By JONAH LOSSIAH
One Feather Staff
The Cherokee Centrals Schools Board of Education held a meeting at Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Monday (Sept. 20) night. The dual purpose of the meeting was to conduct business and to recognize exiting board members after the 2021 election.
Board members Karen French-Browning (Big Cove), Gloria Griffin (Birdtown), and Ike Long (Wolftown) will all be stepping away from the Board following this meeting. They will be replaced by Kristina Hyatt (Big Cove), Melanie Lambert (Birdtown), and Berdie Toineeta (Wolftown).
The meeting lasted 26 minutes. Superintendent Michael Murray and the other Board members shared their appreciation for the three exiting members. French Browning, Griffin, and Long received the following gifts from the school: a life-time Braves Pass, a personalized plaque, a Pendleton Blanket, and a Dell XPS laptop computer. The computer had been provided to them by Cherokee Central Schools at the beginning of their term in office.
Regarding business, the Board moved to pass the consent agenda. This was done unanimously, approving the following items:
- Virginia Ann Gardner approved as Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach
- Kari Read approved as an Elementary School Teacher
- Myra Smith approved as a Pathseekers Teacher Assistant at Cherokee High School.
- Ryan Sampson approved as a Volunteer JV Football Coach.
There was also one walk-in resolution that was passed. This approved Leslie Mason as an ELA teacher at CCS.
When providing general updates, Superintendent Murray and the Board stated that they will continue to monitor the situation around COVID-19 and will be holding to the current safety protocols at the school.
Student IDs were commented on again. Murray said that there has been a hold up getting school pictures, but once that was resolved the IDs should be ready to roll out.
The Monday, Sept. 20 meeting of the CCS Board of Education was called to order at 5:32 p.m. with Chairperson Jennifer Thompson; Vice Chair Isaac Long; Board members Gloria Griffin, Karen French-Browning, and Regina Ledford Rosario; Superintendent Dr. Michael Murray; Asst. Superintendent Dr. Beverly Payne; HR Director Heather Driver; and School Board Administrator Terri Bradley all in attendance. Secretary Tara Reed-Cooper and Wolftown Tribal Council Representative Chelsea Saunooke were absent from the meeting.
The next meeting of the School Board will take place on Monday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. Meetings are usually being held in the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center at CCS. Board of Education and are considered public meetings and are open to public attendance except for executive (closed) sessions.
