Broken Arrow Superintendent Comments On Security Upgrades And More In The District

Students will return to class at Broken Arrow in two days. The superintendent says they've upgraded security and are changing a few bus routes.

The district started getting ready for this school year even before the last school year ended.

"I think the biggest thing that I'm proud of is something that really started in the spring—our recruitment and retention of how we really bring together a staff," said Superintendent Chuck Perry.

Superintendent Chuck Perry says this is the first year in a long time the district is full for its transportation staff. He says the district still needs special education teachers and staff, but every other position on the faculty is full.

"It was a very intentional push by our HR staff to be out and about with our college fairs, and our board giving returning employees stipends here in a couple of weeks for those who made the decision to stay with Broken Arrow Public Schools," Perry said.

Perry plans to visit as many schools as he can on Wednesday to say hello and wants to remind parents to be patient about traffic and bus routes as everyone gets used to their new routines, especially with construction in the area.

"It's just progress of a growing community, and patience as they navigate those streets, and getting those students dropped off and being aware as we'll have student walkers out there and being on bikes," Perry said.

He says safety is always the main priority when it comes to students and anyone visiting the school will now have to talk to someone through a speaker before being allowed inside.

"We'd love to be Mayberry and open our doors, but we live in a society today where we have to take precautions, so we want the right people in," Perry said.