Hennessey Public Schools’ general fund carryover into the 2021-22 year is $3.509 million as compared to $3.438 million at the start of the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Superintendent Jason Sternberger said this year’s carryover is a little more than expected.

That’s due to a $500,000 ad valorem reimbursement he told school board members in his monthly financial report during their Monday, July 12, meeting.

More good news is that the school’s gross production return this month was $214,000 compared with $61,000 a year ago, he said. The two previous months this year were $190,000 and $198,000.

The bad news is the school is still owed about $1.8 million in windmill and oil/gas taxes that have been protested and not paid, Sternberger told the board. Most of that money is from windmills over the past three years, and some is from DCP Midstream taxes, he said.

When the taxes are paid they will have to see, and deal with, how the state formula effects the district budget, the superintendent said.

Grounds and maintenance

Sternberger said they are getting core samples from the track so they can get an estimate of what needs be done and what it will cost.

He also said “expansion to the west (at the softball field) will be kind of tough” because of costs, space and running into town-owned property and he’s also working on entry into the football field from the locker room.

Student drug testing policy

The superintendent said drug prevention is important and the district needs to make sure parents are on the same track with the school.

He said a private company will make random selections of students from seventh-12th graders once a month, starting in August.

The first time a student tests positive for drugs, their parents will be called and the student will lose their driving/parking permit.

If a student tests positive the second time, they’d be suspended for all extra-curricular activities, but not from their academic studies, Sternberger said.

He said parents may also request a drug test for their child and the school would pay for it.

“If a student smells of alcohol, we can also have them tested,” he said.

Return to Learn Plan (COVID-19)

Sternberger said, “Basically, the 2021-22 plan is what we were doing. It may change just as it would if we had a flu outbreak and had to cancel school...If we had to shutdown, we have virtual learning in place.”

He said the plan will be subject to change and there will be new contact-tracing for COVID-19.

The new plan is posted on the school’s website.

School handbook updates

Principals went over last year’s handbook and made updates, Sternberger said.

Patrick Griffin, board member/clerk, questioned a grooming guideline rule that states: “Clothing is to be free of tears, holes or fringing which expose the body or create a safety issue. Gaping holes, tears, and/or fringing above the knee are prohibited.”

Griffin said if the item is going to continue to be included, then it needs to be enforced, or if it’s just in fashion, then it needs to be taken out.

New HHS Principal Josh Faulkner said it would be enforced.

“That includes the faculty and staff, too,” said Griffin.

The 2021-22 handbook is not posted on the school website yet, but will be soon.

Parking at the high school

Faulkner questioned if the parking across the street from the high school will be enough for students.

Griffin said not all students park there. Some park close to the auditorium if they have classes there, or near athletic facilities.

Parking in front of the high school is used only by teachers and visitors and most students park across the street, said another staffer.

David Tillman, board member, said his daughter’s vehicle was hit in the parking lot last year, and the other student didn’t have a driver’s license.

Faulkner said students will be required to get a parking pass and will have to show proof of insurance and a valid driver’s license before they get one.

He said they will be given a card (similar to handicap placards) to show they have permission to park on school property.

The HHS principal discussed his new parking plans and agreed that all seniors would be given priority parking spots.

Resignations

Sternberger said he had resignations from Paula Gonzales, cafeteria staffer; Ali Seng, girls basketball coach, and Alissa Knight, kindergarten teacher.

At the meeting

All board members were present for the meeting: President Dr. James Matthew Matousek, Vice President Luke Lough, Cristopher Choate, Griffin and Tillman.

In addition to the superintendent, also at the board table was Timberly Jech, office manager and minutes clerk.

Staff in the audience were, Ricardo Tarango (middle school), and Stacey Mack (early childhood center) and Faulkner; Paul Hix, athletic/activities director; Todd Cameron, technology director; Rae Fuksa, technology assistant, and Allison Hurst, middle school special ed teacher.

Also in the audience were Chandra Seiger and Amber Koehn.

(Ed. note: The board spent two hours in executive session to discuss personnel matters. See story on those decisions on Page 1 of this edition.)