The last day of school, for students, is now scheduled to be May 25th.

The District Calendar was revised Wednesday, April 18th by the Verdigris Board of Education.  This revision addressed how Verdigris Schools would make up days missed up through April,18th.

This revision can be found here.

Dear Verdigris Community,

We want to first thank you for the incredible outpouring of support you have given us during this walkout. We have been in constant

discussion as a teacher group regarding what is best for our students and community. We feel a deep conviction to advocate for our

students at the capitol as well as locally. So many of our teachers have been to the capitol day in and day out, as well as holding signs

here at home, to remind our legislators and our community members that the purpose of this walkout is for our students. Teaching is

more than a job to all of us. We recognized that we needed to support the momentum in our state and to pressure our legislators to

fund our students and our schools. We have had some success but we expect more from them. We have had many discussions with the

legislators and will continue to have more in the weeks to come. However, without your support we would not have been able to do this.

You are the reason we have been able to keep our motivation and to continue to fight. We cannot thank you enough.

How Has Decreased Funding Impacted Us?

Our school system and teachers have managed to work through these budget cuts to ensure our students get a sound education. Often

these budget cuts have happened silently as we continued to forge ahead for the benefit of our students. However, in our school system

we have lost both certified and support staff. In addition, our student population has grown by over one hundred students over the past

ten years. Due to continued funding cuts and student population growth, our system has struggled to add much needed certified and

support personnel.

We are very fortunate to have such a positive community that has supported our school in so many ways, including the passage of many

bond issues over the past few years. These bond issues have freed up funds for our school system, allowing more staff to be hired in

recent years. Verdigris Schools plans to add an Elementary Counselor, STEM Teacher (Secondary Science/Math), two Secondary ELA

Teachers, and an Elementary Special Education Teacher next year. These are positions that we could not add or had lost due to budget

cuts. More state funding will allow us to continue to hire more teachers for various subjects, across all grade levels, which will allow us to

keep up with our increasing student population and academic rigor needs.

In the years to come, we hope to lessen our class sizes as well as offer more system wide electives in the areas of STEM, the Arts, AP

courses, and upper level core courses, to name a few. If the legislature would secure a perpetual funding increase for the next few years,

these areas and more could be expanded.

Classes Resume on Monday April 16th

As stated in the call or email sent on Tuesday, the teachers voted to return to school Monday, April 16th. However,  THE FIGHT IS NOT

OVER! We will be sending a delegation of teachers and staff on a regular basis to develop long lasting relationships with our legislators

and to continue to advocate for adequate educational funding. Thereon, we will be developing the Verdigris Cardinals at the Capitol

group to continue education funding efforts. We would love your support in this process as well. Our goal is to continue to show our

legislators that we expect them to make education a priority and to do more this session and all sessions moving forward. We would

love for you to join us and be a part of this group. We will have more information on how you can do that in the days to come.

School Calendar

On Monday, April 9, 2018 the Verdigris School Board approved an updated calendar for the days missed prior to April 11th. Those four

days will be made up on the Fridays of April 27th, May 4th, and May 11th, and Wednesday, May 23rd. The Verdigris School Board will have

a Special Meeting to address the two additional days that need to be made up.

Testing Will Resume the Week of April 16th

 Testing will resume the week of April 16th and no earlier than Tuesday, April 17th as we feel our students need at least one day back in

class to prepare them for testing. Students and Parents/Guardians will be notified of the new testing dates.

Thank You!

We deeply appreciate the Verdigris community and all of your support during this process. This walkout was never intended to

negatively impact our students nor our community. We did not enjoy walking out of our classrooms and leaving our students and our

community in a lurch. However, we knew that something needed to happen to make education a priority to our legislators. Without your

support we would not have been able to persuade our legislators to make the changes they have thus far. With your continued support

we are hopeful for more positive changes to occur as we continue to apply pressure on our representatives.

The board and administration has supported us as a teacher group and has let us take the lead on how we have addressed the walkout.

We appreciate their support as well in making this happen and their continued support as we continue to advocate for our students. We

know that we are all in this together, fighting for the education our students deserve.

Thank you!

Verdigris Teachers & Staff

The District Calendar was revised Monday, April 9th by the Verdigris Board of Education.  This revision addressed how Verdigris Schools would make up days missed up through April, 10th.

The revision can be found here, but does not include how April 11th and 12th will be made up.  That revision will be posted as soon as it is available.

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.