School district receives good report from auditor for 2020-21

The Comanche Board of Education met March 8. Board Members approved various routine consent agenda items, including the minutes of the February board meeting, the treasurer’s report, and the 10-plus day activity waiver for designated students. The board also approved General Fund encumbrances and a contract with Chickasaw Long Distance. Courtney Odom from Kerry Patten’s CPA firm presented the 2020-21 audit and answered questions by board members. Ms. Odom was complimentary of the central office staff and their cooperation during the audit visits.

The auditor noted that there were no findings requiring correction. No items were out of compliance with the rules and regulations of the Oklahoma State Department of Education and regulations related to the management of federal grants and programs. Mrs. Bills complimented Mr. Davidson, the central office staff, and others throughout the school district whose diligence in managing school district finances contributed to a positive audit report.

Mr. Dunham reported to the board that the district had a 1.4% 4-year dropout rate of the graduating class as compared to a 9.8% for the state and a 4.2% for the community group average. The Senior Graduation Rate was 100% for the last reported year, 2019-20. The Average GPA of high school seniors was 3.1 with those attending college needing at least one remediation course being 28.9%. The average number of Oklahoma college degrees conferred to high school graduates (2019-2020) Comanche had a rate of 23 with the Community Average being 13.8. There were not any student performance indicators available based on testing due to assessments being canceled due to pandemic-related concerns for the Spring of 2020.

Bills shared that the district has had to-date 5 distance learning days during the severe weather and one snow day which will not need to be made up.

Bills shared with the board the recent accomplishments of the student body. She reported on the numerous recent athletic accomplishments of the wrestling program, basketball programs, and weightlifting. The boys’ basketball teams lost in the consolation round of regionals. The Lady Indians made it to the consolation finals in the area tournament before being defeated one game short of qualifying for the state tournament. Gracee Miller was named as one of the top underclassmen guards in the state and has scored over 1000 points in her career at CHS. The wrestling program had 10 state qualifiers, four top four placers, and Comanche had their first female top four. Two powerlifters have also qualified for State.

Superintendent Bills reported that speech and debate have qualified 15 students for regionals. The band received superior ratings in sight-reading and in concert band and will be competing for sweepstakes at State. Three underclassmen have ACT scores that qualify them for consideration for Academic All-State next year. Caity Blair was named FCA All-State. The shop class is competing with their trailer project at OYE along with various livestock projects. Fame student art is being exhibited at the Chisolm Trail Heritage Center this month, and HS/MS students had art exhibited at the Chisholm Trail Arts Council (CTAC) Youth Art Show. Special Olympics also has many upcoming unified events in April and the state Special Olympic Games in May.

Bills reported that fourteen Comanche teachers had projects funded through the partnership between the SDE and DonorsChoose in the amount of $12,175. The Vo Ag program also received a grant from Cotton County Electric to purchase a welder for $5700.

“Comanche’s students and staff members are engaged and dedicated to continued growth,” Bills said. “They compete at a high level, both in athletics and academics.”

In other business, board members approved the rehiring of school district leaders for the 2022-23 fiscal year:

n Krista Whitlock - Special Ed Director

n Terry Davidson - Finance Director

n Robin Troutman - Elementary Principal

n Angela Rouse - Middle School Principal

n Steven Dunham - High School Principal

n Morgan Mannen - Special Programs/Technology Director

n Joann Ball - Gifted-Talented/ Indian Ed Coordinator

n Sean Hushbeack - Athletic Director/Transportation Director

n Elizabeth Ressel - Alternative Education/Federal Programs/Professional Development/McKinney-Vento

In her recommendation to rehire the directors, Mrs. Bills noted, “These individuals are dedicated and have helped to ensure that our students have had the opportunities for in-person learning and equitable distance learning when needed.”