The Friends of the Stillwater Public Library’s spring used book sale will take place April 18-21. The volunteer-run biannual sale offers thousands of books, DVDs and CD books covering all genres and reading levels that range from 25 cents to $1. Purchases must be made with cash or check, and all sales are tax-free.

Proceeds from the sales support myriad library programs and services, including summer and winter reading programs and prizes, new books, community reading events and much more.

Stacy DeLano, library director, said the sale launches on Thursday, April 19, with a “Preview Night” from 5-8 p.m. It costs $10 at the door to enter and get the first pick of items. The one exception is for individuals who have purchased a lifetime membership – they may enter free of charge. Shoppers at the preview have a limit – they can buy 100 items total, including 50 children’s items. Holly Hartman, long-time Friends of the Library member, notes that this is a change from previous years.

The book sale opens to the general public with no entry fee charged on Friday, April 19, from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Like last year, the Stillwater Arts Festival will be taking place next door on these dates, so the library suggests that book sale shoppers be prepared for the area to be busy.

Some possible areas for parking include Southern Woods Park, the Community Center and the First Methodist Church. Parking will be unaffected on Thursday and Sunday.

The ever-popular $1 bag sale starts Sunday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Attendees fill entire bags of books of their choosing for $1 per bag. The Friends provide the bags and do not limit shoppers on the number of bags that can be purchased.

The Friends of the Library always need extra volunteers to help with the sale. Anyone interested in volunteering for the book sale should contact the Help Desk by emailing askalibrarian@stillwater.org or calling (405) 372-3633 x8106. Librarians will connect volunteers with the Friends of the Library’s volunteer coordinators.

Visit stillwaterok.gov/Library for information about the sale and the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library. For more details about the Stillwater Arts Festival, go to artscenter.okstate.edu.

The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. Library hours are Monday- Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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Stillwater Tax Apportionment Report, March 2024

The collection is based off of January transactions that were reported to the Oklahoma Tax Commission in February, and apportioned to the City in March.

2% GENERAL SALES TAX COLLECTION: $1,477,055
·        March 2023 GENERAL SALES TAX COLLECTION: $1,489,320
·        DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR: $12,265 (-0.82%)

1% TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX COLLECTION: $738,528
·        March 2023 TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX COLLECTION: $744,660
·        DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR: $6,132 (-0.82%)

1% STILLWATER UTILITIES AUTHORITY (SUA) SALES TAX COLLECTION: $738,528
·        March 2023 SUA SALES TAX COLLECTION: $744,660
·        DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR: $6,132 (-0.82%)

USE TAX COLLECTION: $367,037
·        March 2023 USE TAX COLLECTION: $374,294
·        DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR: $7,257 (-1.94%)

VISITOR TAX COLLECTION: $84,871
·        March 2023 VISITOR TAX COLLECTION: $85,859
·        DECREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR: $988 (-1.15%)

Go to the City’s Financial Center for more information about the budget and taxes and monthly reports for sales, use and visitor tax: https://stillwaterok.gov/233/Financial-Center

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Online enrollment for Pre-K students and any new K-12 student joining Stillwater Public Schools for the first time during the 2024-2025 school year is underway. Families that are entirely new to SPS will be prompted to complete an enrollment form, while those who already have SPS children in the district can login to their campus portal accounts to register.

Any family enrolling a student new to the district will need a copy of the child’s birth certificate, their shot record, and proof of Stillwater residence – a lease, mortgage statement,  or utility bill – to upload during enrollment.

A big part of the annual new student enrollment process is the influx of around 300 pre-kindergarten students. These students must be four years old by September 1, 2024, and must live within the SPS district boundaries. If a family is enrolling a child into the district for the first time at the kindergarten level, that child must be five years old by September 1.

The district encourages families with new Pre-K students to enroll as soon as possible to help ensure placement at their school of residence – the assigned elementary zone in which they live.

Incoming enrollment applications are time-stamped when the proof of residence, birth certificate, and immunization records are uploaded, with students being placed at their school sites in the order received. Enrollments may be delayed if the needed documents are not attached.

Families of Pre-K enrollees will be notified on May 1 about the status and location of their child’s placement. This will allow families to know their status sooner than in previous years and to make alternative arrangements if there was no space in the district’s program. It will also help the district and principals manage staffing levels before the summer break.

Anyone with questions or concerns about enrollment should contact the principal at their school of residence or the district office.

Families in need of interpretation and translation services during the enrollment process should email Stephanie Coca at scoca@stillwaterschools.com for assistance.

More information about enrollment, SPS, and its programs can be found at www.stillwaterschools.com.

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Stillwater Public Schools announced three teachers as finalists for the district Teacher of the Year - Jenny Bobo, Rebecca Palmatary, and Mary Beth Talley.

Jenny Bobo
Stillwater Pioneer Virtual Academy, Virtual Secondary Teacher
Oklahoma State University graduate, joined SPS in 2009

Currently, Bobo teaches at the Stillwater Pioneer Virtual Academy and says it feels like where she was always meant to be. “The ability to connect with students in this innovative setting has been incredibly rewarding. This role also affords me the unique position to collaborate with educators from across the district, allowing us to utilize both of our disciplines to create an ideal outcome for each of my students. As educators, I believe it is only through collaboration that we can achieve the best outcomes for our students.”

Rebecca Palmatary
Stillwater Junior High School, STEM & Computer Science Teacher
Oklahoma State University graduate, joined SPS in 2006

Throughout her time teaching in Stillwater Public Schools, Palmatary says she’s been fortunate to experience a diverse range of educational roles and opportunities – a formative student teaching experience under the mentorship of the Mrs. Fox at Westwood, time spent teaching Pre-K, a decade-long tenure in fourth grade, and five years of Gifted Education, culminating in her current role at teaching STEM and Computer Science at Stillwater Junior High.

Palmatary says she also pursues ways to impact students outside of her classroom responsibilities. “During the summer months, I've dedicated my time to various educational initiatives, including teaching at Meridian Technology Center during their Technovation Days and serving as both a Computer Science instructor for first-generation college-bound high school students and a kids coding camp instructor at Oklahoma State University. I also take great pride in being one of  the creators of the annual Indian Education Summer STEM camp, which provides unique learning experiences for students.”  She has also worked to offer extracurricular opportunities for students, including after school technology classes, and coaching in various capacities. Currently, she serves as the coach for the Stillwater Junior High Cheer Squad, and oversees five Junior High Robotics teams, and two High School Robotics teams.

Mary Beth Talley
Sangre Ridge Elementary, Pre-K Teacher
Oklahoma State University graduate, joined SPS in 2005

Talley has spent her entire teaching career in Stillwater.  “I love the people here!  I was not born and raised here in Stillwater, but I fell in love with this town when I came here to college.  It is a wonderful community to raise my two children in, and it is here that I have made lifelong friendships.” She has taught Pre-K at both Sangre Ridge Elementary and, for  two years, at the district’s Golden Oaks intergenerational Pre-k program.  In 2021, she obtained her National Board Certification in Early Childhood Education.

Following a January announcement of their titles, eleven SPS site Teachers of the Year submitted portfolios for review by a selection committee made up of former SPS Teachers of the Year, who identified these three finalists. Now teachers across the district will vote for the  candidate of their choice. The results, combined with an interview with three community members  will determine the Stillwater Public Schools District Teacher of the Year.  

“Out of more than 400 teachers in the district these three have really distinguished themselves,” says Superintendent Uwe Gordon, “Considering the outstanding teaching that I know goes on in the schools I have the honor to serve, that’s truly outstanding. It was touching to visit the teachers at work and see the reactions on their, their coworkers’, and their students’ faces. These three make a difference everyday, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Other SPS school site Teachers of the Year are:
    Highland Park Elementary- Leah Silver - Fourth Grade Math & Science
    Richmond Elementary - Grace Anne Fath - Special Services
    Skyline Elementary - Jennifer Crosthwait - Kindergarten
    Westwood Elementary - Angela Edwards - Pre-K
    Will Rogers Elementary - Tony Martin - Music
    Middle School - Tracy Bell - Mathematics
    High School - Elizabeth Ziegler - Theatre
    Lincoln Academy - Shandi Treat - English Language Arts

The district winner will be announced this April and then have the opportunity to compete against teachers from across the state for the title of 2024-2025 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.

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