Hennessey Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods was rehired for the 2020-21 school year at last Tuesday’s school board meeting after 90 minutes in closed session. Action on his pay and contract will come later. Woods, who is in his fourth year as superintendent, wore a back brace due to a car wreck in November, but it didn’t slow him down in making reports and comments during the Jan.14 meeting.

Finances

“We’ve been blessed for the last three years,” Woods said about fi nances. “(This year) we have to be very cognizant of our funds. It’s not the same as it was last year (due to the drop in gross production tax funds).” The school’s budget is $12 million. It has $3.5 million in reserves (carryover from last year) “and we’re going to need it this year,” he said. This month’s gross production revenue was $244,537 compared to $316,821 last year, he said, and referred to a printout that showed a loss of $72,284. The 2019 fiscal year-to-date gross production was $2,065,535 compared to the current fiscal year of $1,892,129 for a loss of $173,406. He said state aid is not only based on gross production, but on ad valorem taxes. This month’s ad valorem income was $1.6 million compared with $1.5 million last January and $867,967 in Jan. 2017-18. “That’s due to an increase of oilfi eld property,” he said.

The Dome

He said the Eagle Event Center should be completed Feb. 14 “with a little bit to do after that.” When a board member asked if he was sure of that date, Woods said, “If past history is any indication then I’ve got to say ‘no.’” Woods said carpeting is in the offi ces and the elevator is in and functioning “but there is only one (state) elevator inspector so we have to wait until he gets here.”

Grants

Woods said the district got a second grant from the USDA. This is a $490,000 Rural Utilities Grant for interactive panels in the classrooms and locker rooms.

He said a coach can pull up a play during halftime and the players can see what they did, right or wrong.

“We use it every day,” said Paul Hix from the audience. He’s the athletic director and head football coach.

Hix was at the meeting to give the board an update on school activities (See story elsewhere in this issue).

Woods said as part of a 21st Century Grant there would be a “climate quality survey” conducted Thursday.

“It’s like a physical exam for the school,” he said.

Vet Inspection Exemption

A one-day exception for Hennessey students to show their animals during a local show at the school’s ag barn without a certificate of veterinary inspection was approved by the board.

The board’s current policy on use of the ag barn required the certificates.

Dr. James Matousek, board vice president and a veterinarian, said this would help parents from having to get their child’s animals to the vet.

Matousek has not charged for the local show inspection of animals and said the exemption will hopefully get more kids involved with showing animals.

From the audience, Tyler Streck, who said he “just helps (4-Hers) with the show stock,” said it would be helpful, and “we’ve pulled blood on the hogs.”

Woods said he didn’t believe other schools had strict rules that required a veterinary inspection for in-house shows.

Teachers of the Month

January Teachers of the Month are Allison McCabe, kindergarten, and Nat Parker, middle school English and language arts.

All board members were present: President Patrick Griffin, Clerk Luke Lough, Joe Garrison, Cristopher Choate and Matousek.

Also at the board table were Timberly Jech, office manager and meeting recording clerk.

School personnel in the audience were Matt Means, middle school counselor and assistant principal; Todd Cameron, computer network administrator; Jack Quirk, event center videographer, and Hix. Also Chandra Seiger and Streck.