Jason Sternberger will start work at the Hennessey Public Schools earlier than planned.

Instead of a July 1 start date as superintendent, he’ll go on the payroll May 24- June 30 as co-superintendent with retiring Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods.

The early transition date was recommended by Woods, and approved by the Hennessey school board Monday night after about 30 minutes in executive session.

The early start is apparently due to the availability of Sternberger’s replacement as Kingfisher’s superintendent.

Kingfisher school board hired Dr. Dan Craig May 2, a former teacher and administrator who most recently served as director of the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability at the state Department of Education.

The Hennessey board voted in early March to hire Sternberger after Woods announced his retirement in January.

Sternberger’s contract for the early start will be prorated, said Hennessey Board President Dr. James Matthew Matousek after the meeting. Matousek said in March the superintendent would be paid $136,000 a year.

Woods also got an early start when he came to Hennessey and replaced Joe McCulley as superintendent five years ago. That was most helpful, Woods said, because it allowed him to see the finish of the school year and budget, and helped him start the new school year and budget July 1.

He has plenty of leave time left so the addition of Sternberger won’t effect the budget, or cost school patrons more, Woods said.

Members of the board present were Matousek, Vice President Luke Lough, Clerk Patrick Griffin and David Tillman. Absent was board member Cristopher Choate.

Also at the board table were Timberly Jech, office manager/board minutes clerk, and Woods.

Staff in the audience were principals Stacey Mack (early childhood) and Barry Crosswhite (elementary); Todd Cameron, computer network administrator; Rae Fuksa, MS math teacher; Jack Quirk, photographer, and Sternberger.

Also in the audience were Amber Koehn, Kathi Reilly (recently retired teacher who spoke to the board) and her husband, Barry Reilly.

A story on Reilly’s comments, and other board actions, will appear in an upcoming edition.