Chisholm Trail Technology Center is interested in Hennessey joining its membership, Superintendent Jason Sternberger told school board members last Monday night.

CTTC’s Student Services Coordinator Candyce Myers was at the meeting.

Hennessey is not a member of any specific CareerTech.

Membership is based on millage paid by property owners, but in January 2018, CTTC agreed to charge the school $1,000 per student per semester with HPS providing transportation.

“That rate expires at the end of this year,” wrote Sternberger in an email in reply to a KT&FP question. “We would have to pay the full amount, which is dictated by the state CareerTech board. The tuition is figured by a formula so the cost may vary between CareerTech schools, but it’s approximately $19,000 per year.”

The school board needs to call an election and ask voters to approve a membership with a vocational-technical school, the superintendent said at the meeting.

“Our valuation has gone up considerably,” Sternberger told the board, “so our cost won’t go up as much as it would have.”

Board President Dr. James Matthew Matousek asked when the board needs to decide on an election.

In a few months, Sternberger said, in order to have an election in February.

“Do you have marketing classes?” Cristopher Choate, board member, asked Myers.

She said they didn’t.

Matousek asked how many Hennessey students are in the tech program, “and can we just continue to pay as we go?”

That’s something that needs to be discussed with CTTC administration, said Sternberger.

HPS needs to compare how many students would go to Autry Technology Center (in Enid) because they offer more courses, as opposed to CTTC, said David Tillman, board member.

He said students need to know what each school offers.

Students going to Chisholm Tech may also take math classes, said Patrick Griffin, board member and clerk.

There was a discussion that when classes fill up at Autry, the school gives preferential treatment to those students who are members of its district.

Sternberger said he’d bring more information to the board at future meetings.

Estimate of Needs

The board approved the school’s 2021-22 estimate of needs that calls for $12.79 million in the general fund. That compares with $12.628 in general fund needs for 2020-21.

The excise board also approved these needs: $787,000 in the building fund; $24,833, co-op fund; $593,237, child nutrition fund, and $1.6 million in the sinking fund (19.86 mills).

Superintendent updates

The superintendent said he didn’t have a price quote on bleachers yet and the estimated cost for HVAC in the middle school gym and the “old” gym at the high school is $50,000 each.

Since OSSAA has decided on gaming then they need to look into gaming centers, he said.

“Do we have enough bandwidth?” asked a board member.

“We’re in pretty good shape on that,” said Todd Cameron, the school’s technology director.

Early Childhood Center outdoor plans

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are meeting “under the big tree” for reading to get in some outdoor time, said Stacy Mack, principal at the Early Childhood Center.

She has made an application to the HESF to help fund some of the “learn through play” outdoor ac tivities and board members were given a map showing her plans.

They include an outdoor kitchen, an exploring area, a sensory station, art easels, water exploration area, a stage area, pollinator garden bed and vegetable garden beds.

“What about security?” asked Griffin.

“It’s fenced in now,” said Mack,

“Are there covered areas?” asked Tillman.

“This is a work in progress,” said Sternberger. “We want to get the first phase done as quick as possible.”

Hirings

Social worker — Katie Soudek, 2017 HHS grad, was hired as a social worker on a temporary contract. She graduated from Baylor University in May with a bachelor’s in psychology and tutored at the Baylor Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence. She interned in her field at Red Road Counseling Services in Moore; McLennan County Drug Court, Waco, Texas, and Red River Youth Academy, Norman.

HS girls assistant basketball coaches — Lisa Weaver, STREAM teacher, and Morgan Wymore, teacher assistant.

Special education caseload services (extra duty)— Debbie Hickey.

Classroom aide — Brittany Ramirez.

Paraprofessional — Flor Velasco.

Daycare worker — Macee Smith.

Monitor for walking track — Julissa Ramirez.

Extra duty changes/additions

Additions: Raeanna Fuksa, middle school site test coordinator ($500) and senior class sponsor ($100). Courtney Markes, 1/7th of base salary for loss of planning hour. All certified tutors $20 an hour and all non-certified tutors $15 an hour for after school, spring break camp, summer school, Saturday school and detention.

Changes: Senior class sponsor from Riley Faulkner to Adam Ray; middle school Student Council from Beth Curran to Matt Means, and fifth-sixth grade quiz bowl from Nate Parker to Kayla Grellner.

Resignation: Yumira Torres, custodian.

Present at meeting

All board members were present: Dr. James M. Matousek, president; Luke Lough, vice president; Patrick Griffin, clerk; Cristopher Choate, and David Tillman. In addition to Sternberger, also at the board table was Timberly Jech, office manager and board minutes clerk.

Staff in the audience were Principals Richardo Tarango (middle school), Barry Crosswhite (elementary), and Stacey Mack (early childhood center), and Reanna Fuksa and Todd Cameron.

Also in the audience was Chandra Seiger and Myers.