The summer is over for children in Cleveland County as they head back to class and begin a new school year.

Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies encourage everyone to slow down in and around school zones and obey all traffic laws. Students will be walking or driving to school.

Beginning this week, deputies will kick off “Operation Back to School Safely” in the areas of Lexington and Noble Public Schools and Robin Hill Public School. The program focuses on school traffic safety.

Deputies are patrolling school zones throughout the day. Officers will strictly enforce the law. Motorists caught speeding or driving recklessly will be stopped and cited.

Sheriff Joe Lester said drivers should be alert for children around schools, especially pedestrians crossing roads in school zones.

“Please be careful as children walk to class and leave school each day,” Lester said. “Deputies will put an extra emphasis on school zones to remind the public that school is back in session and watch out for kids.”

Any questions regarding this press release and/or information can be addressed to Meghan McCormick, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, community liaison/public information officer. McCormick can be reached at (405) 701-8847.

And more from the Norman Police Department:

Norman Public Schools resume classes on Wednesday, August 22, and the Norman Police Department encourages citizens to slow down around schools and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists. This year, there is one new school zone. With Reagan Elementary opening on 24th Ave SE, expect additional patrol officers in the area to help remind drivers of this new school zone. Another school zone, added at the end of last school year, is for a private school located on 36th Ave SE. Citations for school zones violations carry a $200 fine, plus additional court costs. As always, Norman Police Officers will be watching schools zones to ensure compliance and the safety of our young citizens.

Motorists should also watch for school busses stopped for loading or unloading with their flashing red lights activated. Driving in either direction past a stopped school bus with the red lights activated is unlawful, and is extremely dangerous to children who are boarding or leaving the bus. Disregarding a school bus signal may carry the maximum sentence from Norman’s Municipal Court—a $750 fine and/or 60 days in jail.

Now is also a good time for parents to review traffic and personal safety basics with their young students. Remind your children to:

• Always walk on sidewalks when they are available, or if there is no sidewalk, on the shoulder or roadway edge facing traffic. Cross the street only at the corner or at a marked crosswalk. Look both ways before crossing, and avoid crossing the street from between parked vehicles, as the parked cars may block the motorist’s and the child’s view of each other.

• If children ride their bikes to school, parents should remind them that they are subject to the same traffic laws as a motor vehicle, including riding with traffic on the right side of the roadway, as near the right edge as possible. All bicyclists younger than 18 years of age are required to wear an approved bicycle helmet. Now would also be a good time to inspect bicycles to ensure that the brakes, tires, and other essential equipment are properly adjusted and in good repair.

• If a child will walk or bike to a new school this year, the parent should accompany the child the first time or during the weekend prior to the first day. Ensure that the child knows the way, and the parent may detect potential hazards that the child may not recognize.

• Remind children of the dangers of approaching or going with a stranger, regardless of the reason given. Parents who drive their children to school should drop off and pick up only at the locations designated by their child’s school. Parents who fail to do so may endanger their child and cause traffic.

We aim to be the first model secondary school in OK. We had a barbeque lunch, courtesy of JM staff on the grill and lots of good company! We had a fantastic day of learning!

How interesting is that? I plan to revisit this in a couple of weeks.

I just looked at the geotechnical report for Nichols Hills Elementary and it shows the Gym to be on the west side. The geotechnical investigation and report are completed prior to the structural plans. The geotechnical investigation was authorized on 3/14/2008! The report was issued on 5/27/2008. If you follow this link: http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=63818, you can look at some of the plans and the geotechnical report (especially the “Plan of Borings” page) in Addendum 1. I don’t know what the people on Glenwood were told, but as far as the architect and the City is concerned (Building Permit was issued on 11/28/2011), that Gym was always going to be on the west side, right up against their backyard fence.

The Child Guidance program at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department will offer developmental screenings for children birth to five years old at the following libraries and on the corresponding dates.

• Northwest – Thursday, July 26, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Belle Isle – Wednesday, August 1, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Capitol Hill – Thursday, August, 2, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Bethany – Friday, August 3, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Warr Acres – Friday, August 10, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Del City – Tuesday, August 14, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Edmond – Wednesday, August 15, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Midwest City – Wednesday, August 15, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

These will be individual sessions lasting approximately 1 hour with a Child Development Specialist, Speech/Language Pathologist and/or a Behavioral Health Specialist. Sessions include discussion about the normal range of early development as well as any parenting questions that the parent may have in the areas of Speech, Language, Development, and Behavior. Sessions are by appointment only. There is a small fee for screenings. Medicaid is accepted. No person will be denied services for inability to pay.

If you could ask the leader of Oklahoma City Public Schools anything, what would you ask?

Well, actually, you can ask the superintendent anything.

NewsOK is accepting questions for Superintendent Karl Springer from the public through noon Tuesday, July 24. Reporters will choose the best questions for a special back-to-school Q&A with the leader of the state’s largest school district.

Here’s how to submit a question:

- Post a comment on this story or on NewsOK’s Facebook page.

- Tweet @NewsOK or @carriejacobs.

- Email ccoppernoll@opubco.com.

And you can leave a comment here on this blog if you have a question as well. I’ve already received a couple of really good ones, so don’t be shy! I know there are more out there!

“OK my babies, OK my darlings, OK my sweetie pies.”

John Marshall High School math teacher Billie England settles down her class and starts in on her lesson.

Students calculate volume on the marker board as part of a state test review. It’s a game England plays. Each corner of her room represents one of the multiple-choice answers on a state practice test. Students work the problem and then move to the corner they think represents the right answer. The class is almost always divided.

England weaves around the desks, peeking over students’ shoulders. She pats a few on the shoulder. Her goal is to call on or physically touch every kid every hour.

“Kids have a tendency to melt into the wall,” England said. “You can’t just let those kids go unnoticed.”

England wants her students to do well on state tests, but she also wants to prep them for life. Some of her students come from loving homes; others don’t. She works at John Marshall because she wants to help them.

“They need me,” England said. “I don’t know what to say. I guess I need them, too.”

Just as the students debated the answer to an equation, the bell rang.

“Clean it up,” she said. “Go away. Love you. See you Monday.”

Couch potatoes, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie!

The Metropolitan Library System’s Fourth Annual Children’s Music Festival pumps up the volume and has kids ready to rock the library to the sounds of Aaron Nigel Smith from “Between the Lions” and Dino O’Dell and the Veloci-rappers.

“The Children’s Music Festival,” said MLS Director of Outreach Dana Morrow, “is original songs that tell stories and celebrate reading and the arts. It’s interactive, fun and participatory, and it’s for kids of all ages. Through this and other musical events and series we’ve learned that kids respond to music better than just about anything else. A wide variety of musical styles is almost as much fun for them as browsing a toy store—or reading a good book.”

The Festival continues over five days in July and 18 libraries.

• Monday, July 23, 10:30a.m.: Northwest Library (606-3580) Dino O’Dell
• Monday, July 23, 10:30a.m.: Southern Oaks Library (631-4468) Aaron Nigel Smith, event held offsite at the OCCC Family and Community Education Center, 6500 S. Land Avenue
• Monday, July 23, 2:00p.m.: Capitol Hill Library (634-6308) Dino O’Dell
• Monday, July 23, 7:00p.m.: Midwest City Library (732-4828) Aaron Nigel Smith
• Tuesday, July 24, 9:30 & 10:30a.m.: Bethany Library (789-8363) Dino O’Dell
• Tuesday, July 24, 10:30a.m.: Ralph Ellison Library (424-1437) Aaron Nigel Smith
• Tuesday, July 24, 1:30p.m.: Downtown Library (231-8650) Dino O’Dell
• Tuesday, July 24, 2:00p.m.: Luther Library (277-9967) Aaron Nigel Smith, event held offsite at Luther High School Auditorium
• Wednesday, July 25, 10:30a.m.: Del City Library (672-1377) Aaron Nigel Smith
• Wednesday, July 25, 10:30a.m.: Wright Library (235-5035) Dino O’Dell, event held offsite at Exchange Avenue Baptist Church, 1300 S. Pennsylvania
• Wednesday, July 25, 2:00p.m.: Choctaw Library (390-8418) Aaron Nigel Smith
• Wednesday, July 25, 2:00p.m.:Warr Acres Library (721-2616) Dino O’Dell
• Thursday, July 26, 9:30 & 10:30a.m. Edmond Library (341-9282) Aaron Nigel Smith
• Thursday, July 26, 2:00p.m.: Jones Library (399-5471) Aaron Nigel Smith, event held offsite at Jones Community Center, 120 W. Atlanta
• Thursday, July 26, 2:00p.m.: The Village Library (755-0710) Dino O’Dell
• Thursday, July 26, 7:00p.m.: Belle Isle Library (843-9601) Dino O’Dell
• Friday, July 27, 10:30a.m.: Harrah Library (454-2001) Dino O’Dell, event held offsite at Harrah City Hall, 19625 N.E, 23rd
• Friday, July 27, 10:30a.m.: Nicoma Park Library (769-9452) Aaron Nigel Smith

Children’s Music Festival is co-sponsored by Arts Council of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about this or any Metropolitan Library System program, visit the MLS website, www.metrolibrary.org.

• Edmond – 1 to 5 p.m. July 11.
• Warr Acres – 9 a.m. to noon July 13.
• Midwest City – 1 to 5 p.m. July 17.
• Choctaw – 1 to 5 p.m. July 19.
• The Village – 1 to 5 p.m. July 24.
• Northwest Oklahoma City – 9 a.m. to noon July 26.

The private sessions last about an hour. The professionals check your child’s speech, behavior and other developmental milestones. There’s a small fee depending on income, but nobody is turned away because of the inability to pay. Medicaid is accepted. Appointments are required. To schedule one, call 425-4412.

I took my daughter to a screening a couple years ago – when she was just about to turn 1 – and it was great. I learned so much. I would recommend this to any parent. In fact, I recommend this to myself. My daughter’s almost 3 now. Maybe it’s time I take her back.

It includes only things of $100,000 or above. I didn’t include things previous ratified. I didn’t include things lumped together that totaled more than $100,000 that had multiple contractors. I didn’t include things that didn’t have specific contractors/sellers, such as the board giving the district the right to pay for things as they arise within a certain budget. Everything’s rounded to the nearest dollar.  If you’d like to read the full list of all 10 bajillion contracts, just click here. Easy as pie.

So, without further adieu …

-          Oklahoma Roofing and Sheet Metal, roofing and repairs, $15 million.

-          PATCO, electrical repair, $15 million.

-          Schuler Enterprises, plumbing repairs and service, $15 million.

-          Hardesty Team Heating and Air Conditioning, chiller repair, $14 million.

-          Commercial Roofing, roof repairs and replacements, $10 million.

-          Oklahoma School Assurance Group, worker’s compensation insurance, $5,062,294.

-          Apple Computer, technology and service, $4 million.

-          Dell Computer, technology and service, $4 million.

-          Ace Transfer and Storage, moving and storage, $3 million.

-          Hiland Dairy Foods, milk, $2.6 million.

-          Cooks Fencing, repair and replacement, $2.5 million.  

-          Buddy’s Produce, produce delivered to schools, $2.2 million.

-          Pearson Agreement, professional development, $2 million.

-          Independent Insurance Agents of Greater Oklahoma City, property and casualty insurance, $1,861,628.

-          Sodexo, food service, $1,428,655.

-          SAP, software, $1,249,142.

-         RobertsTruckCenter, bus parts, $1.2 million.

-          Core Knowledge, elementary school reform supplies, $1 million.

-          Great Expectations Institutes, professional development, $1 million.

-          Siemans Industry, heating and air repairs and maintenance, $1 million.

-          Hunzicker Brothers, electrical supplies, $800,000.

-          Office Depot, office supplies, $750,000.

-          Voss Lighting, lamps, $750,000.

-          Chartwells, child nutrition, $585,000.

-          Edusoft, benchmark assessments, $532,837.

-          Connections Learning Virtual Learning Programs, full-time virtual education program, $500,000.

-          Johnson Controls, heating and air repairs and maintenance, $500,000.

-          Oklahoma Department of Central Services, various vendors, $500,000.

-          Central Oklahoma Winnelson, plumbing supplies, $500,000.

-          Johnstone Supplies, heating and air supplies, $450,000.

-          Fuzzell’s Business Equipment, toner cartridge supplies, $410,000.

-          Woods Labor and Staffing, temporary landscaping labor, $380,000.

-          MetroTech educational services dropout recovery and prevention program, $360,000.

-          TransPar Group, transportation, $358,720.

-          Marzano Research Laboratory, professional development, $357,500 atCentennialHigh Schooland $175,000 atDouglassHigh School.

-          MASSCO Maintenance, custodial supplies, $350,000.

-          Waste Management, trash service, $350,000.

-          Allied Steel, crane service, $300,000.

-          Federal Corporation, boiler repair, $300,000.

-          MASSCO Maintenance, copy paper, $300,000.

-          AT&T, hosting of SAP, $296,984.

-          Center for Education Law, basic legal services, $250,000.

-          Hardesty Team Heating and Air Conditioning, repairs and maintenance, $250,000.

-          Harris House Moving Contractors, moving services, $250,000 and $150,000.

-          Shannon Construction, building repairs, $250,000.

-          Youth Cornerstone, truancy program, $192,000.

-          EMC Hardware, network storage, $168,958.

-          Dell, backup hardware, $167,820.

-          Gates-MacGinitie, student tests, $164,585.

-          Life Excelerator – Assessment of Personal Skills, teacher training, $163,250.

-          Presort First Class, mail service, $160,000.

-          ACT, testing supplies, $150,000.

-          Filtertec, air filters, $150,000.

-          R&R Delivery, courier mail, $125,000.

-          Discovery Education, web and video service, $115,000.

-          Smartweb Technology Programs, license, $106,061.

-          Reliance Medical Sales, medical supplies, $106,000.

-          American Eleveator Service, inspection and repair, $100,000.

-          Hardesty Team Heating and Air Conditioning, boiler repair, $100,000.

-          Magic Services, cafeteria laundering, $100,000.

Emmitt C. House, Carleton Class of 1971, will present the keynote address for the Carleton Liberal Arts Experience (CLAE) commencement on Friday, July 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the Weitz Center for Creativity Theater. House will address the 52 CLAE scholars and the Carleton community, speaking about his life experiences including navigating the college search process, his undergraduate education, graduate education, and his career as a lawyer.

House is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he was raised in a family that settled in Oklahoma before statehood and participated in the 1889 Land Run. He attended Oklahoma City public schools and graduated from the last racially segregated class at Douglass High School. House chose to pursue a liberal arts education at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. While at Carleton, he was active in many student activities, including serving on the Student Senate. House and a visiting professor, Dr. Hagolani, organized and led the first group of Carleton students to participate in an academic seminar in Ivory Coast, West Africa. After graduation from Carleton, he was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and spent several years in Europe and West Africa studying ethnography. He subsequently attended Northwestern University School of Law where he received a Juris Doctor in l978.

After settling in Chicago, Illinois, House practiced law in the energy arena for 35 years. He was an in-house counsel for several major enterprises including a large utility conglomerate and a multinational oil company. He served as General Counsel for an energy marketing company before transitioning to the private practice of law for the past 15 years. He was a partner in two minority-owned law firms in Chicago and has served on the Board of Directors of a major natural gas company. In his law practice, from which he retired in Spring 2012, House represented utilities, energy producers and marketers, wind and solar developers and many other entities, handling a broad range of corporate and commercial matters in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Over the years, House has been involved extensively in civic and community affairs in Chicago. He has been active in political and community affairs and has served on numerous boards of organizations as wide ranging as public radio, youth development and public policy promotion involving housing, immigration and diversity. House is an enthusiastic supporter of a liberal arts education and has served as an Alumni Trustee on the Carleton College Board of Trustees. In his free time, Emmitt enjoys fishing, reading and playing golf. His current passion is creative writing.

House’s appearance is the culmination of Carleton College’s annual CLAE program, an inspiring summer program designed for the best and brightest college-bound students representing high schools across the country. The Carleton Liberal Arts Experience (CLAE) select 50 high school students who have just completed their sophomore year and brings them to Carleton, all expenses paid, for a one-week summer program. The CLAE program introduces the strengths of a liberal arts education through an array of courses in science, art, social sciences, and technology.