Members of the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education were scheduled to meet by teleconference Monday evening.

This was the first time the board collectively used Zoom, a video conference app. Each board member was expected to connect to the app through their phone or computer. In addition, they planned to use their school-issued iPad to read items on the agenda.

While most board members were scheduled to participate remotely, Assistant Superintendent Matt Goucher was on location at the school’s administration office.

Superintendent Craig McVay said though this is something new for the board, the process is mostly “business as usual.”

“There’s still ‘round the clock communication throughout the district,” McVay said. “Principals are talking to teachers, teachers to students and parents, and our staff to the board members by phone. Communication is non-stop.”

Citizens were allowed to attend the meeting at the physical location, with the agreement that no more than 10 people could be present at one time. The building was cordoned off into four separate rooms, with sound recorded using a laptop and fed into each area. McVay said the virtual meeting format and the limited presence at the physical location are both in line with orders by Gov. Kevin Stitt and Mayor Matt White.

Items on the agenda included the board’s financial status as well as new policies. The board was scheduled to approve the authorization of the annual bidding process for general school supplies for the next school year. The board also planned to discuss a plan for a greenhouse to be built on district property by the Craig Foundation.

Discussion was also to focus on the possibility of scheduling high school graduation early.

A special meeting is expected to be called for the first week of May to discuss the board’s annual bond sale.