KT&FP Managing Editor

It would be a monumental understatement to say it’s been an interesting time at Kingfisher Public Schools.

Though currently under the radar, the district and some of its staff members are embroiled in a lawsuit that’s scheduled to run into the next calendar year.

Within the past year, multiple school board meetings have been attended by dozens, some nearing 100.

Others have had multiple news outlets beyond the usual attendance of the KT&FP.

Still others have been contentious as citizens and even staff have been outspoken at meetings.

That’s not to say things are on a downward trend at KPS.

The school district is currently in tremendous financial shape as it continues to set records for carryover.

Extra-curricular activities - from sports to vo-ag to band to vocal and more - continue to be bright spots for the district.

The new junior high building is a beautiful facility that will see its first full school year.

New facilities and facilities upgrades are in the works and - thanks to the financial condition - no plans are currently in the works to ask voters to pass a bond issue.

Teachers got the equivalent of a 7-8% pay increase when the school board voted over the summer to pay a portion of their insurance.

Still others got additional raises when it was voted earier this month to bump the pay scale for every extra- duty assignment in the district.

But it’s still a challenging time and that challenge is now on the shoulders of new Superintendent David Glover.

A veteran in the education field, Glover took over the position after Dr. Daniel Craig stepped down earlier this year. Although he spent the last nine years at the OSSAA, Glover has three decades of education experience.

Glover is the district’s third different superintendent in as many years and he’s overseeing a staff that has experienced its share of recent turnover.

There are 26 new staff members in the district this year. There were 21 “newbies” a year ago.

Needless to say, there’s been a lot of change at KPS. To get a small glimpse at what Glover has experienced on the job so far (he started officially on July 1) and what some of his future plans may be, we posed some questions to Kingfisher’s latest superintendent: Q: How has the adjustment been for you getting back into the superintendent’s chair after spending nine years with the OSSAA?

A: Really there wasn’t that much of an adjustment. It has all come back to me fairly quickly and of course the three ladies in the administration office (Dawn Tollefson, Pam Werner and Amy Woods) are a big part of that. They are the best in the business and have made my transition back into the superintendent’s role a smooth process.

[See Glover, Page 14] Q: What are some of the immediate goals you’re wanting to address?

A: Our immediate goal is to change the perception folks seem to have developed about Kingfisher Public Schools. This is a great school system and always has been a model of excellence over the years.

Nothing has changed as far as that goes and I am going to remind the teachers and other staff members of just that every day.

Q: Addressing some of the district’s needs are “in the works.” Can you discuss what is currently happening as well as the importance of these improvements?

A: When it comes to campus improvements, everyone wins. That includes everyone at the school and everyone in the community.

Students learn when they feel better about themselves and their surroundings. Sometimes just a coat of paint will make a huge difference in how someone feels about a facility or a room.

We are looking at adding a junior high locker room to the south end of the football field that will also serve our soccer teams and visiting football teams.

The concession stand needs a facelift and we are also going to add a goat barn to the existing ag farm area northwest of the football stadium.

Also, we are considering putting turf on the football field.

This would not only benefi t the football program, but it would also give our band an area to practice on everyday and provide for a quality soccer playing surface.

Gilmour Elementary is also in need of improvements as well and that, too, is in the planning stages.

Q: Can you give us any kind of timeline for these projects?

A: All of this is going to take some patience by our patrons as well as our staff members due to some inconveniences.

But, over the next few years we will be able to improve our facilities to the point where we are secondto- none, which is where we need to be.

Some of this work will begin as early as this school year and will hopefully be able to be continued nonstop until all is completed.

All of this is possible due to the school system being blessed financially through local revenue right now in the district.

Q: Teachers are the lifeblood of the school system and many districts have struggled with hiring and retaining. Just before your arrival, the board voted to pay staff insurance. At the August meeting, the board voted to approve your suggestion of raising every extra-duty stipend in the district. What other “perks” do you hope to install to make KPS an even more attractive district?

A: When it comes to perks for teachers in the district, the board did approve a fantastic one last spring when they voted to pay the teachers’ portion of their retirement benefit.

This action by the board showed their respect and commitment to the teachers in the district and will be an attractive incentive in recruiting teachers in the future.

The extra-duty increases the board approved is also a move in the right direction for those in the district who spend the extra time outside of the school day.

This board action at least put those staff members up to what would be considered average stipends in pay for a school our size instead of more towards the bottom.

We are also going to provide a daycare for our teachers that have children not yet old enough for school.

Dr. Craig started this process and I am putting the final plans for this together.

This, too, might be something we can offer that will be attractive to those teachers applying and being offered positions in the coming years.

All of this is to put Kingfisher Public Schools where it should be and that is a district that sets the bar for others.

We have the quality in the classrooms and it is important to put the facilities and other things around those teachers that they deserve.

That will help make them successful and make our student body and community proud of what their school system is and represents.