Board finalizes hirings as school year draws near

The Comanche Board of Education met in a regular session on July 9.

The board approved various routine consent agenda items including the minutes of the regular board meeting held in June, activity fund reports, and the treasurer’s report. The board also approved various designations and authorizations for federal programs. Also approved were FY-24 and FY-25 encumbrances in the general fund, building fund, bond fund, and child nutrition fund.

The board accepted the superintendent’s recommendation to approve hiring adjunct instructors including Sonya Kimbro for ASL, Regina Pollock for middle school Geography/Elementary, Stephanie Stengle for Elementary, Gary Robinson for Earth Science, Steve Austin for Speech/Drama/Debate, and Anthony Alvarado and Sean Hushbeck for Physical Science.

The board approved the recommendation of the hiring of Breena Lijewski for a high school science position and David Black as a bus route driver. Superintendent Bills expressed excitement in welcoming these two individuals to the Comanche Indian family. “Staffing positions are complete and we are ready to move forward into the new year.” Bills said. Contract amounts for certified and non-certified 12-month employees were also approved.

The board approved Policy DHAC - Staff Members and Electronic or Digital Communications.

This policy is in response to a new state law that went into effect on July 1, 2024 regarding school staff electronic communications with students. Bills recommended the use of the school Google emails/classrooms and school website platform Apptegy “Rooms” as the ways for staff to communicate with students electronically. Parents and students will need to download the cpsok.org app on their devices to receive notifications from teachers and coaches.

These both provide a traceable correspondence feed and can include parents as they sync with our Student Information System (PowerSchool). Mrs. Bills asked that parents make sure their information, both email and phone numbers, are correct and updated in PowerSchool. Bills stated that she is aware that this will be a change from previous communication tools, but all electronic communications will come from Google Classroom or through the website’s “Rooms” application.

Bills discussed with the board the district’s common goals:

● Improve communication with all stakeholders by the end of the 24-25 school year (staff, parents, students, and community) through Website postings, improved traditional communication, listening/surveys, and utilization of the superintendent’s OTEP Advisory Team.

● The second district goal is to improve student achievement components. The district will focus on reducing chronic absenteeism, providing Outreach Specialists, and implementation of RTI (Response to Intervention), which aims to identify struggling students early on and give them the support they need to thrive in school.