February 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

Discussion:  Dr. LindaToure called the meeting to order 5:33pm

Discussion:  None.

Discussion:  Mr. Zac Barrett, Supervisor of Maintenance, called the moment of silence, followed by leading the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Mr. Barrett shared why he chose Metro Tech and recited the Mission Statement—" Metro Technology Centers prepare people for successful employment and life in a global society." 

Discussion:  Mr. Collins provided his district update report, noting that it contains a great deal of valuable information, including highlights, financial updates, and other key data that help illustrate the ongoing work and progress across the district. We are also pleased to have Mrs. Powers and Mrs. Upton with us this evening. They recently completed the Women in Technology program and were recognized a few weeks ago for their participation. Both shared that the experience was life-changing and deeply impactful. They expressed their gratitude to the board for supporting them and providing the opportunity to attend. Following this, we will hear from Mr. Matt Wade, Director of the Metro Tech Foundation, who will be presenting next. Mr. Wade will share insights about the Foundation’s partnerships and their collaboration with Metro Tech.

Discussion:  Mr. Matt Wade, Director of the Metro Tech Foundation. Good evening, Dr. Toure and Superintendent Collins. My name is Matt Wade, and I serve as executive director of the MetroTech Foundation. Thank you for inviting me to share how the foundation supports our students. You should have a packet in front of you that outlines our recent work. Our mission is straightforward: we help Metro Tech students achieve the lives they dream of by creating opportunities and removing financial barriers. Metro Tech provides the instruction, programs, and instructors; our role is narrower. We focus on students who can succeed academically but are at risk of leaving because of challenges outside the classroom. Dr. Toure thanked Mr. Wade and asked how many people were on his staff; Mr. Wade replied that there are two employees on his team. Ms. Campos then congratulated him on his new role.

Discussion:  Mr. Collins introduced Mr. Cowley, who then spoke about Metro Tech’s innovation knowledge management journey over the past two years, focusing on how they decide which opportunities to pursue, how they gather employee input to find meaningful pain points, and how they use the Baldrige Quality Framework’s definition of innovation—making meaningful change to improve products, processes, or organizational effectiveness and create new value for stakeholders—to guide that work." All the ideas that are raised are captured and tracked so we can measure what happens to them. When an idea is shared at a hub, we log it in Microsoft Lists, assign it a priority based on known barriers or its aspirational nature, and then assign it to a key point of contact—often a cabinet member, director, supervisor, or department head—for follow-up project management. We report progress back to employees each quarter. These meetings rotate around the district, including South Bryant and the Springlake campus, and we have ‘frequent flyers’ who attend regularly because they find value in helping solve problems rather than just identify them. This process lets employees be part of the solution, helps us spot staff who are eager to grow as leaders, and highlights future ‘shining stars’ who are invested in where Metro Tech is going. Last year, over 75 staff members participated across the four quarters, and we expect to exceed that this year. Our goal is not to invent the next Tesla, but to improve the steering wheel—solving practical issues now while building toward larger innovation projects like apps and new technologies in the future." "Ms. Campos asked about the badge process. Previously, when students arrived in August, hundreds of them had to come downstairs to get their badges printed, which caused delays. Now, we print most badges over the summer so they are ready on the first day, reducing the number we print to just a few dozen and helping students get to class much faster. This simple change, along with check-in night and coordinated efforts by Marketing, Communications, Student Services, and Instruction on day one, gets students into instruction quickly and improves their overall experience."
"Mr. Ludden noted that the real focus of this conversation is how we are affecting students and stepping in to solve issues when they arise. Dr. Toure asked for clarification on one of the PowerPoint slides and commented that she could really see the impact on students. Mr. Cowley acknowledged her observation, explaining that the light blue and dark blue sections represent the majority of our students. He clarified that the slide shows results from our student satisfaction survey, which we conduct each semester—once in the fall and again in the spring. He also reminded everyone that in the spring this survey is tied to an incentive, as meeting a specific threshold helps trigger incentive payments for employees."

Mr. Collins shared that, "hot off the presses," Mr. Cowley has been selected to serve on the accreditation advisory committee, representing all administrators in the state of Oklahoma through 2029. He offered congratulations and thanked Mr. Cowley for representing Metro Tech in this important role, followed by applause.

Discussion:  Mr. Ty Goldsmith, Site Director of Evening Programs, introduced the HVAC student spotlight, Mr. Devin Crisp, who has a unique path to Metro Tech. Devin, born and raised in Oklahoma City, graduated from Midwest City High School, earned a business marketing degree at NSU on a football scholarship, then completed a master’s in theological studies at Liberty University in Virginia. After returning home, he began teaching at Del City Middle School and, wanting to give back and work with teenagers while still searching for his passion, decided to explore the trades. He chose HVAC because its busy season aligns with teachers’ summers off, and he chose Metro Tech because it was the only program offering part-time evening classes, which allowed him to keep working while training for a new career as he and his wife plan for their future. Mr. Walke, a Del City graduate himself, thanked Mr. Crisp for giving back to the community. Dr. Toure asked about his projected graduation date, and he shared that he is finishing the program this month after starting last spring, with plans to begin a yearlong apprenticeship. He said he hopes to teach full-time and do HVAC on the side. Mr. Collins thanked him for giving back and for choosing Metro Tech.

Discussion: 

Ms. Casey Rainbolt will introduce our employee spotlight. She has been with Metro Tech for more than 20 years, and her connection to the district runs deep—her mother served in several roles here and ultimately retired as the superintendent’s administrative specialist after more than 30 years of service. Lori brings both a wealth of institutional knowledge and a forward-thinking, innovative mindset. She has played a key role in supporting program growth, strengthening community partnerships, and positioning economic development for continued success. Most recently, she received the ACT PACE Innovation Award at Vision 2025 and will be formally recognized at the ODCTE Board meeting on February 19. Tonight, she will share more about that accomplishment, her professional journey, and the experiences that have shaped her passion for this work. Please welcome Lori Lyons." shared her story. 

Good evening, cabinet members, colleagues, and our Economic and Workforce Development team. I appreciate the opportunity to share a bit about myself, my role, and my journey at Metro Tech. My career here began more than 20 years ago, and I have served in my current role since 2011. My values are rooted in faith, family, and service to others, and I am the fourth generation in my family to work in public education, with both of my parents serving in Oklahoma’s CareerTech system. Some of my earliest memories of Metro Tech are visiting the Springlake campus with my mother, who later retired from here; it is where I first learned to introduce myself and speak with professionals, something I still do today.

After high school, I completed a graphic design apprenticeship in Alexandria, Virginia, then returned to Oklahoma feeling disillusioned with college and facing life as a single mother. Determined to gain employable skills and build a stable life for my daughter and me, I turned to Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, earning technical certifications in graphic design and web programming. Those skills led to work as a multimedia developer for a national defense contractor and eventually brought me back to Metro Tech; while the salary was modest, the mission and impact mattered deeply to me.

That spirit of collaboration later led a colleague to nominate me for recognition, and I was honored to receive both the state and national ACTE PACE Innovation Awards for producing a hybrid, scalable multi-agency fraud prevention conference that helps protect our workforce, students, and community. Today, I am a mother of four: my oldest daughter earned her CNA through Moore Norman Technology Center while in high school, and my oldest son is a graduate of Metro Tech’s Aviation Maintenance Technician program and is now fully certified and employed full-time at Bombardier.

Ms. Campos thanked Ms. Lyons and remarked that it was inspiring to see her impact and service, especially as an example to other women and as a strong advocate for Oklahoma’s CareerTech system. Ms. Lyons replied that she is always willing to speak and contribute whenever needed, even though she prefers to work behind the scenes. Dr. Toure said," Thank you for sharing your story.

 

Discussion: 

Mr. Campbell, through January 31st, we’ve collected about 74% of our current-year ad valorem taxes. January is always our strongest month for revenue, so we’re right on track.

Our investment funds are structured to mature as needed throughout the year. With the Federal Reserve cutting rates recently, we expect a slight dip in earnings, but overall, our returns remain strong compared to a few years ago. We’ll continue to monitor all revenue sources and expenditures closely.

In response to Mr. Walke’s question about our investments, yes — they’re limited by regulation to instruments backed by the U.S. government or the State of Oklahoma, such as FDIC-insured CDs, Treasury bills, and agency notes.

Discussion:  Mr. Collins shared the dates of the upcoming events with the board members and guests.

Discussion: 

Mr. Ludden reviewed the report from the academic committee that met last week. I found the discussion very informative, especially regarding how programs are evaluated and updated without disrupting the students currently enrolled. It’s important that we continue ensuring every student has the opportunity to complete their program successfully. Some students also have the option to transition into part-time courses, and I was reassured that all students are being supported during this process.

I’m excited about the new programs being considered—these changes reflect not only what’s working within our schools but also what our communities truly need. I appreciate the committee’s careful attention to such details. The charts and data shared were impressive; I had plenty of questions, but I appreciated how the focus remained on each individual student rather than just collective statistics. One report even detailed 16 specific students, showing a commitment to truly understanding and improving student outcomes. I’m grateful for the work and thoughtfulness that went into preparing this report.

Dr. Toure’s remarks about the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast were wonderful, and it was great to have our staff there with us. It was truly an amazing event. I didn’t get to see the entire parade, but I did get to wave at the bus while watching my granddaughter’s basketball game—it was great to see MetroTech represented. Events like these really show how connected we are to our community, and I was proud to be part of it.

Ms. Jones shared that she loved the message about the "beloved community," which was truly inspiring. Mr. Collins agreed, saying Dr. Toure did an excellent job.

Ms. Campos added that she appreciates all the ways our organization stays involved in the community—not just through events like the parade, but also through business opportunities, luncheons, and other occasions to connect with community leaders. She noted how exciting it is to see our teams and students represented across social media, the news, and every platform we use. It’s clear that our involvement runs deep, and she thanked everyone for continuing that important work.

Discussion: 

Dr. Toure expressed gratitude to the staff, noting how informative and helpful the reports are. She emphasized that the data clearly shows progress and collaboration across the organization. She commended the time and effort it takes to prepare these reports and assured everyone that she does read them thoroughly. She added that she’s confident her fellow board members appreciate them as well.

Ms. Campos thanked the team for their work and noted how streamlined and visually engaging the reports have become. Drawing from her background in marketing, she commented on the improved design and clarity, saying that the substance is strong and the information is concise. She added that the reports reflect the mission and teamwork across all departments and thanked staff for their ongoing dedication.

Mr. Ludden shared his appreciation for everyone’s efforts, stating that the reports look excellent.

Dr. Toure then took a moment to recognize the staff who participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events. She reminded everyone that it is a holiday—a "day on, not a day off"—and that participation was voluntary. She expressed deep appreciation for those who chose to show up and represent the organization, saying their actions reflect the values of respect and dignity for all. She emphasized that their contributions do not go unnoticed and asked that it be noted for the record that staff are truly appreciated.

Discussion:  Meeting adjourned at 6:35pm