Board Report - June 10

Board Reports

Steve Nguyen Appointed to Union Board of Education

The Union Public Schools Board of Education has appointed Steve Nguyen to represent Zone 5 on the Board, replacing Ken Kinnear, who resigned from his position in April. Nguyen will serve out the remainder of Kinnear’s term on the Board until next spring when an election is planned for Zone 5.

Nguyen is no stranger to Union, having served on the Union Schools Education Foundation for years five years, including a stint as the Foundation’s president. The Board selected Nguyen from a handful of applicants for the position.

Nguyen, whose children attended Cedar Ridge, said his son graduated in 2022 and his daughter will graduate in 2025. In his letter of interest submitted to the Board, Nguyen stated, “I feel my perspective as an educator with over 19 years at Tulsa Technology Center as their emergency medical service coordinator would lend my skills, experience and knowledge into this role as a Board member.”

Nguyen has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an associate’s degree in accounting, as well as a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in teaching, learning and leadership.

In addition, the Board underwent its annual reorganization, naming Stacey Roemerman president and Joey Reyes vice president. Dr. Chris McNeil will serve as Board Clerk and Heather McAdams will serve as Deputy Board Clerk.

Board Approves Several Administrative Changes

The Board approved a number of administrative changes as Union prepares for a new school year.

• Kurt Frentzel was named the new director of Purchasing. He replaces David Young, who is retiring this month.
•  Lindsey Yandell was named the new director of Accounting. She replaces Julie Harkrider, who is retiring this month.
• Christine Gonzales was named the new director of Federal Programs. She replaces Sherri Fair, who is retiring this month.
• Tony Tempest was named associate director of Operations. He had served as lead principal for the High School.
•  Mila Trujillo was named associate director of Transportation. She had served as an assistant principal at the 6^th/7^th Grade Center.

The changes follow a number of recent administrative changes made over the last several weeks.

• Beau Branon will serve as the new High School principal, moving from the Freshman Academy. John Chargois will now serve as associate principal at the High School, and Jim Douthat will serve as assistant principal over Student Life (High School activities) moving from the 6^th/7^th Grade Center where he was an assistant principal. Also joining the High School team is Jeff Brown, who was named assistant principal intern; he had served as a teacher at the High School.
• Briane Grass, who was a principal at the High School, will serve as the new principal at the Freshman Academy. Tamarah Danzy, a teacher at the 8^th Grade Center, was named an assistant principal intern for the Freshman Academy.
• Robert Harris, who was in Operations, will serve as the new director for Transportation, replacing Susan Pettit, who has retired.
• Danika Bushyhead, who was director of Student Life, will now serve as an assistant principal at the Union 7^th Grade Center.
• Anthony Foster, who was a teacher at the High School, was named assistant principal intern at the 7^th Grade Center.
• Brad Sides, who was a teacher at Roy Clark, was named assistant principal intern at Boevers Elementary, replacing Michelle Naylor, who has retired.
• And finally, assistant principals Ashley Hamilton and Donna Ross will swap school assignments with Hamilton moving from Grove to McAuliffe and Ross going from McAuliffe to Grove.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Federline presents Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler with a plaque, honoring his service to Union Public Schools.

Dr. Hartzler Honored At Board Meeting

Deputy Superintendent Dr. John Federline, who will be Union’s next superintendent starting July 1, recognized Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler, who is retiring, for his support of the Union district and his achievements.

Federline said, “Under Dr. Hartzler’s  leadership, Union Public Schools has received recognition nationally as  a leader in community schools, early childhood education, STEM, virtual education, and college/career readiness. Union’s Early College High School and Career Connect programs have served as models for other high schools throughout the state. The district’s mission ‘To graduate 100 percent of our students, college and career-ready’ means that students are still pursued and encouraged to complete course requirements, sometimes two or three years after their graduation date.”

Hartzler’s accomplishments at Union include:

• Leading the district through some incredibly complex and challenging situations such as the mascot change and the COVID pandemic,
• Establishing the district’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board Policy,
•  Creation of the Department of Research Design and Assessment in 2018,
• The creation of the Department of Hope, Guidance, and Social and Emotional learning based off the work of Dr. Chan Helman, in 2019,
• In 2017 he was instrumental in partnering with Tulsa College and creating the EDGE program, which is currently in their 8th cohort and has allowed dozens of first-generation college students to earn both a high school degree and an associates degree at no cost.
•  He has overseen the creation of the REACH program, Union High School’s Career Connect program, and the creation and construction of Ellen Ochoa elementary and the on-site community health clinic through partnerships with the City of Tulsa and Community Health connection.
• He was instrumental in the passage of multiple bond issues in the Union District which led to the construction of world class facilities including the fine arts building and stadium on the high school campus because to quote him, “our students are worthy”
• He has served on the boards of Community Action Project, Tulsa Area United Way, Junior Achievement, The Tulsa Regional Workforce Advisory Council, The Boy Scouts Indian Nations Council, Northeastern State’s University President’s Advisory Council, the Tulsa World’s Community Advisory Board, and the Board for the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice.
• His awards include being named the OASA District 5 Superintendent of the Year in 2016 and 2023,
• He was the 2022 OCCJ Humanitarian of the Year.
• He was named as a Brock Prize in Education Innovation Juror in 2020.
•  He is a member of the Hall of Fame for Willard Public Schools in Missouri, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and the Athletic Hall of Fame for Evangel University.
• And in 2024 he was named the Oklahoma State Superintendent of the Year by the AASA.

“But most importantly,” Federline said, “during Hartzler’s 38-year career working as an educator, he has had a positive impact on countless students and has guided, coached, and counseled generations of young leaders. His legacy of humility, integrity, and service will be forever remembered and appreciated. So from all of us at Union Public Schools, and from the members of the Union Board of Education, Thank you, and congratulations on an amazing career.”

His comments were followed by applause as the room recognized Hartzler.

“Now I’ve entered this season of ‘lasts,’ but I will be a Union Redhawk forever,” Hartzler responded. “There is no changing that. You have forever changed my life and my family’s life. I know this district is going to continue to do amazing things. To all my former board members and those unable to be here tonight . . . I thank you for believing in us . . . Not just me, but our team.

“We have accomplished some great and mighty things. I said this at my retirement event: Union’s brightest days are ahead of us. What is it about this place that makes it so special? We have amazing facilities, teachers and support personnel, and a community that believes in our mission. What makes us special is our people. I thank you for creating such a special place. I have three Union lifers. The value our students received here is more valuable than any treasure here on earth. I will miss this place. As in life, every season has to end, and I leave you in great hands. Thank you for this uncommon blessing . . . serving Union Public Schools.”

Video: Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler receives a special recognition from the Union Public Schools Board of Education at his final meeting on June 10, 2024. Hear comments from incoming Union Superintendent Dr. John Federline as he presents the award and hear from Hartzler as he reflects on his thirty-eight years of service to the district.

Roof Work Planned For 4 Union Schools

Board members approved a bid from Atwell Roofing for $240,000 for roofing enhancements.

The roofing project will provide for many roofing enhancements at Cedar Ridge, McAuliffe, 8th Grade Center and the High School, said Dr. Josh Robinson, director of Operations. 

“The enhancements are needed to extend the service life of these roofing systems and will include the addition of gas line rollers and pads, the addition of epoxy flashing systems and waterproofing by the addition of aluminum oxide painting on many existing exposed flashings,” he stated. “All additions are needed to these areas to prolong the existing life of waterproofing membranes and flashing and prevent water penetration to the interior of the buildings.”

Board Approves Contract for Annual Financial Audit

Board members approved the expenditure of up to $96,000 for a 2023-2024 financial audit from RSM US LLP Certified Public Accountants. The Board approved an expenditure of another $7,500 in auditing expenses having to do with federal program compliance needs.

State law requires that each school district contract with a state-approved and licensed professional auditor to perform an annual external audit on the financial records and internal controls of the district.

In other action, the Board

•  Recognized the varsity boys track teams, which won state this year.
  Hartzler said, “It is always an honor to be able to recognize the excellence we have throughout our district, both in the classroom and co-curricular activities. Pleased to be able to recognize our Boy’s Track Team. Coach Tim Dial and the team for their second state championship. I love state championships, as you know." They are pictured below with Assistant Athletics Director Joe Redmond, far right.
   
  
   
• Approved the expenditure of up to $889,573 to purchase textbooks and software for the 2024-2025 school year from the general fund. The Board also approved the expenditure of another $900,000 to purchase textbooks and software using bond funds.
• Approved an agreement with Great Minds, PBC, for the purchase of math curriculum material for $978,400 from Eureka Math. Eureka Math helps students establish a foundational understanding of mathematics (the why) rather than only relying on procedural skills (the how), to better prepare them for college and career.  The purchase will provide math curriculum materials in digital and print form for kindergarten through third grade students for six years.
• Approved a 12-month subscription purchase from Panorama Education for $106,670 to be used in elementary schools and selected secondary sites for the coming year. The all-in-one data platform Panorama will allow Union to pull key student information into one space for visual dashboard reporting. “We will more readily move from interpreting data to taking action and improving student outcomes,” explained Scott Pennington, director of Hope-Guidance-Social and Emotional Learning. “It brings together social-emotional learning, multi-tiered systems of support, response to intervention, school climate, and student voice into a single platform.”
• Approved capacity levels for the next quarter by school and grade level for out-of-district transfers as required under Senate Bill 783. Senate Bill 783 requires that school districts establish capacity levels which are used to determine the number of open transfers available by school and grade level.  Visit https://www.unionps.org/students/enrollment/transfers for more information.
• Approved the purchase of software for $106,002 from Nearpod for online student engagement needs for two years for students in grades 6-12. Nearpod's online student engagement platform provides an interactive lesson delivery that can be used both in-person or during distance learning. This engagement platform integrates directly into Union's Canvas and provides a library of editable lessons and video content.
• Approved a purchase from Aero IT Solutions for eRate network equipment for $18,614 out of voter-approved bond funds. Todd Borland, director of Information Technology, said the purchase provides 16 edge switches to be used at elementary sites, four additional core switches for secondary schools, and one new core switch for the bunker. This purchase will provide the capabilities of increasing network speeds by 10 times the amount Union currently provides.

Video

>