School board members from across the state gathered in Pauls Valley over the weekend to attend the Oklahoma State School Board Association’s Board of Directors summer retreat.
One of four business meetings held annually by the OSSBA’s Board of Directors, the summer retreat is traditionally held in the hometown of the OSSBA board president, an office currently held by Pauls Valley Board of Education member Joe Don Looney.
Pauls Valley Elementary School welcomed board members for the three-day retreat, during which they held business meetings, heard updates on new legislation and upcoming legislative issues that affect education and impact school district policies as they move into the upcoming school year. Board members also nominated officer positions which will be voted on during OSSBA’s Education Leadership Conference next month.
The weekend’s activities also gave the 32-member board, as well as OSSBA staff, an opportunity to get better acquainted with the Pauls Valley community. Attendees met at The Vault Art Space and Gathering Place in downtown Pauls Valley Friday night for a dinner catered by local restaurant The Grille.
Norma’s Catering served a taco bar for the business meeting’s lunch on Saturday, and attendees had the opportunity to visit the Toy and Action Figure Museum Saturday afternoon, followed by dinner at Punkin’s BBQ and Catfish.
“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a great opportunity to showcase our school and our community a little bit,” said Pauls Valley Superintendent Brett Knight, who volunteered to drive a shuttle bus to transport attendees back and forth between their hotel and various sites around town over the weekend.
“We’ve been to the area before, and we’re excited to be back here,” said Christy Watson, OSSBA Director of Communications and Marketing. Watson said the board held its 2019 summer retreat in Pauls Valley when Whitebead Board of Education member Ed Tillery served as OSSBA board president.
This summer’s retreat marks the close of Looney’s year-long tenure as OSSBA board president, which will wind up at next month’s Education Leadership Conference where he will pass the title to incoming president Rick Gowin of North Rock Creek Public Schools.
