Andy Evans helped guide Kingfisher Public Schools through one of its most difficult times.

Now the Kingfisher Board of Education is stripping him of part of his title.

It’s the part that says “interim.”

Board members voted 4-0 during a special meeting Monday night to employ Evans as the school district’s superintendent for the 202526 school year.

The move is pending completion of a negotiated contract with Evans plus any necessary background checks that haven’t been completed.

Evans has been the interim superintendent since October 2024. He was hired after the passing of former Superintendent David Glover.

Board members made Monday’s vote after about 2 1/2 hours in executive session during which they interviewed three candidates, including Evans.

Voting to hire him were Charles Walker, Dana Golbek, Carly Franks and Mike Copeland, who earlier in the evening was appointed by other board members to fill an unexpired term on the board. ( Ed. note: See related story on Page 1.)

Board member Brad Wittrock was in attendance for the board position interviews, but abstained from that vote. He left the meeting prior to the superintendent interviews and did not return.

He told the KT&FP he “had to leave for personal reasons.”

As soon as he was hired in the interim role, Evans had to delve right into budgetary issues for KPS.

The district was in the midst of a budget shortfall after the Kingfisher County Excise Board amended its estimate of needs for the fiscal year, leaving it about $1.9 million under what it proposed.

That led to mid-year staff cuts that saw more than 20 people lose their jobs due to a reduction in force in December.

In the board meetings since, Evans’ financial reports have indicated that the district’s budget is stronger, though still not completely stabilized.

He indicated prior to the executive sessions Monday that the most recent gross production revenues had increased, showing more signs of potential stabilization.

Each of the three candidates spent just over 40 minutes being interviewed by the board. Also taking part in the interview session was Bill Reitz, who will be joining the board in April.

Copeland made the motion to hire Evans after the executive session ended. It was seconded by Golbek and made unanimous by the other two.

“Andy knows everything that’s going on right now,” Copeland said of his vote. “He guided us through probably the most turbulent time with the RIF, he knows the finances and he knows the plan he has in place and where we need to go.”

Copeland used another analogy to back up his decision: “You don’t change horses midstream.”

The vote by Franks will be one of the final major decision she makes as a board member. She’ll be clearing the way for Reitz in April after 10 years of service.

“Andy is a forward- thinking leader with a clear vision for the district,” Franks said. “He is deeply committed to both staff and students, always striving to support their success and ensure our school continues to excel.”

Golbek said she’s valued Evans’ reports and openness since he was hired.

“I am impressed with his commitment to district transparency as well as his knowledge of school finance,” she said. “I believe Mr. Evans will do an excellent job as our superintendent.”

Copeland added he was impressed with the other two candidates who were interviewed.

“Both of the other two would be great hires,” he said. “ But Andy is a better hire.”

Evans, who lives here with his wife Beth, was no stranger to Kingfisher when hired last October.

He was a district administrator from August 1999 through June 2010, serving such roles as assistant principal, athletic director and middle school principal.

He left to become superintendent at Mountain View-Gotebo for three years and was in the same role at Prague for two years.

Evans then joined the staff at the Oklahoma Public Schools Resource Center in February 2015. He was the financial services director there when he was hired by KPS.

“My wife and I appreciate the board extending the offer of continuing to work in our district,” Evans told the KT&FP.

“Kingfisher is a special place and it is exciting to look forward to continuing to work with our students, teachers, administrators and staff.”

With the interim tag being removed, Evans said he’s ready to get to work on short-term and long-term goals for the district.

“The primary goal is to continue stabilizing and growing the district’s finances. We can’t do much without revenue to fund what we need to do,” Evans said.

“We have seen the budget stabilize, but it’s still fragile. We have to make good solid decisions, one at a time, to make sure we have the resources to give our students the best possible education that our district can provide. Our community has been generous to us. We need to make sure that we are good stewards of the generosity that has been shown to us.

“This is not going to be a fast process, but is entirely within our grasp.”

Evans said he and the district’s principals are working to identify any obstacles in the way of providing the best education for students as well.

“Our goal has to be to provide our teachers with the best tools that we can find to educate our students. We are working on identifying districts and individual schools that are being successful to find what they are doing different from us,” Evans said.

“Once again, though, with a fragile budget we have to make good solid decisions, one at a time, to make sure that we are giving our patrons the best value for the funding that supports our district.”

There are also concerns with the district’s various school buildings, several of which have had multiple major issues in recent months, incuding electrical, plumbing and HVAC.

“We need to get our building issues fixed,” Evans said. “We have had to do a lot of work at Heritage, the KUE and the high school. Our local businesses have really supported us and helped us through these issues. I know they have to get concerned when they see my phone number on their caller ID, but they still answer.

“Our community has made an incredible commitment in our facilities and it is important that we are robust in our maintenance program.” Also, said Evans, he wants to ensure the staff knows it is supported.

“We have a wonderful staff of teachers. I feel fortunate to get to support their work,” he said. “Our goal is to help our faculty and staff build the environment and support the environment they need to grow and improve in their chosen career.

“The best chances of long-term success comes from a faculty that understands their students, has empathy for their students and, most of all, really cares about their students.”