The school’s share of gross production taxes has gone down $150,000 for the past couple of months, said Dr. Mike Woods, Hennessey Public School Superintendent.

“So we’re being conservative and projecting we’ll be down $1 million in (general fund) income next year,” he said after last Monday night’s board meeting.

May was down $80,000 and June down $70,000 compared to 2018, Woods said.

He responded to questions about the June 30 financial statement that shows a $3.521 million general fund carryover and said the increase is due to gross production income.

Last year’s carryover was $2.659 million and the year before $2.128 million, said Timberly Jech, business manager.

Gross production money is chargeable so it is taken out of the school’s state aid the next fiscal year, she said.

“We are trying to keep it up so when gross production goes down, and we aren’t getting state aid, we are still in good shape,” Jech said.

All board members were present for the July 8 meeting: President Patrick Griffin, Vice President Dr. James M. Matousek, Clerk Luke Lough, Joe Garrison and Cristopher Choate.  

Employee Raises

The board accepted the State Department of Education pay scale that includes a $1,220 increase for teachers.

They also approved 50-cent per hour raises for all hourly employees. The raise is from $10.25 to $10.75.

That raise was also approved for all site and administrative secretaries. Those secretaries are also paid $2-$3 per hour more if they have a four-year college degree, or if they are bilingual.

Retention stipends were approved again this year; teachers will receive $1,500 and support staff, $750.

Extra Duty Stipends

The board approved an extra duty stipend of $40 per hour for certified staff and $15 per hour for non-certified staff who attend approved professional development during non-contractual time for the 2019-20 year.

Two Teachers Hired

Amy Shelite of Hennessey will return to teaching in Hennessey next month as the middle and high school literacy teacher. She has been an elementary and secondary special education teacher at the Stillwater Public Schools since 2014.

Shelite was the Hennessey district’s English Language Learners director and teacher from 2008-14. She has a master’s in education from UCO, 2000, and a bachelor’s in elementary education/special education from UCO in 1996. She is certified to teach elementary education, learning disabilities, emotional disturbance and multiple disabilities.

Kylee Warne, Oklahoma City, was hired as an athletic trainer and middle school science teacher. She earned her master’s of science in athletic training in May from UCO. She graduated from Southwestern Christian University with a bachelor’s in sports management and a minor in theology.

Her teaching certification is pending.

Support Staffer Hired

Stacy Cline was hired on a support staff contract at $20 per hour for audio visual assistance throughout that year.

She has done that work the past few years while she was the elementary and middle school counselor. Cline quit the counseling job at the end of the school year.

Other Personnel

Summer custodians for July 1-Aug. 2 were hired: Erin Wulffenstein, $10.60 per hour; Maria Fierro, $11.50 per hour and Perla Leyva, $10.60 per hour.

They also approved $150 extra-duty stipends for Paulita Gonzalez and Lux Escobedo from assistant to head custodian duties for July 2019.