If you drove down Oklahoma Avenue in Hennessey in the last few weeks, you knew it was basketball playoffs because parking at The Eagle Event Center was packed.

That fact certainly wasn’t lost on HPS Superintendent Jason Sternberger during last Monday night’s monthly school board meeting.

“In basketball over the past few weeks we’ve hosted the Skordle Festival, 3A regionals and 4A area,” Sternberger said during his monthly report.

“We’ve had many people here who had never been inside. And, as always, we received nothing but praise about how nice our facility is, our hospitality and how well it’s being run and I sure want to recognize those responsible.”

Sternberger said several visitors are “surprised” at the facility Hennessey has on its campus.

He said they’ve had Class 4A schools bringing their teams to Hennessey and officials want to come to Hennessey because of the staff and our facilities.

One of the perks for referees? They don’t have to share a coach’s office - or restroom and shower facilities - because “The Dome” has a dressing room specifically for the officials.

Board/Patrons/Community Thanked

Sternberger commended: “The board and then-HPS Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods for thinking outside the box and designing a state-of-the-art facility (that had its first basketball game at The Eagle Event Center in December 2020).”

Sternberger also thanked and commended: “The patrons of Hennessey for supporting the (March 2017) bond issue and making it a reality.”

He also said the community support has continued throughout the years.

Staff/Volunteers at The Dome

“Those tournaments are all-day work and an extensive amount of work,” Sternberger said.

“It takes many different people to do many different things to make it work effectively. We’d like to recognize and thank those responsible for taking care of our facility:

• Audio/Video Work and tournament managers Todd Cameron and Josh Faulkner and other principals always willing to step in and cover if needed.

• Scoretable personnel Patrick Griffin, Bert Russell, Dustin Vinson, Mark Cox, Matthew Fuksa, RaeAnna Fuksa, McKenna Pendergraft and Jen Richardson.

• Hospitality room coordinated by Jen Richardson, but there are a host of moms and family members who help pitch in, along with students in the FCCLA program.

• People compliment how well the building is cared for (and are surprised to learn it’s 5 years old) so Sternberger wanted to recognize Ruth Frank, Brenda Portillo, Sylvia Cardenas, Donnie Harris and Gary Beaman.

• The reliable ticket takers: Patty Shaw and Christina Gonzalez de Roman.

• Concessions led by Nathan Hill, but Fran-ces Streck would step in and help anytime she was needed. It is run by various teams and their coaches.

• There were hamburgers and ribeye sandwiches served, which were cooked by guys who volunteer their time and services: Logan Macy, Dustin Wymore, Skylar McCall and Bryan Burch.

“And others in our great community and I hope I didn’t leave anyone off my list,” Sternberger said.

Other Reports

Property school purchased at 519 E. Kansas – Sternberger said he talked with Fire Chief Brandon Scott about firefighters using that property for a training exercise. “The chief said he is working with the DEQ about what they’re wanting to do,” the superintendent said. He added that he hoped it could be done during Spring break week.

Lighting – The south parking lot on Mitchell Road next to the weight room “is still unlit” but “all others are lighted,” said Sternberger. He suggested it would be a good project since they have about $1 million in building projects, but have no current projects.

Policy Updates

Sternberger recommended, and the board approved two policy updates noted in a recent audit:

• Pre-referral Process for Special Education, Section 104 plan, and Individualized Education Programs. That seven-page document may be found online at: Oklahoma State Department of Special Education Policy and Procedures Manual.

• Policy Item 523 - Display of Flags and Pledge of Allegiance: The flag of the United States will be displayed in all regular classrooms and from the poles at each school according to the rules governing flag etiquette. Under normal circumstances, the pledge of allegiance will be done every day over the intercom.

Griffin is Outgoing Board Member

At the end of the meeting the board’s outgoing president, Patrick Griffin, thanked those for letting him serve on the board for 15 years that included working with four superintendents and one interim superintendent.

Griffin did not file for re-election this year and Lance Painter was the only one to file for that seat on the board.

Painter will take the oath of office at the board’s April meeting.

At the Meeting

All board members were present: Griffin, Vice President Dr. James Matousek (who arrived near the end of the meeting), Clerk Luke Lough, Amy Charmasson and Dakota Semrad.

Also present and invited into the closed session was Painter.

Principals at the meeting were Josh Faulkner, high school; Ricardo Tarango, middle school; Barry Crosswhite, elementary, and Stacey Mack, early childhood center.

Recognized by the board and attending the meeting were 2024-25 Teachers of the Year: Kim Gritz, district and high school Teacher of the Year; Chelli Rapp, middle school, and Flo Conway, both elementary and early childhood schools.

Also in the audience was Bert Gritz.