As with so many components of Guthrie, the local public school system is facing a great deal of change, good and bad…but Dr. Mike Simpson feels they’re doing what they can to handle it.
In a full-morning presentation for this year’s Leadership Guthrie program, Dr. Simpson talked indepth about all of the district’s challenges since he became superintendent in 2012, and especially about the new challenges over the past three years.
Dr. Simpson highlighted the district’s place as key economic engine for Guthrie and Logan County. Guthrie PS is Logan County’s largest single employer, with 465 total employees. Additionally, given the district’s 2023 budget of $30.6 million, $23.7 million, or over 77%, goes to staff as salaries and benefits, contributing directly to our local economy. Additionally, approximately $1 million is also spent with local vendors just for the district’s regular operating expenditures.
He also discussed issues in funding. There have been some significant wins and fortunate circumstances. Local population growth driven by northward movement from the Oklahoma City metro area as well as in-migration to Guthrie from other areas during the pandemic has helped, increasing property values by 55% in total assessed value within the district since Dr. Simpson took over.
The pandemic also brought in new revenue in other ways, with Federal expenditures coming in to assist struggling schools during the pandemic. Guthrie PS received nearly $9.8 million in Federal assistance through the three rounds of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Review (ESSER) program between August 2020 and March 2021. The district was able to use those funds to provide additional coverage for regular expenses like salaries, insurance, and utility costs, particularly around custodial salaries with the constant additional cleaning and sanitization needed. They also provided a $750 stipend to certified staff from these funds in the final and largest round of ESSER funding to reward the teachers for their hard work during the return-to-school period.
Also, Guthrie PS used the money to buy needed upgrades to facilities and technology, like distance learning software for remote learning, thermal cameras to help
GPS LEADERSHIP» PAGE 4 spot students, staff, and visitors with fevers that might indicate illness, Chromebooks and software licenses, and school buses and lunchroom tables for the return to class.
The district was also able to use ESSER funds in conjunction with existing bond funding to make significant needed upgrades to school HVAC systems and energy efficiency needs like window replacement, particularly at the Guthrie Junior High.
Most importantly, the district was able to use the ESSER funds to complete some big facility upgrades without resorting to another bond issue, such as the renovations of the high school gymnasium lobby.
Dr. Simpson talked about the renewed community support the district has received, especially with the passing of two bond issues in 2015 and 2019. Prior to those wins, Guthrie had not passed a bond issue since 2005. These bonds has enabled construction of Charter Oak Elementary to cover the tremendous growth in the southern part of the district, as well as much-needed roof repairs for Central, Guthrie Upper Elementary, and Guthrie Junior High.
In follow-up questions, Dr. Simpson acknowledged that he considers the two passed bond issues one of his greatest wins during his tenure. “Facilities and infrastructure are essential and bond issues are largely a referendum on the leadership of the district. We have shared our story and delivered on promises to the community. That is a trust that we will never take lightly.”
He did acknowledge a massive challenge the district has faced in the past two years: increased behavioral and psychological issues with the returning students. The extended time off without a structured environment has left many of Guthrie’s students in a bad place, and as they have returned, that has translated into challenges in the classroom. “This is not just a Guthrie problem,” he states, “schools nationwide are seeing this issue.” He adds, “one major contributing iss chronic absenteeism of students. Coming off the pandemic, some families consider class attendance to be optional…I truly believe that is hindering our academic achievement as a district.” The district used some funds from ESSER to contract for a school psychologist for three years, in hopes of addressing this situation.
Dr. Simpson did mention one way he knew that his district had really turned the corner in how it was perceived within the community. “When I was first moving here after I took the job with the district, I noticed that none of the real estate signs for new housing mentioned the schools as a selling point. The day I started seeing ‘Guthrie schools’ on these signs, I knew it was working.”