Kingfisher will be the first public school district in the state to take part in a program that allows individuals and businesses to make contributions to the school and receive a tax credit in return.

The board of education Monday night voted to enter into an agreement with GO for Public Schools (GO) at its regular August meeting.

“This is at no cost to us,” Superintendent Jason Sternberger told board members. “It’s tough to find a reason right now to say ‘no’ to this.”

GO is an approved Educational Improvement Granting Organization (EIGO) formed in 2018.

Its stated mission is “to empower communities and public schools across Oklahoma to better meet the needs of the students, families, teachers, administrators and communities they serve.”

Under the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act, individuals and businesses can receive state income tax credits for contributing to an EIGO.

Those willing to make a two-year commitment to contribute the same amount in consecutive years can receive a tax credit up to 75% of the amount each year. A single-year contribution sees a tax credit of 50%.

A federal tax credit would also be made available, according to Sternberger and board member Charles Walker.

Contributions are held by GO in an account designated specifically for the schools or in a reserve fund where they are invested in order to generate a return until they are deployed to the specified school district.

GO cannot accept contributions designated for any individual person, whether it be a student, teacher or administrator.

Instead, the funds will go toward one of three designated programs or initiatives set by the school district.

Sternberger said he’d work with staff to set those initiatives.

“It can be a number of things like teacher retention,” Stern-berger said. “A different district could have three completely different priorities.

“But regardless, the donor will know exactly where their money is going.”

The district continues to upgrade its transportation fleet as the board agreed to purchase a new activity bus.

Members voted to purchase a 2021 Blue Bird 77-passenger bus from Ross Transportation of Oklahoma City at a cost of $103,900.

The district is trading in a 2012 Thomas Freightliner yellow bus as part of the deal. The district received $10,000 for the trade-in.

Like two previous activity buses purchased, this one doesn’t have air brakes, which makes it accessible to more drivers, according to Keith Campbell, the district transportation director.

“Not a lot of people have the air brake endorsement on their CDL anymore,” Campbell said. “Because of that, we are limited on who can drive some of the current buses we have. This makes it more accessible to all of our drivers.”

This is the 10^th bus the district has purchased since 2017. It was then voters passed a bond issue to replenish the six route buses as well as a large activity bus.

The district added two smaller activity buses last year, similar to the one being purchased this year.

Campbell said the new bus is expected to be delivered by the middle or end of October.

Members agreed to a number of personnel moves, including eight new hires.

Among them was Katrina Farr as a part-time nurse for the district. Farr was the school nurse at Durant for 27 years previously.

Molly Neuman is returning to Kingfisher as a part-time vocal teacher at Heritage School.

The board also hired Tracy Stephenson to teach sixth grade history at the middle school. Stephenson has previous teaching experience in both the Oklahoma City and Woodward school districts.

Also hired as special education paraprofessionals were Bobbie Baker, Mary Bonilla, Monica Loper and Amy Rodd.Nayeli Garcia was approved as a teacher’s assistant.

Resignations were accepted from Michelle Conner, a teacher’s assistant, and Brianna Marquez, a special education paraprofessional.

An update to the high school student handbook will include vaping, enforcing the prohibition of the use of any form of vape or e-cigarette on school property.

“Possession of vaping products on school property carries the same penalty as using them,” the update reads. “A violation of this regulation will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, conference with student, parent notification, detention, ISD or suspension.”

KHS Principal Todd Overstreet said the current penalty for being caught vaping on campus is three days of ISD.

“There has been talk of making the penalty stiffer,” Overstreet said.

In other actions Monday, the board approved:

• An update to the gifted and talented district plan;

• A resolution to transcript computer, math and science classes taught at Chisholm Trail Technology Center;

• A resolution endorsing the CCOSA Blended/Virtual Learning Framework;

• Board policies regarding travel expenses and teacher qualifications.