Comanche School Board approves contracts

The Comanche Board of Education met in regular session Tuesday, June 10, approving a range of routine items and discussing significant summer activity and upcoming professional development plans.

The board approved consent agenda items, including minutes from the May meeting, activity fund reports, and the treasurer’s report. Contracts for services for the 2025-2026 school year were also approved, along with general and building fund encumbrances. An agreement with Horizon Digitally Enhanced Campus was approved to offer AP and honors course opportunities to students.

Superintendent Julie Bills reported that although school is out for the summer, the campus remains active. High school summer school, National Speech, Drama and Debate activities, and various student club camps are ongoing. Morning hours are especially busy with the district’s “summer pride” program.

“I’m impressed with the amount of effort by the 117 students participating,” Bills said.

Teachers and staff are also engaged in development activities. Several educators will attend the OKSTE EdTech Takeaway event and the Engage Oklahoma conference later this summer. Teachers Jason Miller, Jeri McCauley, Heather Hamel, Braydon Robinson, and Breanna Lejewski have been working on curriculum guides that align with state standards.

Last week, principals, directors and counselors attended the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) conference. They met with leadership and OTEP teachers to review district goals and reaffirmed the district’s focus on communication, academic achievement, student engagement, complex instructional tasks, and MTIS/Direct Instruction strategies.

The group also received training on student threat assessments from Jason Gray with the State Department of Education’s Office of School Safety and Security.

In collaboration with Region 9 Education Service Center in Wichita Falls, Texas, and the Priddy Foundation, the district will participate in professional development focused on instructional effectiveness and data-driven strategies. Since approximately one-fourth of Comanche’s teaching staff entered the profession through alternative, emergency, or adjunct routes, the training aims to close teaching effectiveness gaps.

To accommodate the three-day training, the district has revised its calendar, eliminating early Wednesday dismissals in September through December. Instead, full-day professional development sessions will take place on Sept. 2, Oct. 21, and Dec. 1. The updated calendar is available on the district’s website.

In other business, the board rehired support staff for the 2025-2026 school year and approved the hiring of Shalee Hale for an early childhood teaching position. Bills noted the district is still seeking a bus route driver and is exploring the possibility of contracting with a lay softball coach. A tentative agreement may be finalized at next month’s board meeting.

“We’re excited about the new faculty members we’ve added during the last couple of months,” Bills said. “They will all be very positive additions to our outstanding CPS team.”