School board hires new teachers; appoints new board member

The Comanche Board of Education met in regular session on May 10. Board members accepted the resignations of Karee Presgrove, Krista Whitlock, Sara Lemons, Melinda Kinnard, Kim Sours, and Braylen Rogers.

The board approved various other routine consent agenda items, including the minutes of the May board meeting, activity fund reports, and the treasurer’s report. Other items approved were contracts for various special services, an agreement with Delta Head Start, and encumbrances in the General, Co -Op, and Child Nutrition funds, and a five-year lease agreement with XCEL Solutions for copier/printer equipment.

The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Cameron University. This will allow for eighteen classes through Cameron University to be accessed on the Comanche campus.

Students who meet concurrent requirements will have the opportunity to take classes at reduced prices without having to travel.

Superintendent Julie Bills updated the board on golf and track state championship appearances, as well the baseball team’s regional appearance. She shared with the board the various end-of-year activities, including the high school commencement, scheduled for May 20.

Summer school options are available at all grade levels for interested students. Families needing to enroll need to contact the respective sites for more information.

Superintendent Bills noted that the district and site levels were accredited with no deficiencies by the State Department of Education. “During these challenging times, it isn’t easy to achieve full accreditation with no deficiencies,” Bills stated. “I am grateful to the site level principals for their diligence and commitment to excellence.”

The board also approved the hiring of Kim Justus. She will serve as the Special Education Director along with some counseling duties at the middle school. Other hires were Aimee Watson as an early childhood teacher, Dailen Presgrove for a high school science position , and Megan Stuckey for a middle school position. Bills said. “While we still have openings for a few positions, I am excited about our new team members and how they will contribute to the district’s vision.”

The Board of Education approved the rehiring of certified faculty members for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

In other action board members appointed Cody Gerard to serve as a member of the Board of Education to replace J. P. Peacock, who resigned at the board meeting in April. Cody was raised in Eagle, Colo. He was an excellent basketball player and was nominated as a McDonald’s All American while in high school. His passion for rodeo led him to Vernon, Texas on a rodeo scholarship at Vernon College. It was there that he met Samantha (Miller), whose hometown is Comanche.

Cody graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from West Texas A & M University. After college, Cody and Samantha were married and moved back to Cody’s hometown in Colorado.

After their two sons Ace and Knox were born, they moved to Comanche in 2018. Ace and Knox just wrapped up their first grade and Pre-K years at Comanche Elementary. Cody owns Miller Insurance Agencies in Comanche and Duncan. Samantha is a dental hygienist at Shores Dental Company.

Every November Cody goes back home and hikes the mountains as he is an avid elk hunter.

Cody stays busy coaching and helping his kids’ sports teams. He has enjoyed the small town feel of Comanche and looks forward to serving in the Comanche School District.