Union Public Schools

Board of Education Zone 2 Candidates Forum Planned Thursday, Jan. 27

The Union Public Schools PLAC (Parent-Legislative Action Committee) and UCTA (Union Classroom Teachers Association: invite the public to attend the Board of Education Zone 2 candidates forum from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, January 27, at the 8th Grade Center, 6501 S. Garnett. Candidates for the Union Board of Education Zone 2 seat are Shelley Gwartney, Dr. Chris McNeil and Derek Rader. Currently represented by McNeil, that district includes the campuses of Andersen, Cedar Ridge, Moore and Peters elementary schools.

Board Report - December 13

Board Adopts Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy

Citing increasing diversity among the student body, Union Public Schools’ Board of Education unanimously adopted a new district-wide diversity, equity and inclusion policy Monday night.

3 Candidates File For Zone 2 Office On Board of Education

Candidates for Union’s Zone 2 are Shelley Gwartney, Dr. Chris McNeil and Derek Rader. Currently represented by McNeil, that district includes the campuses of Andersen, Cedar Ridge, Moore and Peters elementary schools.

Union's Board Votes Against Suspending Mask Mandate

Union’s Board of Education, in a spirited yet civil discussion, voted 3-2 Tuesday against suspending the mask mandate that is currently in place at the district with an opt-out provision. As a result, masks will remain in place for now, until the Board revisits the issue again in January 2022. “As a school board, we can’t talk about things until we are all in the room together,” said Union Board Stacey Roemerman. “This was a chance for us to discuss our Covid numbers at school and our numbers in the greater community. We voted to keep the mask mandate in place ultimately because we are in a great place [with low Covid numbers], and we want to continue to be there going into the holidays. We will reevaluate the issue again in January.”

Redhawks Selected As New Mascot For Union Public Schools

The votes are in . . . and the Union Redhawks, it is! Overwhelmingly, students voted in favor of redhawks as the choice for the district’s new mascot, with 80.7 percent of students in grades 6-12 voting decisively for the red-winged predator versus 19.3 percent for the bison mascot. When fourth and fifth grade student votes were included, the redhawks received 72.5 percent of the vote, and the bison 27.5 percent. Union’s Board of Education on Monday, November 8, voted unanimously to approve the new redhawks mascot, as recommended by students.

Who Represents You On The Board of Education?

The Union Public Schools Board of Education is responsible for establishing the policies under which the District operates. The five-member Board must act within the framework of state and federal laws and still be responsible to the unique needs of the Union community.

The Superintendent of Schools is the Chief Executive Officer for the Board and is responsible for administering Board policies and District regulations.

The Board strives to foster an atmosphere of communication and understanding among students, parents, teachers and administrators.

Board Email

Regular meetings are normally conducted the second Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the Union Education Service Center, 8506 East 61st Street. Agendas for each meeting are posted on our web site, at the Education Service Center and in schools throughout the district at least 24 hours in advance of each meeting, excluding weekends and holidays.

Patrons may address the Board during regular meetings under two specific areas of the agenda, one addressing items posted on the agenda and the other about any item concerning the district. Speakers must sign in within the 15-minute period before the Board meeting to be heard. The president may establish the order for speakers. During this time, each speaker is given a maximum of three minutes. Members of the Board are not allowed to respond to comments from the floor, and no vote or action may be taken on issues raised.

Board Terms

School Board general elections are conducted on the first Tuesday in April, with one Board position open for election each year. If more than two candidates fle during the December filing period for an open seat or an unexpired term, a primary election will be conducted on the second Tuesday in February. If no candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will proceed to the school board election on the first Tuesday in April. Only those registered voters living within the geographical boundaries of the Board district in which a term is expiring or in which a vacancy exists are eligible to vote for that Board position.

To seek election to a Board seat, candidates must have resided and been a registered voter for at least six months preceding the first day of the filing period in the Board district open for election, and all candidates must hold a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency. The filing period for Board seats is the first Monday through Wednesday in December.

School districts with Average Daily Attendance (ADA) of 10,000 students or more are required to elect members by Board district rather than at-large. Union's Board districts were reapportioned in 1991 and again in 2001, as required by law, to be as equal in population as practical with not more than a 10 percent variance between the most populous and least populous.

Board of Education

Pictured are members of the Union Public Schools Board of Education, from left to right, Board Clerk Heather McAdams, Superintendent Dr. Hartzler, Board President Stacey Roemerman, Deputy Clerk Chris McNeil, Board Member Joey Reyes, and Vice President Ken Kinnear.

Board Officers

President Stacey Roemerman
Vice President Ken Kinnear
Board Clerk Heather McAdams
Deputy Board Clerk Chris McNeil

Board Secretary

Barbara Swinburne - 918-357-6015

The Board Secretary is responsible for assisting Board members and the Superintendent in facilitating all Board of Education and district business. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Maintaining a complete and accurate record of all official Board proceedings;
Preparing and posting the agenda for all Board meetings, distributing packets to Board members and administrators, complete with all agenda backup and informational items;
Taking minutes at all Board meetings and transcribing for the next regular meeting;
Notifying County Clerk of all regular and special meetings;
Obtaining signatures from Board members as needed;
Staying abreast of School Board policy and Oklahoma school law;
Dealing with district patrons regarding School Board policy;
Maintaining the Board budget and requisitions for Board purchases.

Board of Education Navigation

District Announcement

Union COVID-19 Plan

View Union’s ‘Safe Return & Continuity of Services Plan ’ to see the district’s plans for keeping school open during the pandemic. More details here.

Free Meals

Union

Union is offering free meals now through June 30, 2022 with curbside delivery for virtual students. Details.

Report A Threat

SafeSchools Alert is our district's tip reporting service. If you have information about a threat to our safety, do your part and report it. And remember, you can remain anonymous.