Hennessey voters won’t be deciding the fate of the district joining a local technology center district at the next election.

“Since it would be rushed, the board would like to take more time to gather input from community stakeholders,” said Hennessey Superintendent Jason Sternberger after Monday night’s board meeting.

“The board could pass the resolution later in the spring for a June 28 vote,” he added.

But first the board has to select which tech center to list on the ballot.

At that meeting board members were told they’d missed the deadline for a Feb. 8 election because “you have to approve an election resolution deadline 60 days before an election,” said Justin Lockwood, deputy state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Lockwood told the board a later date would give them an opportunity to hold a voter information session.

“We’ve had presentations from both Chisholm Trail and Autry vo-techs for two months (September and October) and haven’t had any feedback from the public,” said Patrick Griffin, board member.

“Whichever board you choose would welcome you with open arms,” said Lockwood.

He told the board they could probably make the April 5 or June 28 election dates, but later dates would have students enrolling at techs. He noted that elections are prohibited in even years during March, May, July, September, October and November.

“Will you help us educate the community about vo-techs?” asked Griffin.

“We would provide the information to you about what our tech schools of fer,” Lockwood said. There are 29 tech centers and 59 campuses in Oklahoma, he said.

Board members said they thought January would be a good time “to get the word out.”

There was a question that if they waited until later that they wouldn’t be able to get HHS students enrolled in tech school classes for the fall semester.

“Mr. (Max) Thomas already said they could get in (when he made their presentation),” said Sternberger about the CTTC superintendent.

Setting Election Date As soon as the school selects which tech center to go with, the board must approve a resolution asking the state board to approve an annex to a certain tech district.

“And the state board doesn’t meet every month,” he said.

After the state tech board approves the request, it goes to the area tech board for approval, then back to the state board for approval and they call for the election. The state board also sets the election with the county election board.

Lockwood said the state tech board pays for the cost of the election.

What Voters Get Hennessey school district voters will then have to approve joining the tech center chosen by the local board.

A simple majority (50-percent plus 1) yes vote would allow high school juniors and seniors to attend half-day classes free. Their books and supplies would also be free to them and to the school.

A yes vote would also allow adults who live in the Hennessey Public School district to attend tech classes at the membership rate (which is about half of the non-member cost).

Property Owner Costs

The membership cost would come from property owners’ tax assessments: A little more than 12 millages at CTTC and 15 millages at Autry, Sternberger said.

Student Interest HHS Principal Josh Faulkner was asked about student interest in taking tech classes.

Faulkner said students are excited about it and he knows of six students who definitely want to go.

Board President Dr. James Matthew Matousek said the board definitely needs to know those numbers.

“The school has got to push this to the kids and get them interested in the possibilities of a tech school,” he said. “I’m not going to ask people to burden themselves with more taxes if we only have one or two kids going.”

At the Meeting

In addition to Griffin and Matousek, other board members present were Vice President Luke Lough, Cristopher Choate and David Tillman. Also at the table with the superintendent was Timberly Jech, office manager and minutes clerk.

Other staff in the audience along with Faulkner were Stacey Mack, early childhood principal, and Korey Walker, wrestling coach.

Also in the audience was Chandra Garcia-Seiger, a candidate for the school board.