Board okays stipends, graduation changes

The Comanche Board of Education, meeting in November and December, approved retention stipends for support employees and new graduation requirements while addressing a range of routine administrative items.

Following a recommendation from Superintendent Julie Bills, the board approved stipends for support staff during its regular meeting Monday. Full-time employees will receive $350, while part-time staff will get $200.

Bills noted the district’s current financial constraints necessitated limiting the stipends to support personnel.

“At this time, with the reduction in enrollment, the uncertainty over future ad valorem taxation, and the need to preserve our fund balance, we are only able to provide a stipend for support personnel,” Bills said. “We appreciate all of our faculty and staff and their dedication to the students in our school district.”

In her monthly superintendent’s report, Bills updated the board on the district’s performance, indicating a 100% compliance rate with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She reported that the district is seeing gains in various areas, even if state report card grades do not fully reflect them. The elementary school and high school each received a “D,” and the middle school received a “C.”

Middle School: Attendance increased by 8.46%. Academic achievement decreased by 18.54%, and academic growth decreased by 3.97%.

Elementary: Overall improvement of 1.52%, with academic growth up 8.9% and the chronic absenteeism score improving by 0.52%.

High School: Attendance increased 18.45%, postsecondary opportunities increased by 3.72%, and an overall increase of 3.62%.

The board approved new graduation requirements for current freshmen, including one additional unit of math and one additional unit of science. To meet these new requirements, the board locally approved the following courses:

Science Credits: Horticulture, Animal Science, and Agriscience.

Math Credits: Ag Power and Technology, Ag Business, and Computer Science Principles.

These locally approved courses will be submitted to the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) for final approval.

The board took action on several personnel matters, including:

n Approved an extended medical leave for three employees.

n Hired Donny Wright for a maintenance/groundskeeper position.

n Hired Kyle Ressel as a teacher’s assistant.

n Hired Mackenzie Leveille as a part-time reading instructor.

Superintendent Bills expressed appreciation for Amy Shelby, who has served the district for 19 years and whose term on the board ends in May.

Meanwhile, Peyton Hale and Patrick Jones have filed for the Seat No. 1 position, a 5-year term ending in 2031. The election is scheduled for April, and the new board member will take office at the May meeting.

Throughout the November and December meetings, the board also approved various consent agenda items, including activity fund reports, treasurer’s reports, resignations, and general fund encumbrances. Bills also highlighted professional development activities, the high school Tomahawk program, and outstanding honors received by Comanche Band, FFA, Speech, and Choir students.

The district’s Christmas break will run from Dec. 22 to Jan. 2, with classes resuming on Jan. 5.