Board goes through usual summer routine

The Comanche Board of Education met in a regular session on June 13.

Board members approved various routine consent agenda items, including the minutes of the May regular board meeting, activity fund reports, and the treasurer’s report. The board approved contracts for various services and an investment agreement with the Stephens County Treasurer. Also approved were resignations and encumbrances in the general fund, building fund, and bond fund.

Superintendent Julie Bills explained the CIPA policy to the board and the fact that it is required for participation in E-Rate funding. The local board of education entered into an online safety protection agreement with Gaggle in 2015 to promote the appropriate use of online cloud resources. The agreement for the 2022-23 school year will terminate on June 30, 2023. The district will continue to provide this type of protection via Gaggle or through integrated services offered by Lightspeed for FY 2024 (a different vendor).

Bills shared the increases to the student technology fees from $30 to $35 to cover costs.

The following changes are what the district is charged to replace/repair the devices the second time. The second and subsequent replacements of lost or damaged 1 to 1 mobile devices during the three-school year time frame will be subject to an additional fee of $ 300. The mobile device charger assembly on the second and subsequent lost or damaged one to one mobile device charger assembly will be subject to a fee of $35. The Chromebook LCD panel replacement cost is $90 and the Chromebook keyboard replacement is $40.

Bills updated the board on bond projects. The playground installation and track resurfacing are set for fall installations. An ag truck and band instruments have been delivered. Estimates for the needed roofing repairs are coming in. The commons area and the updated safe room drawings and cost estimates will be presented to the board in July.

Bills reported that summer school is in session and meals and transportation were provided. The principals are beginning to plan for the upcoming year. We have discussed last year’s district goals and are continuing to look at ways to improve communication with all stakeholders.

Teacher recruitment and the concerns about keeping students and meeting families’ needs continue to be at the forefront of conversations.The are still in search of an SLPA, band director and girls’ basketball coach.

Former band director Derek Milburn resigned to take the high school principal’s job in Waurika and Megan Robbins resigned her girls’ basketball head coaching position to take a similar position at Marlow.

Jarold King, the current head baseball coach and former assistant softball coach will be taking over the head coaching duties for high school softball as well.

King replaces Aaron Minor, who took the head softball coaching job at Kingston.

Bills shared with the board that the principals/directors will attend the CCOSA conference June 14-16.

In other action, the Board of Education approved the rehiring of support personnel for the 2022-23 school year and the hiring of Julie Garner as an addition to the elementary office staff. The board also approved moving expenses for Jason Schreiner and a contingency agreement with Frantz Law Group, APLC for representation in school district media litigation.