Friends Of James Don Alsup - CNP School Board Office 2

04/06/2022

What an exciting day!! We could not have done it without your dedicated support. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to go vote today. I hope you have a great evening!!! Go Jackets!!!

04/04/2022

Tomorrow is a very important day. Please share this post and go vote! If you voted in the CNP bond issue, you are eligible to vote for Don! Have a great day, and never forget that every vote counts!!!

03/23/2022

All, this is a friendly support page for a friend to bring awareness to the upcoming election. I know some of you have questions for Don that I am unable to answer. That being said, Don has given permission for his contact information to be allowed on this page. I will pin it to the top. When calling, if it goes to voicemail, please leave your name, subject, and call back number.

Email - [email protected]

Phone - 405-642-9304

Remember - Any registered voter who legally resides within the CNP boundaries is eligible to vote. Voting is NOT tied to a specific geographical office area within our district. People will vote at their normal polling location, just like the bond election.

03/22/2022

Please Share. CHS Senior Joseph Sonny Tabor is a finalist for the KOCO Free Ride scholarship program. I would encourage you to watch his inspiring story and take time to vote.

Voting is now open!

Eleven semi-finalists were chosen from all the nominations KOCO 5 received for our annual Free Ride scholarship program.

03/21/2022

Q&A Provided by ACT of CNP. This was a questionnaire sent to both candidates. Don's responses follow.

James D. Alsup, Jr.

Why do you want to serve or continue serving on the Choctaw Nicoma Park School Board? *

I have dedicated 25 years serving the needs of our children and our community. I feel I have gained a great deal of knowledge in that time on preparing policy that guides us toward “excellence in all we do” without handicapping administrative judgement in applying those policies. We have experienced hard times and good times financially and those experiences provide a greater basis in making financial choices. Finally, we are about to embark on the largest building project in the history of CNP schools thanks to the passing of the recent bond issue. As an engineer and a board member that has been through a large capital improvement effort. I feel more qualified than most to review, evaluate and be involved with design change orders to help ensure the students and patrons of CNP schools get the best product for the money spent.

Should School Board members be involved in the day-to-day administrative decisions of the school district? Why or why not? *

No. Our job, as a Board of Education” is to set reasonably policies and procedures. These procedures are implemented by a chain of highly qualified administrators and teachers. Hopefully our policies are specific enough to provide general direction, yet flexible enough to allow teacher and administrative judgement to be applied in the particular instance. By the same token if a parent feels their child has been unfairly affected by teacher decisions, we have the same chain of command from teacher to principal to Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent and finally to a board hearing if all other levels fail to resolve the issue.

What are your top three objectives once on the Board or for going forward? *

1. Ensure that proper policies are in place for the safe operation of the various schools, providing a high quality learning environment for all students while meeting all state and federal requirements.
2. Oversee the finances of the district to make certain that we have a budgetary plan within our anticipated funds to provide the best educational opportunity for the students of CNP schools.
3. To utilize my training as an engineer and my experience from prior large capital expansion projects to help guide the numerous concurrent building projects funded by the recent stacked bond issue to successful completion within the budget.

What are your financial priorities and thoughts on a reasonable fund balance for Choctaw Nicoma Park Schools? *

Because of the uncertainty of state funding the bigger fund balance that you are able to accrue the better your chance to weather the storm of funding shortfall. With that being said a healthy district of our size needs to work to have a fund balance of 5%-8% of you annual operating expense. This allows schools to continue operating in the dead period from end of fiscal year at the end of June until new funds arrive in late July or early August each year.
What is your attitude toward collective bargaining with Choctaw Nicoma Park Association of Classroom Teachers? *
Transparency! As a board we direct our administrators to be open with ACT about our financial position. We have a long history of productive negotiations because we want the best we can provide for the people who have answered the “calling” to teach , because it really is more than a job, it is a passion or a ‘calling” to teach.

What are your thoughts and ideas on class size and how it impacts student learning? *
Classroom size directly impacts the amount of time teachers are able to spend with individual students. At the lower grade levels this is especially important. When we rallied at the capitol for House Bill 1018 I was there and my wife volunteered as a substitute teacher to help. I still believe smaller class size is a goal. We are adding a few new elementary positions this year with additional funding, as available to help ease class sizes in the critical age groups. It is a constant effort by both board and administration at CNP schools to review and address.

What are your plans to attract and retain quality teachers? *

In a highly competitive market for the best teachers, we strive to provide a safe, comfortable and friendly environment for your teaching effort. We are limited by state funding on salary and benefits that we can offer, but we work daily for better facilities, classroom equipment and working environment. This year we were able to use some supplementary funding to buy a new smart board and operating lap top for every classroom in our district. Numerous chrome books and portable Wi-Fi hotspots were purchased for the lower level elementary classes. We will continue to seek alternative funding for these types of improvements.

What do you see as one of the greatest needs of Choctaw Nicoma Park students? *

On the one hand it is fewer students per teacher and improved teaching technology/equipment that are highest priority, and they are important from a board perspective, but from a past parent and current grandparent of school she children the most important thing may well be a positive home environment where teachers and the work they assign are given respect and precious time is dedicated at home to support and supplement in class learning. Standards and expectations for learning and performance continually increase. The students who are most successful have a supporting cast of parents, family and friends that support teacher efforts and practice good schoolwork ethics at home.

How do you plan on promoting the importance of funding for public education and Choctaw Nicoma Park Schools at the Oklahoma State Capitol? *

Funding is a constant issue for public education. During session our Superintendent tries to spend one day each week visiting with our senators and representatives. OSSBA works to lobby for public education. We are also members of COSA that band together to lobby for public education. As a board member and a community member it is our job to evaluate candidates that are pro-education and support them. We have some good, pro-education representation in Choctaw, but it is up to each of us to make our positions known to as many senators and representatives.

What do you feel is the best way for stakeholders in the district to contact School Board members? *

I am open to listen opinions and positions in person or by phone. Email or text is good and often more convenient, but context of written communication can often be difficult. Anonymous comment via Facebook or other social media is least valuable. It’s virtually impossible to get honest discussion when the author doesn’t even identify themselves.

Open comments for any topics not addressed above: *

I believe we have a great team of board members, administrators, teachers, students and parents at CNP schools. Our district is growing. We are planning and building for that future growth. We try to provide the best we can in facilities, equipment and work environment for both teachers and students. I strongly believe that continuity of board direction is the foundation for this effort. Working as a team the district has seen great student performance in all areas. I want to be a part of that continued success.

03/11/2022

03/10/2022

The banner picture on Facebook is an odd size. I have updated this picture so it is easier to share.

03/08/2022

The board listened to input from everyone that worked at Choctaw Middle school. CMS was designed for students and teachers based on actual input from teachers that were working at that school--proof that faculty, parents and students can achieve great things when input is truly appreciated.

03/08/2022

August 26, 2017 · Oklahoma City ·
Sometimes one award is not enough to recognize the years and dedication made by an individual. We are incredibly fortunate to have Don Alsup on our school board. Congratulations to him today as he is made part of OSSBA's 2017 All-State School Board and is awarded the Buddy Spencer Leadership Award. His service to our district is greatly appreciated.

03/08/2022

To: Anyone wanting to know more about me as a candidate for the CNP Schools Board of Education From: James D. Alsup, Jr. (Don)
Pre-Board History:

I grew up in Oklahoma, in the country, attending Washington High School. I graduated in 1975 as the Valedictorian. I received a "University Scholars" academic scholarship from the University of Oklahoma and attended there, graduating in May of 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
I met my wife Linda in 1976 and we were married in July 1977. We have now been married for over 44 years and have raised two children that went through the Choctaw-Nicoma Park school system. I now have a 5-year-old grandson in kindergarten at IME, as well.
I began working in an oilfield machine shop in 1976 while attending O.U. full time. In May 1979 I was chosen to be the Quality and Engineering Manager for Oklahoma operations at Cameron Iron Works.
We moved to Choctaw on January 1, 1980, into a small house on NE 21st Street just east of Henney Road. Shortly afterwards our son Brandon was born in March of 1980. My daughter Kristin was born in October 1984.
The crash of 1983 saw huge reductions in the oilfield; and the company I was working for at that time decided to close the Oklahoma City manufacturing location. I was offered a position in Houston, TX, but preferred to raise my family in Oklahoma. I accepted a position with a newly created oilfield manufacturing company called Downing Wellhead Equipment. During my 17 years with Downing Wellhead Equipment, we grew from eleven employees to over 250. We expanded from one location to four in the U.S. and two in Mexico. I was instrumental in creating an international group of agents to sell and service our equipment throughout the middle east. I served as Engineering Manager and Vice President until 1998.
In 1988 I was selected as a Deacon in the Choctaw Church of Christ and continue to serve there today.

I started coaching soccer in Nicoma Park in 1988 and progressed through the accreditation program to coach several teams, and also became a referee certified to work high school and college games. Later I became president of the Nicoma Park Soccer Association and then President of the C-5 Soccer Association (including Choctaw, Nicoma Park, Jones, Harrah and Luther). In 1990 I began coaching little league basketball and eventually became President of the Nicoma Park Basketball Association.
In March 1994 we built a new house in Choctaw at my current residence, and I began coaching in the Choctaw Soccer Association and the Choctaw Basketball Association.
In that year my children decided to begin showing livestock through the 4-H and FFA programs. I had grown up involved in the 4-H and FFA programs and I continue be strongly involved in the support of these activities. My support has led to my receiving the Choctaw Honorary Chapter Farmer award and the Honorary State Farmer award at the State FFA Convention.
I have since been elected to the Oklahoma County Fair Board and currently serve as President of that Board. I was also a part of the group that worked to create a Bonus Auction for Oklahoma County Junior Exhibitors. I currently serve as Chairman of that committee. We annually put on a Premium Sale for the top eighty-five exhibitors in Oklahoma County. Normally generating $120,000.00 in donations that provide funds for exhibitors to continue their show career or add to their college fund.

Post Board Election High Points:

In 1997 I ran for the CNP Schools Board of Education and was elected from a group of three candidates with a majority vote avoiding a runoff election. This year I am completing my 25th year of service on the CNP Board of Education.
Shortly thereafter in 1998, I left Downing Wellhead to become the Operations Manager at a new aerospace finishing company called "OASP". After a year I left to become the manufacturing manager at Fleck Bearing. In 2011 I became an engineer at Tinker AFB. After almost 21 years at Tinker AFB, I am now a Section Chief over a group of engineers.
My early years on the CNP Board of Education seemed to be filled with a growing number of students and a variety of state funding shortfalls resulting in careful management of existing funds. During those first years one of the board’s ideas, that we put in place, was a 5-year and a 10-year plan for the district. To create those long term plans we would poll the teachers and site administrators for a list of improvements that they would like to see. Their first list was forty-four pages long and we estimated about $500,000,000.00. We reviewed their lists and found that there was a common thread. Every site had concerns about leaking roofs. We saw that as a high-level need, and we focused on developing a plan to replace every school roof with a standing seam metal roof with a 20-year leak proof guarantee. It took several years to accomplish, but once installed we could properly protect the books, furniture and equipment used in the educational process.
We always strive to be transparent to the taxpayers of our district on the plan for facility improvement and the method for funding. 14 years ago, it became apparent that our need for facilities was greater than what we could accomplish through annual bonding limits, so we explored multi-year stacked bond issues. Based on a survey of teachers and administrators, we developed a long list of improvements that were needed. The plan involved a new middle school at Choctaw, a new elementary school in Nicoma Park, completion of the administration building, a new agriculture education classroom and shop facility and major renovations for virtually every location in the district. The taxpayers of the district embraced our plan and trusted our Board of Education to follow through with the plan. We were able to complete every item we had on the plan and had funding for a couple of other projects left over.
In 2019 I was one of five board members in the state of Oklahoma named an All State Board of Education member by the Oklahoma State School Board Association. At the same annual convention of Oklahoma School Boards, I was surprised to receive an award as the outstanding individual board member for that year in Oklahoma.
We are now coming to the end of that fourteen-year stacked bond issue and have created another list of district improvements to continue serving the growing needs of our district. We have brought the significant list, in the approximate amount of $283,000,000.00 worth of facility improvements, to the people of Choctaw-Nicoma Park District and the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal.
It will be the responsibility of the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Board of Education to oversee the proper allocation of funds to address the list of improvements that have been voted on by the taxpayers of our community. I believe that I have the education, experience, and drive to complete that task.
I would ask that on election day, on April 5th, 2022, that you visit your polling place and place your vote for me, James D. Alsup, Jr (Don)., the incumbent candidate with twenty-five years of experience on the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Board of Education.
Sincerely,

James D. Alsup, Jr. (Don)