Lawton Board of Education Approves 2018-19 Calendar, Construction Proposal

Monday night's Lawton Board of Education meeting saw the approval of several outstanding items, as well as receiving updates on its Pre-K program and the availability of digital textbook access for its mathematics curriculum.

The lead topic of discussion was approval to complete several construction projects that were left over from the 2004 school bond. These project include installing central air conditioning in several campuses, including MacArthur High, Adams, Lincoln and Woodland Hills elementary schools, and new roofs for Lawton High, Tomlinson Middle and Adams, Edison and Carriage Hills elementary schools. The district will first look into the cost of completing the projects. This step was approved by the board.

Also on the agenda Monday night was  the 2018-19 school year calendar. The Board had moved to amend the calendar so that the first semester of the school calendar would be completed prior to students winter break. The date of August 8th for the first day of the 2018-19 school year was selected and approved to meet that criteria.

Also approved during Monday nights meeting was a one-time open enrollment in the Lawton Public Schools' Assistance Club for full-time district employees. The enrollment period will run from April 3rd to May 1st. This program is offered to families of district employees who pass away during the school year. This benefit is offered to all full-time district employees. Final approval was given to the proposed Summer 2017 budget, and the programs it encompasses, which include extended year education for Special Education, Summer Academy and maintenance.

The board received a preliminary update on the possible move to digital textbooks for the math program. This need has become more relevant as the district attempts to meet Oklahoma Standards, and text books that meet the criteria will not be available to the district until 2019; also updated was the district's Pre-K program. The board will be further updated on both subjects at its next regularly scheduled meeting, slated for April 3rd at 5 p.m. at the Shoemaker Education Center Auditorium.