The first month of the year is School Board Recognition Month and Kingfisher Superintendent Jason Sternberger took the opportunity to honor his board members during their initial meeting of 2021.

“I wanted to publicly tell you guys thank you for your support,” he said to the board Monday during its January regular meeting at the Kingfisher High School cafeteria.

“Especially during this time, I appreciate you guys.”

Kingfisher’s board consists of Mike Copeland, Dana Golbek, Carly Franks, Charles Walker and Jim Perdue.

They were presented with certificates that read: “In appreciation of your dedication to Kingfisher students and public education in Oklahoma.”

They were signed by Shawn Hime, Oklahoma State School Boards Association executive director, and Mike Ray, OSSBA president and a board member at Guymon.

After the presentation, a pair of resignations and an equal amount of recommendations for hiring were approved unanimously by board members.

Among the resignations was that of Molly Neuman as the third grade music teacher at Heritage School.

The Neuman family is relocating to Colorado and her resignation is effective this month.

“I will forever be grateful to KPS administration, faculty and staff for the professional camaraderie and for the quality education and support provided to my own children,” Neuman wrote. “Thank you for the opportunity to serve Kingfisher students.”

Superintendent Jason Sternberger said Rachael Spears will move into Neuman’s music role.

Spears is currently an assistant band director, but has a music background.

The resignation of Amy Rodd, special education paraprofessional at Gilmour Elementary, was also accepted.

Board members at the end of their 35-minute meeting then approved hiring Michelle Conner to fill Rodd’s open position and also Morgan Yost as a teacher’s assistant to assist with reading sufficiency and student remediation at Gilmour Elementary.

The board didn’t vote on the district calendar for 2021-22, which was on the agenda.

Sternberger said he hasn’t had ample opportunity to get feedback from staff before making a final recommendation.