Comanche staying in session despite absences

The Comanche Board of Education met in a regular session on Feb.8. Board

Members approved various routine consent agenda items, including the minutes of the January board meeting, activity fund reports, and the treasurer’s report. The board also approved Co-Op and Child Nutrition encumbrances.

The board adopted the 22-23 school year calendar. Bills informed the board that the district has used the snow day that was built into the current calendar. Any other days out will be distance learning or a Friday inclement weather/activity day.

In additional reports from Superintendent Bills, board members learned that the district has been able to stay in session even though the numbers were high last month for illness-related absences. 139 individuals utilized the available COVID testing last month. Bills said the district has been able to cover sick teachers, kitchen staff, and bus drivers up to this point so we have not had to move to distance learning relating to illness.

Superintendent Bills also reported the annual financial audit was completed last week and that the firm will present its findings to the board at the March meeting. Bills commended the office staff -Tonya Morgan, Stacey Bowen, and former employee Jaicee Combs, on having done a phenomenal job. Bills also shared that The Federal Program’s Consolidated Monitoring Audit has been completed and the district received compliance in all areas. Bills said Elizabeth Ressel, Terry Davidson, and Morgan Mannen worked relentlessly on the data.

Bills shared with the board that student organizations have been active. The district hosted the dual wrestling regional meet at the fairgrounds in January and the wrestling team moved on to Dual State at the end of the week. The girls’ wrestling program has also represented very well. Basketball had a respectful appearance for the County Tournament - the girls were champions and the boys were runner up.

Bills said Livestock shows will begin at the end of the month. Speech/Drama currently has 16 events qualified for District speech and debate. There are two more tournaments before the districts in March. After that, those that move on to State will compete in April at OU. The choir has a Solo/Ensemble and Concert contest at ECU for the choir on the 21st and 22nd of this month.

Under miscellaneous items, Bills shared that the SDE has set aside relief dollars to fund classroom needs through donors choose grants - $800 per teacher. District teachers have been encouraged to apply for learning materials they need in their classrooms.

In further action, the board approved the changes in language and the appeal process to Policy FE regarding transfers based on OSSBA guidance. The board also approved the hiring of Sheila Hays as a special education teacher for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.

Superintendent Julie Bills was approved for a one-year extension of her two-year contract after an executive session during which board members conducted the annual superintendent’s evaluation.