The Durant Board of Education during its Monday meeting voted to rename the Durant High School gym the Robinson Family Gymnasium.
Durant Lady Lions basketball head coach Will Robinson and his daughter Clara died in a Christmas Eve 2024 car accident in Sherman, Texas. Will’s father Tony took over as head coach for the remainder of the 2024-2025 season, and he agreed to continue leading the team during the 20252026 season.
The Lady Lions made it to the Class 5A state tournament last season for the first time in 16 years.
“We all know what’s occurred and the Robinson family has been a big source of inspiration to our community and our school and our town,” said Durant Schools Superintendent Mark Moring. “I always want to talk to the family before we make a move. I talked to the family about this, and they were for renaming the high school gym the Robinson Family Gymnasium.”
Board member Jason Manous said, “Since word came out, I’ve heard nothing but positive about it myself.”
The dedication will be at the home game on Friday Feb. 13 with Tahlequah which was what the Robinson family requested.
The board met in executive session to evaluate and discuss the contract of Superintendent Moring, who has been superintendent since July 1, 2024.
No action was taken after the executive session.
“During the executive session, the board met with the superintendent, and we discussed his evaluation and his contract and no votes were taken and nothing else was discussed,” board President Paul Buntz said, after the session.
Board members accepted the following resignations: Stuart Pearson, special education teacher at Washington Irving; Kelly Dillard, clerk of the board and director of human resources (retirement); Kendra Dunegan, special education teacher assistant at high school; Janell Buford, special education teacher assistant at middle school; Lindsay Dills, Ashlee Richie and Irma Raygadas, special education teacher assistants at Washington Irving, and Joyshinee Burns, special education teacher assistant at Northwest Heights.
Employment of the following was approved by the board: Teena Johnson, elementary teacher at Washington Irving; Beth Bean, principal for Choctaw Nation POSSE summer school; Maegan Morgan, assistant principal for Choctaw Nation POSSE summer school; Jaiveon Gardner, special education teacher assistant at middle school; Doreen Anderson, special education teacher assistant at intermediate school; Kaitlyn Ervin, special education teacher assistant at Northwest Heights; Brittany Meads, special education teacher assistant at Washington Irving; Jackson Manford-Roach, special education teacher assistant at Washington Irving, and Megan Richardson, special education teacher assistant at Washington Irving.
