OKEECHOBEE — At the Tuesday, April 8, meeting of the Okeechobee County School Board the board approved the expulsion of a tenth grade student at Okeechobee High School for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year and the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year. The student committed a Level III violation of the Code of Student Conduct for drug possession. The student committed these acts of misconduct on Sept 19, 2023, Oct. 31, 2023, and Oct. 5, 2024. A Level III violation states: Possessing (including possession after use when the substance is still in the body), using and/or procuring, selling or dispensing on school premises, school buses, or at any school activity or school-related function of: b. Any substance controlled by F.S. 893 or 877.111.

The board approved a request for proposals for the provision of rebranding services. At last month’s meeting Dr. Joseph Stanley gave a presentation on the importance of branding and explained why Okeechobee County Schools may be in need of a re-branding. The board has decided to move forward with the process and will be selecting a qualified service provider for district branding services.

A services agreement was approved with TryOnce, Inc. for implementation coaching and resources for the Once Early-Reading Program for kindergarten and first grade students for $68,360. Once Early-Reading Program is a program designed to help students who have a literacy level below where it should be learn to read fluently and independently. It’s specifically geared to the youngest students to help prepare them as they progress through their education.

Many parents may be happy to hear that the board approved an emergency quote Thor Guard to purchase the replacement lightning detection system for Osceola Middle School. The quote from Thor Guard is for an emergency purchase for a replacement lightning detection system at Osceola Middle School. Due to a lighting strike making the previous system inoperable, this causes a safety concern.

The retirement of Executive Secretary Sharon Vinson was announced at the meeting as well. Sharon has been with Okeechobee County Schools for 32 years.

Additionally, school vacancies were announced: Central Elementary is losing one teacher, Everglades is losing two, North Elementary is losing two, Seminole is losing one, South is losing one, Osceola is losing one, and Yearling is losing one. Totaling 10 vacancies.

Superintendent Tedders gave a few reminders as well: all schools will be closed on Friday, April 18, in observance of Good Friday and Friday. May 2 is School Lunch Hero Day.