The Durant High School Pride of Durant band was recognized during a board of education meeting last week for its many awards received recently.
Head band director Chris Gregg said the first competition was Tigerpalooza in Ada where the band earned outstanding drum major, color guard and drum line, all of which were top awards.
The band also won high musical, visual and general effect awards.
“We won those three categories and we’re first place by 70 points over the secondplace band,” Gregg said. “So, that’s a pretty big feat.”
At the Elgin Owls Southwest Showdown, The Pride placed second overall out of 26 bands and also won high percussion and drum majors, Gregg said.
Gregg expressed appreciation for the school district’s support of The Pride of Durant.
“I appreciate the people in this room more than I can ever say,” Gregg said. “I’m so blessed to be the director here, get the support that we get in this school. I say this to everybody I come in contact with, Durant is one of the best places to raise your family. My kids grew up here and then on top of that, I get to work with the greatest kids ever and they keep coming out even though I’m chewing their tail end.”
At the conclusion of the board meeting, board member Joyce Northcutt said, “I tell you what, we are so blessed to have him, his wife, his staff. I mean, what they do for our kids is absolutely awesome. We’re probably one of the best bands in the whole state of Oklahoma. It’s just amazing what he’s done. We have a wonderful program and it’s because of them.”
During the comments from the public portion of the meeting, Melanie Knight spoke about policies and procedures for school board meetings.
She expressed dissatisfaction with the policies and procedures and has spoken to the board previously.
“I found it very difficult to find a safe and effective way to communicate within our administration and mostly within our school board,” Knight said, referencing policy that board members and administrative staff will not respond to questions from the public. “I shouldn’t have to say anything else after that since it should tell us everything that we need to know about what the intention is for public inclusion and for parents to be involved in their children’s education.
“But, to expound on that, I would like to say some changes that I have seen since I have started to request change and have conversations inside and outside of meetings is that before I started to petition others to join me in the inclusion of parents and conversations, the agenda for school board meetings was posted online until August. When it’s no longer posted online until after the meeting, it’s only posted at the front of the building and it’s posted at 4 o’clock on a Friday which gives us no opportunity to ask any questions or get any clarity as to the information which board members have already received to derive their clarity from. We as the public, are not privy to any of that information. I was told that the chain of command was to email the superintendent first. I have provided a copy for anyone who may need it of nine emails I have sent with no response. That is in regards to policies. That is in regards to the bond election that was just held. Things that are done directly to and about my student.”
Knight said she followed the chain of command and when she didn’t receive any information back, she attempted to speak to some board members outside of the meeting.
“They kindly let us know that they didn’t know legally what they could communicate with us about and what they could not,” Knight said. “So, again I’m unable to have any conversation that derives any outcome. I will also say that on the administration website, there’s no contact information for the board members. We are to notify central administration and they let the board members know who needs to contact us. That’s not an effective way for you as elected members to represent your constituents when it has to go directly through the person that you’re holding accountable.”
She said that on social media, there have been productive comments from board members and that when a question is asked, they don’t respond.
“So, there’s not a way to clarify any statements that are made because there is no participation back and it’s exactly what your policy says, that your board members will not respond to questions,” Knight said. “So, all of these problems could be changed if we simply changed our outlook. Every parent isn’t here to belittle or to discriminate or any of those things. We’re here fighting for our kids. We’re here for change. We’re here to empower our students. Our students have the future to stand in front of you.”
Knight said the Roar App did not have anything about the recent bond proposition.
“Also, I was corrected at the last meeting that public comment is for comments only, not for questions, so you’re unable to ask questions,” Knight said. “I would ask that you post that agenda early and allow the public to ask questions before the meeting if you’re not going to allow us to do so within the meeting and I say this with the utmost respect because we’re going to push for change and we’re going to push for improvement that starts with our parents being included in the decisions that are being made in our child’s education.”
Board President Paul Buntz thanked Knight and said he personally did not have a problem with his email address being listed for contact.
“I didn’t realize it was not,” Buntz said.
The board approved the following agenda items: - Indian policies and procedures for the 2025-2026 school year. The policy states it is the intent of the school district that all Indian children in the school district have equal access to all programs, services and activities within the school district. The district will consult with tribal officials and parents of Indian children in the planning and development of Indian policies and procedures.
- A trip by Durant FFA to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the National FFA Convention to receive the 3-Star National Chapter Award on Oct. 28-31. FFA advisors Jeremiah and Kayla Adams requested to take 13 students and two sponsors.
The board accepted the following resignations: Melissa Phelps, second-grade teacher at GW (retirement), and Bob Hall, special education teacher assistant at DIS.
The employment of Jordan Nichols was approved as adjunct faculty for technology engineering at DMS.
Board members approved the following employments: Tony Robinson, physical education and weightlifting instructor at DHS; Jaci Hatton, special education teacher assistant at DMS; Cruz Avalos De Alejos, special education teacher assistant at DIS; Heather West, special education teacher assistant at DIS; Debra Riley, special education teacher assistant at WI; Ashlee Richie, special education teacher assistant at WI, and Tyler Wesley, transportation employee, bus monitor.
