Bixby Public Schools students return to class Aug. 19, and student safety remains a top priority for the district.
Superintendent Lydia Wilson is entering her second year in the role and spoke with News On 6 about preparations for the new school year, including new safety training for students and staff, changes related to the state’s recess law and what the district learned during the first year of the state’s cell phone restrictions.
Q: What is Bixby doing to improve student safety?
Lydia Wilson: “Well, Bixby started last semester working on training with “I Love You Guys” to do a standard response protocol, which means we really shift from scenario and trying to figure out what to do to responses, always knowing what to do and apply it to the scenario as appropriate.”
The district is partnering with the I Love You Guys Foundation to train staff, families and students on the standard response protocol.
Wilson said the district is sending information to staff and families and continuing training this week. Students will also receive age-appropriate training when they return to school.
Students through third grade will have a book teachers can share with them, while students in grades four through 12 will watch a video.
Q: How is Bixby handling the state’s new recess law?
Wilson: “Well, we have always had time over the minimum requirement in Bixby. Therefore, it does not impact us too much.”
Wilson said the district is adjusting its schedules by taking internal minutes from transition time. Students will ultimately be dismissed one minute later.
Wilson: “It was a very big deal. We believe that kids should be playing. Please don’t get me wrong when we say the recess issue created some problems for us. It’s a timing issue. We have no problem with kids playing any time of day in or out of school. However, we had to adjust our schedules and that took a little work.”
Q: What did Bixby learn from the first year of the cell phone restrictions?
Wilson: “We learned that our community is extremely supportive. We already knew that, but in this particular area we were worried about how it would impact families to have kids without phones, but they have been fabulous in response.”
Wilson said the district is not planning major changes to its approach for the second year of the state’s cell phone restrictions.
Bixby had already implemented the policy before it was required by state law, so students will continue to keep their phones put away during the school day, except in an emergency.
Wilson: “So we’re really not making many changes. We’d already tried it the year before it was required, so we’re simply sticking with it and kids will not have their cell phones unless there’s an emergency, of course, but they will not have their cell phones out in accordance with the law and our policy.”
Q: What is your message to Bixby families ahead of the first day?
Wilson: “I want to be sure that all families know that in Bixby, just like all the great school districts around us, we want kids to be safe, comfortable and productive.”
Wilson said teachers and staff are prepared to welcome students back and encouraged families not to be nervous about the new school year.
Wilson: “So I want them to not be nervous and not worry. The top priority for us is communication because we’re a growing district and we know the way to stay small in feeling is to be sure and have good relationships. So we want them to reach out, communicate, and we’ll do the same.”
Wilson said maintaining strong communication with families will be an important part of keeping students and staff connected throughout the school year.
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