It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing that I have submitted my resignation as the Superintendent of the Idabel Public School District, effective at the end of this academic year.
I have enjoyed my time serving as Superintendent in this district and am proud of the many accomplishments that we have achieved together. The dedication and commitment of the staff, students, and community have made my tenure here an enriching experience.
However, after careful consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to pursue a new opportunity with new responsibilities and increased salary. While this was not an easy decision, I believe it is in the best interest of my career and my family.
I want to thank the School Board for their support during my time here, and for the trust and confidence, they have placed in me to lead this district. I would also like to express my gratitude to the outstanding teachers, administrators, and support staff who have worked tirelessly to improve the educational experiences of our students and Preparing Champions for Life!
Idabel Public Schools has achieved great success under the leadership team that we have put together over the past 9 years. From managing school district finance to overseeing construction projects, the district has achieved several milestones.
One of the significant achievements is the increase in the Fund Balance from $250,000 in 2013 to $2.3 million today, which was done by utilizing federal funds and grants strategically. This allowed the district to provide pay increases for support staff and several district-wide bonuses over the years. Thanks to a very supportive community the district has passed three bond issues with over 80% approval, the initial bond allowed for the purchase of a new transportation fleet, including buses, activity buses, suburbans, and Ag trucks as well as upgraded technology infrastructure.
The district has implemented a successful professional development program called the Next Level Committee, which focuses on using Idabel staff as experts to lead district-wide training, saving professional development funds. We also implemented a 1:1 iPad/Chromebook program just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and upgraded the network infrastructure to a 10 Gig connection district-wide.
The Child Nutrition Program has been upgraded with a third-party vendor, and the district has implemented the CEP program, allowing every student to eat for free and all employees to eat for $1.00. We have upgraded all the cafeterias and kitchens across the district with new flooring and kitchen equipment.
The district has also made significant improvements to its facilities, including a complete LED light replacement project, upgrading and updating all student bathrooms, and upgrading baseball and softball facilities with the help of local donors, volunteers, and an MLB grant. We are currently upgrading all campus access points with cameras and electronic door access points to improve security on all campuses. Progress is being made to replace HVAC systems in half of the district as well as complete roofing replacement before school starts in August of 2024. All four libraries in the district have been updated and restocked with thousands of books of new inventory with the strategic use of federal grants.
The district expanded and created success in all its extracurricular programs, including band, vocal music, and athletics, through strategic hiring practices and complete support for these extracurricular areas. The district has seen the completion of a new football stadium with an eight-lane all-weather track and artificial grass field, including a 40-foot jumbo video scoreboard. We have also planned and are currently completing the construction of a new modern band room/safe room, with 3 practice rooms, an ensemble room, instrument/uniform storage, and office space.
The district also successfully implemented a positive social media campaign to promote transparency and encourage communication of ongoing projects with all district stakeholders. We strengthened a partnership with the Choctaw Nation to implement an extensive summer school program and guided the expansion of their 21st Century after-school program to include PreK through 1st grade. Idabel Public Schools has also worked closely with Southeastern Oklahoma State University to expand our concurrent and dual enrollment program to grow the number of students earning college credit while still in high school.
Overall, the accomplishments of Idabel Public Schools is a testament to the dedication and hard work it takes to Prepare Champions for Life.
Thank you again for the privilege of serving as Superintendent of the Idabel Public School District. I will cherish the memories and relationships I have made during my time here.
Sincerely
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"Preparing Champions for Life"
Doug Brown
Superintendent
Idabel Public Schools
@IdabelPublicSch
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." Aristotle