Board Members Consider School Calendar For 2023-2024
On first reading, the Board of Education considered a proposed calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Board members will consider final approval of the calendar at their next meeting on Monday, February 13.
The calendar, which closely mirrors this year’s calendar, calls for the first day of school to start August 16 with the last day tentatively set for May 24, with five snow days built into the calendar. There are also two virtual days – one in October and another in April – where students will complete assignments at home while teachers are involved in collaboration and training. If no snow days are used, the last day of school would be May 17. View proposed 2023-2024 Calendar here.
The public may email comments about the calendar to [email protected].
In other action, in what was an otherwise light meeting, Board members approved an agreement with Scenarios Learning for a subscription renewal for the SafeSchools Training and SafeSchools Alert systems, costing $40,695.
The SafeSchools Training program is specifically designed for school employees and is used to provide the required and necessary training for Union staff. It allows the district to develop and modify training so it is more focused, targeted, and relevant. Real time record keeping is automatically tracked by employee, building, and district.
The SafeSchools Alert system allows for students, parents, patrons, or staff to text, email, or call-in a safety concern or other issue which needs to be reported to administration.
Both systems have been very effective, Assistant Superintendent Charlie Bushyhead said.
The Board also approved a blanket purchase order for $200,000 for the purchase of more food. Associate Superintendent Charlie Bushyhead said, “Due to increased cost of foods and shortages of some food items, we request approval of additional funds to Ben E Keith to supply our needs for student meals.”
Superintendent Updates Board On 2023 Bond, Strategic Plan
Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler informed the Board of Education that the proposed 2023 bond proposal is on track for a public vote on February 14, and that “Bond tours have begun.” Hartzler and district leadership make bond presentations at parent, staff, booster club and other meetings throughout the district.
“As you know, there have been a lot of hands on this five-year bond initiative, helping to determine the needs of each school and which items go into the $152 million bond,” said Hartzler. “Lots of collaboration and dialogue have occurred during this process. We literally go out to every school site and get input from principals, parents, teachers and bring it back to the district Bond Issue Task Force. That’s how we arrive at this proposition.”
Hartzler reminded voters that we continue to do bond issues without raising taxes above traditional levels.
“In Oklahoma, bond issues are absolutely vital to our existence,” he said. “General fund dollars are not enough to cover capital expenses, which the bonds help to provide.”
Hartzler reminded the Board that Oklahoma’s per-pupil funding is last in the region, compared with other states. “If our state were to fund schools at the regional average, it would equate to an additional $1,800 per student, which would equate to about $27 million more per year for just Union alone. In the meantime, we will continue to be hopeful. We hope to be able to address this significant issue of underfunding at some point. That’s why it’s especially critical that our patrons support the funding of capital expenses through the passage of bond campaigns, so we can preserve our general funds for staffing and program expenses.”
Board President Ken Kinnear reiterated that, “Bond dollars cannot be used to fund teacher pay. It can only be used for capital funding. If we don’t have the bonds to take care of capital needs, all of a sudden we are taking away from the general funds to pay for these things, which takes away from teachers and program needs.”
Hartzler also noted that Union is in the process of revising the district’s five-year strategic plan.
“We are in the process of doing a redraft of our district’s strategic plan,” Hartzler said. “It really is a distinguishing feature of Union Public Schools. We want to close the student achievement gap. This strategic plan runs parallel to our bond proposal, with both really complementing each other. We want to take ‘pockets of excellence’ and create a system of excellence. The last five-year strategic plan has served us very well.”
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Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler informed the Board of Education that the proposed 2023 bond proposal is on track for a public vote on February 14, and that “Bond tours have begun.” Hartzler and district leadership make bond presentations at parent, staff, booster club and other meetings throughout the district. 
Board President Ken Kinnear reiterated that, “Bond dollars cannot be used to fund teacher pay. It can only be used for capital funding. If we don’t have the bonds to take care of capital needs, all of a sudden we are taking away from the general funds to pay for these things, which takes away from teachers and program needs.” 
