At the April meeting of the Cleveland Board of Education, we welcomed the opportunity to reflect on progress, plan for the future, and recognize the incredible people who help lead our district with heart.

🧡 Board Reorganization and Oath of Office

Congratulations to Mr. Richard Forbes, who officially began a new five-year term representing Seat #5 on our Board of Education. Mr. Forbes ran unopposed this year and has been a consistent and steady advocate for our students and staff. At this meeting, the board also reorganized officer positions—something that typically happens this time of year. We thank all our board members for the time, energy, and care they pour into our district.

2025 Board Officers:

• Larry Brown – President
• Danny Ward – Vice President
• Richard Forbes – Clerk
• Joe Cole – Deputy Clerk
• Shaun Chapman – Member (serving till April 30th)

💬 Important Actions from This Month’s Board Meeting

This month’s board agenda included several important discussions and approvals:

• Consent Agenda Highlights: These included beginning-of-year agreements like our annual Magic School contract, various MOUs (including with Pawnee County Commissioners, OU College of Nursing, and Cleveland Area Hospital), facility requests, and financial reports.
  ✅ Note: The board opted to postpone action on the OK Heat Basketball facility use request pending insurance verification.
• Fridays Off with Learning in Mind: The board reviewed plans to offer student remediation on some of the Fridays off during the 2025–2026 school year. This effort is rooted in our continued commitment to student learning, even as we explore new calendar options.
• Bond Update – A New Chapter Begins!
  On April 30, the district will sell the final portion of our 2016 bond and the first round of funding from our newly passed Tiger Vision 2025 bond—an exciting transition! This initial sale could free up around $800,000, which we’re hoping to use for new student furniture at the middle and high school. This decision will be finalized soon.
• Encumbrances of Note:
  • Monthly fuel: $13,500
  • MAX Teaching PD for all teachers: $9,100
  • Native American books: $18,278
  • A new mower: $20,000
  • Magic School renewal: $9,999

📚 Literacy Grant Win

We’re thrilled to share that Cleveland Schools has been awarded a nearly $1 million literacy grant to be used over the next 4.5 years! The funding will support:

• A Literacy Coach and Interventionist
• Summer professional development (PD) for staff
• Stipends for PD participation

We believe in lifelong learning—and this summer’s PD opportunities are a chance for all of us to refresh, recharge, and grow. We know you’ve got plans: road trips, lake days, family time. But we also believe that a few focused days of learning can help us start next year stronger than ever. Let’s invest in ourselves the way we invest in our students.

🧮 Real-Life Lessons for Juniors

Our juniors recently participated in Reality Check, a hands-on life simulation event that challenged students to manage real-world budgets and responsibilities. With the help of over 15 local volunteers, students navigated scenarios involving housing, childcare, transportation, and more. It was a fantastic example of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

🏫 Enrollment Fair Success

We hosted our first-ever High School Enrollment Fair and welcomed 8th graders from Jennings, Keystone, and Cleveland Middle School. The goal? Show off what makes Cleveland High School a place of opportunity. From academic and career pathway programs to fine arts, athletics, and extracurriculars, students got a taste of what it means to be a Tiger.

Thank you to every staff member who helped bring this event to life!

🧡 The Tiger Family Shows Up

On March 14, fires destroyed the homes of 19 Cleveland students from 15 families. In the immediate aftermath, our staff and community responded with overwhelming compassion. Within 90 minutes of the news, nearly 50 staff members were on-site, setting up support spaces and gathering resources.

District staff worked through Spring Break to connect each family to services, coordinate transportation—even for students now living as far away as Broken Arrow and Kellyville—and ensure their education continued uninterrupted. This is what it means to be a Tiger: showing up, stepping in, and loving big.

🙏 A Farewell to Board Member Shaun Chapman

After nearly a decade of service, Board Member Shaun Chapman has announced his resignation, effective April 30. Mr. Chapman has been a steady presence through challenges and changes, always keeping students at the heart of his decisions. His volunteerism, generosity, and heart for kids have left a lasting legacy in our district.

We’re grateful for his years of leadership and wish him all the best in his next chapter.

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Final Thoughts

April has brought reminders of how strong and committed our school family truly is—from new beginnings to heartfelt goodbyes, from fresh funding to the ever-present focus on students. Thank you to every parent, teacher, staff member, and community partner who continues to invest in our schools and students.

We’re excited for what’s ahead.