The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Development Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 2 at 4 pm.

Arlene Stauffer called the meeting to order.

The Chamber will have a school board candidate forum on Friday, March 17 from noon to 1 pm in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall.

Stauffer declared March as Committee Membership Campaign Month and challenged members of the committee to bring in people outside of educators to the committee meetings.

Members of the committee then provided their updates.

Rachel Kirk with Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) provided an update.

NOC has electricity back after the City of Tonkawa experienced outages related to damages caused during the storms on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Enrollment is still trending up following a plateau. Concurrent enrollment is the highest it has been in a decade.

NOC’s spring musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, opened on Friday, March 3.

Spring Break will be Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 17 for NOC.

Fall and summer enrollment are opening on Monday, March 27.

The Roustabout Benefit Show will be on Saturday, April 1.

The NOC Board of Regents approved a $1.5 million cost savings and budget reduction plan.

Janet Schwabe Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) provided an update.

PTC has made a small change to their monthly Business and Industry Breakfast and will feature a different industry each month. May’s focused industry will be education.

The adult training and development courses are starting this month and in April.

PTC is starting a high school truck driver class for seniors who are 18. This will begin following the end of the school year, however, numbers are limited to only six students in the class.

A Class-B truck driver training course was finished last week.

Business and Industry have started an HR series and will be holding HR workshops with presentations.

Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) Superintendent Shelley Arrott provided an update.

This week marks the fourth week of the legislative session. Last month, Senator Adam Pugh has proposed a teacher raise at different tiers for different years of service.

The House of Representatives have come out with a two part bill that includes a tax credit as opposed to vouchers. The first piece of legislation would allow a tax credit where, if a student attends a private school, they can get a tax credit for $5000 per student. The second part proposed a $2500 raise to teachers.

Arrott expressed that public educators do not want to open what they describe as a Pandora’s Box. As the bill currently stands, if you lived in Gaillardia and have six kids who all attend private school, then you would get $5000 in tax credits. That money would come out of the general fund which will impact public education.

Governor Stitt has come out in his State of the State address to vocalize support for school vouchers and also wants merit pay raises. State Superintendent Ryan Walters has also expressed interest in merit pay. Arrott doesn’t believe merit pay will go anywhere with the legislature.

Arrott did express that all branches of government seem interested in supporting public education.

PCPS is in the middle of “You Matter Week”, this is a way for students to tell each other that it is okay to ask for support.

PCPS is also celebrating “Read Across America Week”, which coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

This week is also “Public School Week”, which is a time to honor and celebrate students, parents, staff and elected officials.

The Leadership Oklahoma Class was in Ponca City as part of their tourism and energy weekend retreat. PCPS students greeted them at the Poncan Theatre with the High-Steppers, the Big Blue Band, and cheerleaders on hand for entertainment. Kate Branstetter sang the National Anthem.

Volunteer Sue Lunsford shared that tickets are available online for the Marland’s Place Cocktails for a Cause event.

Additionally, Community Health Foundation will have their Meals to Heal event on April 22.

Interim Chamber CEO Tiffany Hermann provided her Chamber update.

The Chamber has acquired their fox statue, painted by local artists Theresa Sacket, it is currently located in front of their office and is adorn in Ponca City iconography.

The Chamber held their Receipt Campaign drawing on Tuesday, Feb. 28. There were five chances to win $100 in Chamber Bucks and one chance for $500 in Chamber Bucks.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Wes and Willow at 205 E. Grand Ave. on Friday, March 3 at 10 am.

The 36th Leadership Ponca City Class will be going to Oklahoma City for two days for their session on state government.

The next Party at the Palace planning meeting will be on Wednesday, March 22 at the Ponca City Country Club at 4 pm. They are currently focusing on sponsorships for the auction.

The March Business After Hours will be hosted by Philips 66 at the Conoco Museum on Thursday, March 23.

The Chamber is taking nominations for the Larry Hughes Leadership Award. The deadline is Friday, March 24.

The Chamber’s support staff reception for Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) is scheduled for Thursday, April 13 from 10 am to 2 pm. The Chamber is taking donations for the reception.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 6 at 4 pm.