Kingfisher Public Schools Superintendent David Glover told Kingfisher Rotarians and guests that he was still looking to fill two teaching positions ahead of a school year that starts in about three weeks.

Glover said filling positions has become increasingly difficult for districts across the state.

“People don’t want to relocate anymore,” he said last Tuesday, serving as guest speaker at the civic group’s meeting.

“In my day, if you took a job teaching, you moved to the community. Now I have teachers driving in every day from as far away as Clinton,” he added.

“That’s a long way, but that’s just the way the business is now, and we must deal with it.”

He said he was very pleased with the hiring of new high school boys basketball coach Colby Connel and softball coach Morgan Dutton.

Connel, who will also be the assistant principal at KHS, comes after a seven- year stint as an assistant at Edmond Memorial High School.

Dutton was at KPS two years ago as an assistant softball and basketball coach (while also coaching junior high teams in those sports as well as track).

She and her husband, former KHS wrestling coach Bryan Dutton, moved to Rogers, Ark., last school year. She will also teach high school science courses.

“Both are outstanding educators and I think our kids and parents will be very pleased with them,” Glover told the group.

“They are both highly motivated and very good at what they do.”

He invited those in attendance to take a look at the new artificial surfaces now installed at the football/ soccer field as well as the north softball field.

Glover is looking to make his last couple of hires from a number that was around 20 openings at one point.

“I’ve heard from those in the community who are wondering why so many teachers are leaving,” Glover said. “They ask me if the sky is falling. Is the morale at school bad? What’s hap- pening?

“My response has been and remains that we’re going to be just fine.”

A number of accomplished teachers and coaches have left KPS for jobs in nearby districts, including Dover, Lomega and Okarche.

Glover has been asked if the departures are due to the federal lawsuit that is currently pending against the school district, two current football coaches and two former football coaches brought forth by Mason Mecklenburg, a 2021 KHS graduate.

Allegations of hazing and bullying within the football program made by Mecklenburg have the district facing the lawsuit and there are also investigations pending by both the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Following the meeting, Glover said that he could not address specific questions regarding the lawsuit on advice of the district’s attorneys.

The trial is scheduled to be heard before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in December.

Glover said the staff that has remained and the ones joining the fold have a job to do - and he expects them to do it well.

“As teachers and administrators, our job is go into those classrooms and those school buildings and teach and be positive in our words and in our actions,” he said.

“And that’s what we’ll do every day we’re there.”

Entering his second year as the school’s superintendent, Glover said he continues to take pride in his job... and location. He has also served as superintendent at Okarche.

“This county raises great kids,” he said. “We have a great school here in Kingfi sher and, personally, I love what I do.

“We’re all looking forward to the upcoming school year.”

Glover answered questions from Rotarians both during and after the meeting.

Following the meeting, he mentioned that Phase 1 of the $6.2 million renovation of Gilmour Elementary was approximately 50 percent complete.

Crews are also wrapping up work at the ag barn addition and work continues on the locker rooms for the soccer teams and junior high football players.

“We’re investing in the right places and we’re doing all we can to make Kingfisher Public Schools the best it can be,” Glover said.