From Superintendent, Michael Payne
Information Regarding Potential Teacher Walkout
March 16, 2018

I am writing to address questions related to the potential April 2, 2018 teacher walkout requested
by OEA (Oklahoma Education Association) and other teacher leadership groups.

At the March 12th regularly scheduled board meeting, the Board of Education of Verdigris Public
Schools unanimously voted to approve authorizing the Superintendent to close schools for up to
eight (8) days, provided that such days must be made up if required by law, with such a closure
to occur only if a teacher “walkout” is scheduled by teacher groups or organizations and if the
Superintendent determines that such school closures are necessary for the safety of students and
for the fiscal integrity of the Verdigris School District in order to avoid the necessity of hiring
substitute teachers. If the “walkout” exceeds 8 school days, the Board will meet to discuss
authorizing the Superintendent to close schools additional days.

Additionally, the Board of Education approved a Resolution encouraging the Oklahoma
Legislature to work urgently on behalf of the children and families in our state to take swift and
meaningful action to develop a plan that includes a dedicated source of revenue that can be
utilized to fund much needed, reoccurring salary increases that will be provided to public school
teachers in Oklahoma and address the needs of common education funding now and into the
future. Please click on this link to read the Resolution in its entirety.

I am hopeful that our legislators will address the issue of teacher pay in Oklahoma and support
and restore public education funding, thus preventing this “walkout” from occurring. Please note
that the potential teacher “walkout” is not only about teachers’ salaries, but is a demand for the
Oklahoma Legislature to fund public education, which includes teachers’ salaries.

This is a very fluid situation and information is rapidly changing. Consequently, it is impossible
for me to address all of the potential questions and scenarios. However, I want to provide the
following Q&A as it relates to the potential walkout and what we know now.

Q: Why are the teachers planning a “walkout” in Oklahoma?
A: The Oklahoma Legislature has not given our teachers a pay raise in nearly a decade although
Oklahoma teacher pay is among the lowest in the nation. Additionally, the Oklahoma
Legislature has not provided a dedicated source to fund public education. This has resulted
in Oklahoma schools receiving less funding per child in 2018 than they received in 2008.
Additionally, our education funding, as a whole, is among the lowest in the nation.
Educators believe this is the only way to get public education properly funded.

Q: Will classes be in session during the proposed “walkout”?
A: Classes will not be in session during a teacher “walkout”.

Q: Will days that school is out during the “walkout” have to be made up?
A: Yes. However, we are an “hours district” which means our students and teachers must
complete a minimum of 1,080 hours of instruction time during the year to be in compliance
with State Department regulations. If we have less than 1,080 hours of instruction time, we
will risk having our State funding reduced proportionately to the shortfall of hours.
Following the “walkout” we will begin making up the time by using the 4 snow days built
into our school calendar and the 2 days that we have not used as of today. Additionally, we
will amend our school calendar and attend school on March 30th and be out of school on
April 2nd. We can also attend 2 more days and still be out of school and in compliance with
State requirements prior to the Memorial Day Weekend Holiday. If the “walkout” exceeds 8
days, the Administration will determine the best way to make up time, whether that means
adding minutes to each remaining school day or adding more days to the school calendar
after the Memorial Day Holiday.

Q: What about state testing for 3rd – 8th and 11th grade currently scheduled in April?
A: On March 12th, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister wrote that there would be no change in
the state testing schedules. However, we will work to modify our schedule based on the days
school is not in session to make sure all required testing takes place. The only scenario that
could prevent state testing from being made up is if the “walkout” exceeds the entire window
available for state testing. We will communicate updated testing dates as soon as the
information becomes available.

Q: What about the ACT test Verdigris Juniors are scheduled to take on April 3rd?
A: We are providing ACT testing on April 3rd and April 4th, and the make-up date will be April
10th. Students will be provided more information the week prior to the test. Students and
parents will be responsible for transportation to and from Verdigris High School to take the
exams.

*If your student is scheduled to take the ACT on a Saturday, that test is nationally scheduled
and will occur as scheduled.

Q: What about Graduation?
A: Graduation will be held as scheduled Friday, May 18th at the Union Multipurpose Activity
Center (UMAC).

Q: What about Prom?
A: Prom will be held as scheduled Thursday, April 12th at the Mike Fretz Event Center.

Q: What about Northeast Tech, will those classes still occur?
A: Northeast Tech will be in session. If there is a “walkout” resulting in school cancellation,
high school students should still attend their Tech classes. Students may drive themselves to
their Tech campus or normal transportation procedures will be in place.

Q: What about concurrent (college) classes at TCC and RSU?
A: Off campus college classes are not affected by the “walkout” and will continue. Students
should continue to attend these courses.

Q: Will extra-curricular activities take place if school is not in session due to a teacher
“walkout”?
A: Currently, all athletic games and tournaments, fine arts competitions, concerts, extracurricular
activities, etc. will take place as previously scheduled.
However, as a result of the rapidly changing information, this could change. We are working
with the OSSAA and other entities to make these choices and will provide more information
as soon as decisions are made.

Q: What about practice for fine arts, athletics, and other activities?
A: At this time, all grade levels will be able to practice during their regular practice hours. If
this changes, a notification will be provided.

Q: What about out-of-state trips planned for a competition, concerts, tournaments, etc.?
A: As Booster Clubs and students have conducted fundraisers for these events, they will still
occur.

Again, I am hopeful that the Oklahoma Legislature will take the required steps to prevent a
“walkout” by providing a dedicated source of revenue for reoccurring teacher salary increases
and funding for common education, now and into the future. I encourage you to contact state
lawmakers and let them know that it is time for them to fund education for our children.

• For House Members – https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/Default.aspx
• For Senate Members – http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/Default.aspx?selectedtab=0
• Text your zip code to 520-200-2223 to receive a text with names and phone numbers
• Download the OAEC 56th Legislature Guide app from the Apple or Android store.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Verdigris Public Schools. Again, this is a very fluid
situation and updates will be provided on the school website as information becomes
available.

Honor Band Tryouts on Monday, January 15th, 2018 have been cancelled due to weather concerns.  Tryouts will be re-scheduled for a later date.

There will be no school Monday, January 15th, 2018, per the school calendar.  Classes will resume, Tuesday, January 16th.

On behalf of the Board of Education, Administration, Faculty, Staff, and most importantly the Students of Verdigris Public Schools, we would like to thank you for your continued support of our School District with the passage of the January 9th, 2018 Bond Issue.

Official Election Results

A Yellow flyer with information about the upcoming bond will be sent home with all students Thursday, January 04, 2017.  A copy of that flyer can be found here.

A Yellow flyer with information about the upcoming bond will be sent home with all students Thursday, January 04, 2017.  A copy of that flyer can be found here.

The latest bond issue information can be found in the Claremore Progress - Click Here

That same article has been scanned and can be found on our site as well - Click Here

All information is compiled and located on your page dedicated to the current bond issue.

With the upcoming bond issue announcement, there have been several questions regarding this bond issue as well as bond issues in general.  Below are some of these questions and answers.  Please feel free to contact Mike Payne @ 918-266-7227 or mpayne@vps.k12.ok.us, for more information or other questions.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What is a series bond?

A. When the total amount of bonds proposed exceeds the District’s bonding capacity, a series bond allows the District to split the total into portions (series) and as those bonds retire (mature), the District issues subsequent series until the total amount is issued.  Series bonds ensure that a large project is able to be completed versus risking an initial bond to start the project passing and future bonds to complete the project not passing thus resulting in an incomplete project.  The 2018 Verdigris Bond will contain five (5) series. 

Q. What is a revenue bond?

A.  A revenue bond allows the District to advance fund the series of bonds in order to begin construction much earlier, using the series bonds to retire the revenue bond.  In the 2018 proposed Bond, we would receive an advance on the funds so we have use of the funds and can complete the projects substantially sooner. 

Q. Why is there money for the Activity Center in every series?

A. The total cost of the Activity Center, along with the other projects, determines the need to include it in more than one or all of the series. Each series is specific to certain equipment within the scope of the Activity Center.  The series also allows the District to fund the project with a No Tax Increase Bond.

Q. Why will this bond issue not increase taxes?

A. The timing of each series being issued allows the District to maintain the current tax level. As each series retires (matures), a subsequent series is issued. 

Q.  Why are line items like textbooks listed in each series? 

A. These are line items for which we receive funds every two (2) years to insure that our district can provide the most current educational opportunities such as textbooks, technology, STEM equipment, and facility updates. 

Q.  What about classroom space? 

A.  We have been constructing classrooms for the past twenty years and will complete the last project of the current bond issues with an addition at the Junior High School prior to the fall of 2018.  Upon completion of this project we believe our school system will have adequate space for current and future students.

Q. Do we need another gym? 

A. The short answer is yes.  But it is important to note that we are not just building another gym, the proposal is for a Multipurpose Activity Center.  The Activity Center will include a permanent stage, up to 3 courts when the seats are retracted, a large hospitality/meeting room, ample seating, restrooms, concession and lobby area.  By building this facility it will free up other gyms for cheerleaders, off-season volleyball, track and other school groups.  The addition of this facility will result in less travel between campuses for student practices while also facilitating a meeting/assembly area for the full student body to gather.  The stage will provide a venue for music performances, plays, graduation, and community events.  This location will also allow us to provide more gym time to our local groups by freeing up other facilities.

Q. When will these projects be complete?

A. Most of the line items in Proposal # 1 will begin in the summer of 2018 and be completed prior to the end of the 2018/2019 school year.  Exceptions to that timeline include: 

• The activity center construction will begin in the summer of 2018 and is estimated to take fifteen to eighteen months for completion.  The Activity Center should be open the fall of 2019.
• The pavement in the area around the activity center will not be completed until the fall of 2019.
• Replacing older turf on the football and baseball infield is estimated to occur no earlier than 2024.

“School Bond Issue Information”

Verdigris Schools is excited to announce we have begun the last phase of the overwhelmingly supported 2014 bond issue.  Verdigris Schools would like to thank our community for its continued support of our district.  As this final phase nears completion and older bonds expire, we are pleased to announce a proposal for a No-Tax Increase Series Bond for 2018-2026.  The vote for this new bond issue will be held January 9, 2018.  There has been considerable excitement within the school system and community about what the next bond issue will hold for our district.  After a great deal of research, strategic planning, listening to our stakeholders, and evaluation of the continuing needs of our growing district, we are pleased to provide the attached proposal impacting all school sites in our district.

Like the previous Bond Issues, this Bond will NOT result in a tax increase for our patrons.  If you have any questions, please contact Mike Payne @ 918-266-7227 or mpayne@vps.k12.ok.us.

GO CARDINALS!

Thanksgiving Break is the entire week of November 20th - November 24th.  Classes resume Monday, November 27th.

Happy Thanksgiving