KT&FP Managing Editor

David Glover says he views Kingfisher Public Schools as the best district in the state.

He wants everyone else to do the same.

“I want to get it to the point to let people know this is the place that represents excellence in Oklahoma,” Glover told Kingfisher Lions Club last Thursday.

Glover was hired as Kingfi sher’s superintendent in June. He told Lions Club members of the near-term and long-term plans he has for the district.

He touched on the ongoing plans for the upcoming addition to the ag barn as well as the new junior high locker rooms and renovations to the football field concession stand.

The ag barn plans have been complete for multiple years. The plans for the other two projects are expected to be approved at next month’s meeting of the board of education.

Glover also talked about the need for a major overhaul at Gilmour Elementary.

“There’s just a lot that needs to be done there,” he said.

Architects have been working with Gilmour staff for several weeks to seek needed changes. Plans forthose renovations should becompleted this fall.

Other updates could includea new administrationbuilding - the current one,he noted, has been knownto house a family of skunksunderneath - as well as theparking area between thefootball fi eld and softballcomplex.“

And the big thing for meis turfi ng the field,” he saidof the football stadium andadded later that turfi ng thesoftball field was also a partof his wish list.

Glover noted the negativeinstant reaction thatturfi ng the field often receives.

“In all reality, with thelife of these turf fields now,this is a money saver,” hesaid, detailing all the coststo keep the current turfin playing condition frommowing to spraying to wateringto stripingHe also said a turf surfacewill allow the bandto practice on it daily asopposed to a corner portionof the high school parkinglot “and our soccer teamscan have a nice, actual greensurface to play on in thespring.

“This is something we’reable to do.”

Glover was speaking ofthe district’s current financialcondition. It once againhad a record carryover ofmore than $8 million andcontinues to bring in sizablelocal revenue checks.

“I want to be a good stewardof our money,” Gloversaid. “But I also want thisplace to have the best. Iwant our kids to have thebest.”He said the new juniorhigh building was a shiningexample.

“The kids in there reallylove the place,” he said. “It’samazing what somethinglike that can do for kids.

He wants the communityto see what it built as welland told Lions the district isplanning an open house atthe new junior high prior toKingfi sher’s football homeopener on Sept. 2.

Glover said his relationshipwith the board of educationhas been solid.

“They’re good people,”he said. “They’ve beennothing but supportive onthe things I’ve communicatedwith them about.”

He added that concernsabout the district - includingthe fact he’s the thirdsuperintendent in as manyyears - can begin to be putto rest.

“This is your schooland it’s fantastic,” he said.“Things aren’t bad here.This is the best school systemin Oklahoma.”