Public discussion regarding a possible annex with a CareerTech school was at the forefront of the Hennessey Board of Education meeting.

“Will it cost a million dollars to join a votech?” Sheila Duell asked during the discussion on that subject Monday night.

“Yes,” said Superintendent Jason Sternberger. “It will cost $1,080,000 to join Chisholm Trail Technology Center in Omega and $1,350,000 to join Autry Tech in Enid.”

He said those numbers would change annually based on the district’s valuation increases or decreases and the school’s current valuation is $88,054,496.

The cost to landowners would be a tax increase of 12.15% at CTTC and an increase of 19.06% if Autry is chosen.

Currently the board has not finalized any plans, but is looking at a possible June election date.

“A million dollars would go a long way if it was going to our school,” Duell said.

She’d prefaced her question by saying she is a supporter of CareerTech and had worked with that system when she’d taught at HHS (as a family and consumer science teacher). (Note: The state Department of Career and Technology Education pays a portion of that teaching position as well as the ag teacher’s salary.)

The board has encouraged, and continues to encourage, input from the public about joining a technology center. Members request the input so they can decide if they should ask voters to approve joining a technology center and, if so, which school they’d prefer. If approved by voters, students would be allowed to attend tech classes at no cost to them, or to the school. Adults in the district would get half-off the fees charged if membership was approved.

How long does tax last?

Duell also asked, “How long will the tax last?”

It will go on in perpetuity, said Sternberger.

“That’s one reservation I have because it’s a tax that goes on forever,” Duell said. “A million dollars would go a long way (directly) to the school.”

Since district voters would have to approve any vote to join a tech center, they’d also have to approve a vote to quit that membership, Sternberger said.

Room for HHS students?

Duell also asked if there would be room if 20 girls decided they wanted to take nursing or cosmetology classes.

Sternberger said “yes” at CTTC.

At Autry, he said “usually they are able to accommodate…but they will take care of currently enrolled students first.”

Tech for adults, too

Also from the audience, Jesse Ashlock said joining a technology center would also affect adults who want to take classes. If Hennessey joined a tech then adults could attend for half the cost they are paying now as out-of-district students.

Ashlock, who is also a mechanical technology instructor at Autry, said it would also help Hennessey businesses who have to provide OSHA training for their employees, such as operating a forklift.

Autry also offers firefighter I training too, said Patrick Griffin, board member and board clerk. Ashlock said Hennessey

Ashlock said Hennessey students get their first year free and the next three years free when they’re in a technology center district.

Cristopher Choate, board member, asked HHS Principal Josh Faulkner how many students were interested in mechanics.

Faulkner said about 20. Griffin said Autry is closer, but there is also a higher tax cost to go there.

Help from HESF?

There were questions about whether Hennessey Educational School Foundation would be able to pay for students to attend tech classes.

Duell said she is a member of that board and this past year they gave college and tech scholarships to all students who applied.

Those scholarships are part of the late Ray Kokojan’s estate given to the foundation. Kokojan was a 1945 HHS graduate and valedictorian.

He gifted his estate to the foundation to benefit HPS students and teachers.

Student/parent/public comments needed

Board members stressed the need for information on student interests and their experiences in touring both tech centers.

Griffin suggested that parents also be informed of the Jan. 25 tour at Autry so they could attend and give the board feedback. Faulkner said they had 48 juniors and 74 sophomores signed up for that trip.

Students toured CTTC in December.

The superintendent said he would set up an informational meeting for public comments.

Griffin also suggested online polls, as well as polling students and parents after this month’s tour.

HHS Enrollment at CTTC

Faulkner said there were only nine students enrolled at CTTC this year. He told the board numbers were low for this third year there because there were scheduling conflicts and Hennessey didn’t offer an afternoon bus as they had in the past.

A chart given the board in October from CTTC showed 108 HHS students were enrolled at CTTC over the first two years and 74 received certifications in their field of study (automotive service technology, 12; digital technologies, 33; health careers, 17, and welding, 12).

The board was told that CTTC also offers practical nursing, pre-engineering, cosmetology and cabinetmaking classes.

At the Meeting

All board members were present: President Dr. James Matthew Matousek, Vice President Luke Lough, Clerk Patrick Griffin, Cristopher Choate and David Tillman. Also at the table with Superintendent Jason Sternberger was Timberly Jech, office manager and minutes clerk.

Other staff in the audience were Principals Josh Faulkner, high school; Barry Crosswhite, elementary, and Stacey Mack, early childhood center. Also, Allison Hurst, middle school special education teacher; Todd Cameron, technology director, and Rae Fuksa, sixth grade math teacher and technology assistant.

Also in the audience were Sheila Duell, a former HHS teacher, and Jesse Ashlock, a Hennessey parent and mechanical technology instructor at Autry Technology Center.

(Ed. note: See story in the upcoming Wednesday edition on money matters.)