Kingfisher Public Schools is in the “waiting” phase for a number of projects, some of which it’s ready to put in motion and others that have already begun.

“I’m ready to see progress in a lot of areas,” Superintendent David Glover told the board of education last Monday during its January regular meeting.

He first broached the subject during his monthly report as he updated members on the progress of the ag barn addition as well as the renovations to the football concession stand and the new locker room facility on the south end of the football field.

Dirt work has begun on the ag barn, but there has been little visible progress outside of that.

“We keep getting told we are waiting on materials,” Glover said. “That’s the biggest holdup right now. They say they’ve got people ready to go once those are in.”

Glover also noted some additional plumbing will be required in that area.

“That’s going to be one of those things that’s going to cost us more than projected,” he said.

Other than tying in plumbing for the dressing rooms, no other work has been completed for the projects on that end of the football field.

Later in the meeting, Glover revisited potential renovations to Gilmour Elementary School as well as turf for the football and high school softball field (the northernmost field).

LWPB Architecture in Oklahoma City has been tasked with providing plans for the Gilmour renovations.

“We are ready for them to bring us the renderings so we can move forward,” Glover said.

Once the board decides on the final plans for Gilmour - and therefore the costs - then other projects such as turf can be decided upon.

“It’s important for us to find out what the money situation is on that (Gilmour project), so we can decide on that (turf),” he said.

Still, Glover suggested requesting bids for the turf project.

“Let’s get it bid out and see what it’s going to cost us,” he said. “That way we know and we’re not just projecting and guessing.”

The district remains flush with money. On top of record-setting carryovers the last few years, gross production receipts continue to be high.

The district had just received word its check for this month will be approximately $864,000, which is a record.

The vocational agriculture department is going to reap some of those benefits.

The board last month voted to request bids for a pickup-truck to be used by advisers Tyler Gradert and Megan Thormodsgard.

The department currently has two in use, both with high mileage.

Glover received bids from both Boeckman Ford and Johnsons of Kingfisher.

The Boeckman bid for a 2023 F250 4x4 crew cab was for $53,508.

Johnsons submitted a bid of $53,955 for a 2023 Ram 2500 Tradesman 4x4 crew cab.

“Both are great supporters of the school,” noted Jim Perdue, the board president. “Why don’t we buy one from both?”

Glover agreed as did the rest of the board in voting unanimously to do so.

Glover said of the current vo-ag trucks in use, the one with the lowest mileage will be turned into a maintenance vehicle and the other will be listed as surplus.

In personnel moves, the board voted unanimously to approve the contract for Carrie Edwards as a pianist for the district’s music classes. Also hired were Kim Baustert as a pre-kindergarten teacher assistant and Skye Dhonde as a paraprofessional at Kingfisher Upper Elementary.

(Note: The board met in executive session for 40 minutes. The first 24 minutes were without Glover and the rest of it included him. Afterward, it voted unanimously to extend his contract one year. That story was in Wednesday’s edition.)

In other moves, board members approved:

• The latest transfer capacity report for each grade, which has to be published online by the school;

• Allowing district employees to voluntarily donate sick leave to math teacher Matthew Loch, who is currently battling cancer;

• Fundraiser requests for boys and girls soccer and Kingfisher Junior High staff.