The Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce held its annual “State of the Schools” luncheon Tuesday at the Chisholm Trail Technology Center.

The event featured presentations by Kingfisher Public Schools Interim Superintendent Andy Evans and CTTC Superintendent Kurt Thomas.

Shauna Rupp, executive director for the chamber, opened the meeting and introduced each of the speakers, which also included Kingfisher City Manager Jim Thomas and Brittney Crane, career development coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Career Technologies and Education.

Evans was the first speaker and he narrated a presentation which showed various statistics of how KPS ranked with schools of similar size in the state.

Of major importance to Evans was that Kingfisher had a 98 percent graduation rate and an average ACT score of 20.1, both well above the state average.

He said the dropout rate of KPS was only 1.8 percent, which was also very low in comparison to the state average.

Kingfisher’stotalstudent population has dropped by 34 students this year and Evans said this was in line with the state average.

He also commented that it was a national trend and that for every three baby boomers currently leaving the workforce, there is only one worker available to fill the positions.

Regarding the current shortfall in funds available for the current school year due to the requirement to pay a $5 million settlement over three years, plus over $1.4 million in related legal fees, Evans said the school administration and school board members were working to be as “transparent as we can possibly be.”

He said last year’s KPS budget was approximately $23 million, while this year’s was currently slightly over $14 million.

“I have speakers following me, so we don’t have time to address that now, but I encourage anyone to call or come by to ask me whatever questions you may have,” he told those in attendance.

Evans said the mission of the teachers, administration and school board members was to not only create the environment to produce great students, but also great young men and women.

Thomas said CTTC was at full capacity, with construction currently in progress for new facilities to accommodate an ever-growing student population.

He said a commercial driver’s license (CDL) concrete course has also been recently built in Watonga to accommodate the training of drivers for area businesses that require truck driving employees.

An electric trades facility is coming soon and the expansion of welding and cabinetry is also underway.

Thomas commented that 75 percent of high school students are prepping for good-paying jobs that do not require a college education and career techs across the nation are helping high school students enter the work force directly after graduation.

“The workforce is changing and we’re planning and working to meet those changing needs,” he said.

Thomas then introduced four CTTC students who are currently seniors at Kingfisher High School: Angela Muñoz, Keira Laudwig, Brayden Osterholt and Donte Almanzar.

The students all told of their positive experience with the classes and teachers, and of their future plans as they train to enter the workforce after graduation.

Next it was Jim Thomas’ turn.

He told of plans for a 50foot Norwegian spruce tree to be ceremonially lighted to kick off Kingfisher Winter Nights at Kingfisher Park on Nov. 30, in conjunction with Kingfisher Christmas holiday Chamber of Commerce-related activities.

Jim Thomas traveled to northern Michigan earlier this month to personally select the tree and make arrangement for its transport to Kingfisher.

Crane encouraged anyone with an interest to contact her if they had any questions regarding a career path that could be assisted through her department.