The Kingfisher Public Schools superintendent got the seal of approval Monday from board of education members.

The board unanimously approved to keep Jason Sternberger on a three-year contract near the end of its December regular meeting.

The move came after an executive session that lasted just under two hours, during which the board conducted Sternberger’s evaluation.

The largest portion of the executive session consisted only of board members. Sternberger was asked to join the session for its final 22 minutes.

Charles Walker made the motion to extend Sternberger’s contract for an additional year at the end of this fiscal year, which is the first of a three-year contract that was approved in February.

It was secondedby Carly Franks.

The new contract will begin July 1, 2021.

“Everything is going well and we’re happy with him,” said Mike Copeland, board president

“With COVID, there has been constant change and he’s done a great job at maneuvering the district through that.”

Sternberger is currently in his 10th year as Kingfisher’s superintendent.

His evaluation chewed up the majority of the two-hour, 20-minute meeting.

In its only other major move, the board approved changes to the Kingfisher Virtual Academy guidelines.

Students this year have the option of attending school in-person, virtually or a combination of the two.

The approved changes make for “more accountability for the students” who are learning online, said Kingfisher High School Principal Todd Overstreet, who addressed the board members.

“As we’ve gone through a semester, we’ve recognized some to made,” said Overstreet. “This gives us some teeth to enforce attendance.”

Among the changes is requiring each middle school student to be enrolled in five courses and each high school student in six.

Each student is also required to complete a minimum of 5 percent each week for each course.

Students will also have assigned times each week to meet online or in person with Shane Soudek, the district’s virtual supervisor.

Students who don’t meet the new guidelines may be subject to truancy.

The policies go into effect at the beginning of the second semester.

Overstreet said school officials are currently meeting with parents and students who are taking virtual classes to go over the changes.

He said parents and the students sign an agreement to follow the guidelines.

Sternberger said there are currently about 70 students combined in the middle and high schools taking virtual classes.