Tonkawa school board members Monday night voted to hire Renaissance Architecture for the central cafeteria project planned to go before voters in August of 2022.Mike Hyatt, director of Education Development at the firm, and scott Chastain, who will serve as project manager, were both at the meeting. The vote to hire the architects was unanimous with Casey McAnThe vote to hire the architects was unanimous with Casey McAninch, Cara Beth Johnson, Jerry Hook, Brian Bowling and Nancy Appleman all voting in favor.In other action, the board voted to pay general fund encumbrances totalling $120,497.84 and accepted a letter of resignation from Holly Peart, Tonkawa elementary music teacher effective Dec. 17, 2021.The board has scheduled a special meeting at noon Thursday, Dec. 16, to hire her replacement and adopt a student transfer plan for the 2022 calendar year.Peart’s resignation letter follows:To whom it may concern:Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from the position of Music Teacher at Tonkawa Elementary School. My last day of work will be December 17, 2021, the end date of the fall term. I feel that God is leading me in a new life direction. The added stressors brought on by COVID & its social emotional impact is also affecting my physical and mental health to the point that leaving my current position earlier than planned is necessary.I am more than willing to work closely with my replacement during this transition period to ensure that the students’ learning is not negatively affected. The spring program for 1st & 2nd grade, as well as a small-scale musical for 5th grade, are all planned and students have already been working on the material for months. The necessary plans & performance cds for those programs are prepared and organized for ease of implementation. I can even be available to the replacement teacher if she/he has any questions for the remainder of the year via phone or email. My heart is, and always will be, to give our precious students & community my very best.Working as a teacher at Tonkawa Elementary School for the past 11.5 years has been a tremendous honor & joy. I’ve been able to continue my family legacy as part of the elementary staff, grow as a person and a professional, and pour all that I have into building relationships with hundreds of students & families & staff members over the years, working ...
