated mechanical plumbing, a construction lab and adjacent classroom, offices, a secured entry, and equipment to facilitate the educational requirements for the facility,” he said.
