Guthrie Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Simpson is bringing district conversations back to the community with the launch of Chalk Talk, a podcast designed to provide updates on the school district while highlighting students, staff, programs and issues impacting public education.
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In the first episode, Simpson sits down with Chris Evans for a wide-ranging conversation that stretches from changes at the state level to construction projects, academics, teacher recruitment, and the continued growth of the Guthrie school district.
Simpson, now in his 15th year with Guthrie Public Schools, said the podcast will also feature students and special guests in future episodes while addressing both local and statewide education issues.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us to share our story about what we’re doing in our community,” Simpson said. “We’re doing some great things and the worst thing that we can do when we’re doing all those great things is keep them a secret.”
The conversation began at the state level, including the arrival of Lindel Fields as State Superintendent. Simpson said Fields entered the position during a difficult period and credited him with putting the focus back on students and the process of education.
The discussion also touched on changes affecting the current school year, including the elimination of virtual days and Guthrie’s early challenge with air-conditioning problems during extreme heat. Simpson said the district was hopeful all of its affected systems would be repaired by the end of the week.
With virtual days no longer available, Simpson explained that the district will use instructional hours when possible to avoid adding makeup days to the calendar. That also means the exact ending date of the school year can be affected by weather and other cancellations throughout the year.
Another change discussed was the continued restriction of student cell phone use. Simpson said one of the most noticeable differences is what he sees while walking through the schools.
Students are interacting with each other rather than constantly looking at their phones, he said, including during lunch and while moving through hallways.
A major portion of the first Chalk Talk focused on projects made possible by the district’s successful 2024 bond issue.
Construction continues on a new wrestling facility that will provide dedicated spaces and locker rooms for both boys and girls wrestling. Simpson said the project addresses a significant need, particularly after the growth of girls wrestling.
The project will also have an impact beyond wrestling. The existing wrestling locker room is expected to be renovated into a locker room for the growing Guthrie volleyball program.
Simpson said the district is targeting late October or early November for the wrestling program to move into its new facility.
Looking farther ahead, one of the largest pieces of the 2024 bond issue is another new elementary school.
The district’s long-term goal is to create enough elementary capacity to eventually move fifth-grade students into the elementary schools. Simpson said accomplishing that would open additional possibilities for how Guthrie uses its existing facilities while also preparing for future enrollment growth.
“I believe that eventually this community will see a growing student population,” Simpson said. “The time to do that is before, not after, and be proactive, not reactionary.”
The new elementary school had been projected farther into the bond schedule, but Simpson said growth in property values could allow the district to begin some of the work approximately a year earlier than anticipated. Paying existing construction debt sooner would allow the district to issue the bonds for the next elementary project earlier and potentially reduce the impact of construction inflation.
Simpson also pointed to a changing demographic number within the district. He said more than 70% of students qualified for free and reduced lunch when he arrived in Guthrie. Last year, that figure was 57%.
The superintendent said he believes part of that change reflects families moving into new housing developments and becoming part of the district.
Inside the classroom, Simpson said improving reading and math remains a major focus.
The district uses reading and math interventionists to provide additional help to students who are struggling, with the goal of getting students back to grade level as early as possible. Simpson said additional state requirements could also provide more resources for those efforts.
“The goal is to get them back on grade level, ideally before the third grade,” Simpson said, while noting intervention continues for older elementary students as well.
The conversation also examined how academic success is measured. Simpson said one metric he watches closely is the number of Guthrie graduates who attend college and require remedial coursework.
He also stressed that college is not the only path to a successful career. Guthrie works closely with Meridian Technology Center, transporting students there in both the morning and afternoon to pursue career training.
Teacher development was another focus of the discussion. Simpson acknowledged the challenges facing educators who enter classrooms without traditional student-teaching experience. Guthrie has responded by providing targeted professional development and training in areas such as classroom management.
Simpson said failing to support inexperienced teachers can ultimately hurt students if those educators leave the profession and the district is forced to continually start over with new personnel.
The episode also highlighted the Bluejay Nest, the district’s daycare program for employees.
Started last year for teachers and expanded this year to include support staff, the program provides daycare for infants through four-year-olds at Guthrie Upper Elementary at what the district considers its cost.
Simpson said the program is intentionally priced below comparable daycare options in the community and serves as a recruitment tool at a time when childcare costs can make it difficult for young teachers with children to remain in the workforce.
The district also continues partnerships that include before- and after-school care through the YMCA and pre-K programs at Willow Creek and Golden Age nursing homes.
For Simpson, Chalk Talk will provide another avenue to tell those stories while giving the community a closer look at the decisions, challenges, and opportunities facing Guthrie Public Schools.
Future episodes are expected to include students, district personnel and other guests while tackling topics from inside Guthrie schools as well as education issues from around Oklahoma.
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