By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — The first day of school is here for thousands of Broken Arrow students, and the district is starting the new school year with a focus on classroom instruction, transportation safety, and preparing students for the future.
Broken Arrow Public Schools Superintendent Chuck Perry says the district is keeping things simple in the classroom this year, focusing on strong teaching practices rather than introducing a long list of new initiatives.
“We’ve been very focused on not introducing new initiatives every year, which causes fatigue for teachers,” Perry said. “And just getting back to the basics and the foundations of good quality teaching.”
One of the biggest changes families may notice this year is a new pilot program designed to give parents more information about their children’s bus rides.
The district is testing an RFID card system at five elementary schools. Students will have a card attached to their backpack that they scan when they board the bus.
Parents will receive a notification when their child gets on the bus and can use the district’s existing transportation app to track the bus.
Perry says the system is designed to provide parents with more peace of mind, especially when weather, traffic or other issues cause delays.
“We want to keep those students as safe as we can,” Perry said.
The district is also continuing its cell phone policy, which was implemented in response to a state mandate. Perry says teachers have reported that students are more focused on academics and are interacting more with their classmates without phones in the classroom.
Broken Arrow is also continuing to incorporate artificial intelligence into education.
Perry says the district wants students to view AI as a tool to enhance learning, not simply a way to get quick answers. The high school also offers an elective called Fundamentals of AI, which was introduced last school year.
The district is also continuing its focus on school safety. Broken Arrow works with the Broken Arrow Police Department to provide school resource officers and has a team of 16 security guards across its campuses.
Perry says the district is focused on multiple layers of security, including locked exterior doors, secure vestibules and requiring visitors to show identification when entering during the school day.
Academically, Perry says student growth remains a major priority this year, particularly in areas such as reading and math.
“We want to see academic growth,” Perry said. “And we’re really probably more focused on that than ever before.”
As students return to classrooms, Perry says the district’s goal is ultimately to create an environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.
“We just keep rolling along and stay focused on that,” Perry said.
