The Madill School Board came together on March 8, 2021 and voted on issues like district-wide employment.
One of the main topics was how the 2021 school year is quickly moving forward to an end. The Madill students have faced a roller coaster of a ride with covid and quarantine, and deciding between distance learning, or going back to school physically.
Madill Elementary Principal Kristi Birdsong gave the Principal’s report with excitement. “We started this year with 103 virtual students and we just keep getting them back,” she said. “We are down to 76. Every time we get one back in person, it makes everybody happy.”
Gaylynn Pierce, principal of the Madill middle school, gave her report after Birdsong concluded. “We are gearing up for testing, so we have a longer window this year just because it may take longer with the kids being quarantined or being out,” Pierce noted. “Hopefully, we’ll get it done.”
“Our counselors are working on that stuff, getting stuff put in the computers and getting ready for that,” Pierce added. “We kind of have parent-teacher conferences going on right now. Parents are reaching out to teachers, right now.”
There was good news floating around the meeting. The Madill Math Counts, an annual math competition had a few winners who will be heading to state. The contest was a little different this year, it was held virtually. Only 40 were allowed to go on to state. First place was a seventh-grader from Madill and second place was an eighth-grader, also from Madill.
Pierce also reported that the academic team is going to be traveling to Atoka at the end of the month. It has been postponed a couple of times, so the fact they are going makes it that much more exciting. “We are just excited to compete again.”
There was exciting news for those students that missed the ACT last spring, when
Principal Jason Ward gave the report for the high school. “Last week at the high school we gave a makeup ACT essentially for the seniors that missed it last spring as juniors,” Ward said. “We had about 50 kids.”
After the principal reports, the meeting transitioned to employee contracts. It was a unanimous vote for Bink Stafford’s and Madison Hatfield’s and Madison Hatfield’s resignation to be accepted. Stafford has been a coach for Madill schools for years.
Before any attendee had a chance to lament over the fact that Stafford resigned, the board voted unanimously to rehire Stafford as Director of Facilities for the 2022 school year.
Stafford has been the Athletic Director for Madill for years. With over 30 years of experience in Athletics, he is also a 1975 graduate from Madill High School. He was the OCA Regional Athletic Director of the Year for 2009 and 2014
It was recommended by the Superintendent, Larry Case, to vote to re-employ the following administrators: Wanda Anderson, Kristi Birdsong, Elissa Cox, Jamea Lawson, Gaylynn Pierce, Chad Speer, Jason Ward, and Brett Weiberg. The recommendation was voted upon and unanimously accepted.