Jason Sternberger will start his fifth year as superintendent of the Hennessey Public Schools on July 1, 2025.

That’s after school board members unanimously voted to renew his 2025-26 school year contract during their Monday, Dec. 9, meeting.

Board members discussed his rehiring in a closed session without him, then he was later called in to the session for his annual evaluation.

Sternberger’s current contract runs through June at $162,240 a year and his new contract is for $168,700. He was first hired in the spring of 2021 and began in June of that year to work with retiring superintendent, Dr. Mike Woods.

All board members were present at the December meeting: President Patrick Griffin, Vice President Dr. James M. Matousek, Clerk Luke Lough, Amy Charmasson and Dakota Semrad.

Griffin invited Lance Painter to attend the executive session as a visitor. Painter was the only candidate to file for Griffin’s open seat on the board and will officially become a board member in April.

No Action Taken on Property Purchase

Board members were also scheduled to discuss the purchase of property at 519 E. Kansas in the executive session.

The 10,500 square foot property is located in the southeast corner of the school’s parking lot on the west side of Walnut Street.

That land includes a 1,140 square foot house that was built in 1958 and it faces Kansas Street and borders Walnut Street.

While the board was in closed session, Nathan Greenfield told a school staffer and media that no one had lived on that property for several years.

He said it had belonged to his late grandmother.

Nathan and Billy Greenfi eld were invited into the board’s closed session.

About 30 minutes later the board president said there would be “no action” and “the board needed more information.”

Superintendent’s Report

• The state approved accreditation for all school buildings: Early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools.

• School Report Cards 2023-24 results: Elementary C, middle school B and high school B.

Compared to 2022-23 scores, the elementary and middle school scores remained the same while the high school improved two letter grades.

• Resignations: Michael Reeves, Sandra Torres and Flo Conway.

Hirings

• Brenda Jimenez was hired as a certified elementary school counselor on a temporary contract for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. She is a graduate in school counseling from the University of Central Oklahoma, 2023-24; undergraduate bachelor of psychology, UCO, 2019-20. Work experience includes Kingfisher High School, secretary, September 2022-current; Kingfisher Heritage Pharmacy, May 2021-22, clerk/technician; Blair Early Educational Center, Kingfisher, caregiver/ teacher assistant, 2018-2020. Training/ Certifications: Entry Level Childcare Training, 2018; Center for Early Childhood Professional Development Certification, 2019; AHA Heartsaver CPR AED Program, 2019; CITI Certification, 2020-2023.

• Kole Beaman, part-time custodian.

• Kamilla Wyskowski, elementary paraprofessional.

• Cierrah Haymaker, middle school paraprofessional.

Staff at the Meeting

Principals: Josh Faulkner, high school; Barry Crosswhite, elementary, and Stacey Mack, early childhood center, and Business manager and board minutes clerk, Timberly Jech.