The first day of school for Hennessey Public School students this fall is Thursday, Aug. 12.

That’s a week later than usual and the school year will end a week later.

The last day of school will be Friday, May 13, and graduation for the HHS Class of 2022 will be Saturday, May 14.

The main reason for the change is due to conflict with end-of-the year sporting activities.

Baseball, track and golf still had events in early May after HHS graduation.

New Superintendent Jason Sternberger said the staff was polled before the board’s vote at the Monday, June 14, meeting and voted 41-6 in favor of the later start.

Teachers will start Monday, Aug. 9, for three days of meetings and preparations.

Present at the meeting

At the board table were board members President James Matthew Matousek, Vice President Luke Lough, Clerk Patrick Griffin and David Tillman.

Absent was board member Cristopher Choate.

Staff at the table were Sternberger and Timberly Jech, office manager and minutes clerk.

In the audience were Paul Hix, athletic director and head football coach; Barry Crosswhite, elementary school principal, and Dr. Mike Woods, retiring superintendent.

Six new teachers hired

After an hour in executive session the board hired six more teachers, and Sternberger announced, with those hirings, all teacher positions have been filled for the upcoming school year.

That brings the total number of certified staff to 84 as well as 43 support staffers on the payroll, he said after the meeting.

New teachers hired were:

• Elementary – Jordan Waltman, third grade, and Morgan Webb, fourth grade.

• Middle school – Jacqueline Boss, middle school science; Sarah Stauffer, fifth/sixth grade language arts, and Evan Kating, fifth/ sixth grade reading.

• High school – Donald Hatch, high school science.

(Ed. note: Look for more information on the hired individuals in upcoming editions)

45 non-certified personnel rehired

The list includes: Wilma Adams, Gary Beaman, Lisa Bossa, Erica Brizuela, Todd Cameron, Grace Chavez, Ginger Cox, Michelle Emerich, Paola Escarcega, Luz Escobedo, Maria Fierro, Sherri Fipps, Ruth Frank, Randi Franklin, Rosa Garcia, Paulita Gonzalez, Donnie Harris, Basilia Holguin, Christina Holguin, Charlotte Jones, Lindsey Jones, Victoria Jones, Ofelia Lara de Renteria, Melissa Macy, Jessica McNeely, Matt Means, Evelin Montes, Adelina Nunez, Ashley Osland, Allison Paulsen, Bradi Pospisil, Olga Roldan, Veronica Roman, Jacob Schovanec, Bridget Seiger, Patty Shaw, Emilie Spurrier, Stacy Sturgill, Yumira Torres, Genoveva Valles, Herminia Valles, Rosa Velazquez, Carolina Villalobos, Erin Wulffenstein and Jennifer Wymore.

Summer employees

Extra duty pay approved for summer certified teachers at $20 an hour were Gerri Russell, Jenna Matousek and Valerie Shamburg. Non-certified staffer Sherri Fipps was hired at $13.75 an hour.

Summer cooks hired were Patti Shaw, $13 an hour; Olga Roldan, $11 an hour, and Veronica Roman, $10.75 an hour.

Grant writing stipends

The board approved a grant writing stipend of $14,682.25 (2.62 x 2.5%) to Woods for a $225,000 Striving Readers Grant after their closed session in which Woods was invited for most of that time.

They’d earlier approved these 2.5% grant writing stipends to Kim Fehring for $45.59 (Redlands Community College High School Research Grant for $1,823.58) and $27.13 (RCC, Middle School Research Grant, $1,085.25), and to Patrick Courtney, $25.00 ($1,000 Walmart Community Grant) and $12.50 ($500.00 Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association).

That’s a total of $14,791.47 in grants to the school.

Resignations

Sternberger said he accepted two resignations: Jackie Buchanan, elementary school tech integration specialist, and Beth Curran resigned as yearbook sponsor, but will continue to teach high school art and photography.