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Securing safer schools

Purcell Police assist district in implementing protocols

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Purcell School Superintendent Dr. Sheli McAdoo reported on her meeting last week with Purcell Police Chief Bobby Elmore and Assistant Chief James Bolling.

The meeting was on safety measures and the district now has several safety protocols in place, McAdoo told school board members on Monday.

Those include:

  • Bark – scans all Google applications for keywords that are linked to violence, selfharm, bullying, etc., and sends alert to building principal and counselor;
  • StopIt – app for use by students or parents to report anything. Monitored 24/7 and report goes to building principal and counselor;
  • RAVE Panic Button – app is geotracked to each building. Staff access app to alert other staff, administrators and police of potential danger in the building; and
  • Handle With Care – in partnership with Purcell Police Department. District receives email if student subjected to trauma night before.

In addition, McAdoo said, the district partners with the Department of Homeland Security for independent safety audits every other year.

In the future, McAdoo said, the district will meet quarterly with the Purcell Police Department to discuss safety concerns and run drills.

Ten projects to spruce up Purcell’s schools have started or will begin soon.

Those projects are new flooring in the elementary and intermediate school cafeterias, floor refinishing and  carpet cleaning at the high school, refinishing the gymnasium floor at the high school, roof repair at the intermediate and high schools, painting the cafeteria/commons area at the high school, installing outdoor walk-in freezer at the intermediate school, adding new furniture at the elementary school and adding a new big toy at the intermediate school playground.

Board members approved the brief agenda, including:

  • a TSA trip to national competition June 28-30 in Dallas;
  • $38,342 purchase of intermediate school playground equipment $38,342 in playground equipment from Noah’s Park and Playground’
  • district’s Return to Learn Plan through 2024, and
  • student transfer capacity numbers for the 2022-23 school year.

New hires for the 2022-23 school year were also approved following an executive session.

Those are Kelton Clary, junior high science (pending certification); Shandra Elmore, high school secretary/registrar; Susan Bennett, high school paraprofessional; Hilary Venegas, junior high office assistant; Katrina Wilkins, first grade; Brian McCalip, 8th grade social studies and assistant coach football and track and  Kristy Behrens, junior high paraprofessional.

Also, Leigh Ann McGregor, junior high library assistant; Toney Cooper, head girls basketball coach; Ricky Hammer, high school assistant principal/athletic director; Shelly McGowen, director of special services; Samantha Resendiz, high school English (pending certification) and Matt Maral, custodian/maintenance.

In other personnel action, the board reassigned Brandy Black from intermediate school paraprofessional to second grade teacher and approved five resignations/retirements.

Those were Amber Hines, junior high library aide; Cody Weaver, junior high social studies; Jaci Lemieux, first grade; Hailey Thurston, junior high paraprofessional, and Julia Arnold, elementary teacher.

Four patrons signed up to address the board including Bryan Johnson, Angela Pliler, Tracy Faust and Jeff Page.

Johnson spoke of bullying in the district and mentioned the fact that a group of parents ran off a coach.

Pliler told the board she has tried every way possible to get her children transferred to another school due to the bullying here.

“The bullying gets worse and the education gets worse,” Pliler said.

Pliler spoke for Faust and Page gave an update on the booster club.

Page said the booster club has met with the administration and every head coach.

He reported there is now an app for football fans to order from the concession stand cutting down on lines. He also said all the financials are on quick books among other things.

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