A recent school shooting has put school safety in the spotlight once again.

Hennessey Public Schools has tried to stay out in front of the issue, Superintendent Jason Sternberger said.

“We’ve been pro safety, even before the Uvalde school shooting, and I think we’re in pretty good shape, but we want to make sure our kids are safe and feel safe,” Sternberger told school board members at their meeting last Monday.

That’s why the State Office of School Safety and Security was set to make a walk-through and assessment of the schools Wednesday (June 15), he told the board.

“They will look at our doors, our windows, our traffic flow and we will get a report,” Sternberger told the board Monday night.

(Ed. note: That group completed its inspection Wednesday. According to Technology Director Todd Cameron, the group took notes and photos and will return for another evaluation. He said a report will be issued later.)

Sternberger also noted Dr. James Matthew Matousek’s questions at last month’s meeting.

Matousek commented May 9 that he noticed the security door had been installed at the middle school. Each of the four building principals were also at that meeting and Matousek asked if all the doors are locked at all times?

One door wasn’t locked, he was told.

Matousek said it always had to be locked.

A door into Uvalde, Texas, school was left open May 24 and an 18-year-old shooter went through that door, killing 19 students and two teachers and injuring 17 others.

Four students at Chisholm Trail

Also during his monthly report, Sternberger said they have four students who are completing their training at Chisholm Trail Technology Center. He also asked that the school pay for their classes.

He said four students (three HHS seniors and one student who graduated last year) wanted to finish their classes and CTTC had agreed to split the costs with HPS.

The cost is $37,722 and Sternberger said HPS would pay whatever the Kokojan Trust didn’t cover.

The board approved the expenditure.

Tax protests

Sternberger’s month report included saying there are $3.8 million in tax protests from wind, oil and gas companies.

“If it’s paid, then we’d have $2.2 million in our fund,” he said.

Hennessey’s school district is in three counties (Kingfisher, Garfield and Major), so there are several companies protesting.

Those protesting companies are: Red Dirt Wind, DCP Operating Co., Great Salt Plains Midstream, BCE Mach III Midstream Holdings, and Panhandle Eastern.

“What about the group lawsuit we’re in?” asked President Luke Lough.

“It didn’t go in our favor,” Sternberger said, “and it’s being appealed to the state Supreme Court. We’re coming up on the fifth year in some instances.”

ESSER III fund update

Hennessey’s current Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief allocation is $2.981 million and the district has encumbered $846,305, leaving a balance of $2.13 million available, the superintendent said.

He suggested, and the board agreed, to spend $189,000 with the Oklahoma Schools Insurance Group and purchase two yellow route buses ($247,000) because there is a 12-month waiting period, and two Suburbans ($120,000) with a three-to-four month wait.

Grounds and Maintenance

“Let’s keep an eye on educational matters instead of sports,” said President Luke Lough after a lengthy discussion about current and upcoming projects.

New track – Only elementary school track events are planned for the track “so we can make some trial runs,” Sternberger told the board.

The track is located east and south of the football field and he said buses could park in the southeast corner and the main entrance would be the northwest corner.

No concession stand is planned and they might have local vendors, or rent a trailer.

No restrooms yet, but they can bring in portables and use the football field restrooms.

He said they’ll need to get a timing system, PA system, and will probably need to replace high jump and pole vault pads.

Current projects – Softball concession, dugout and canopy over bleachers; track press box and baseball canopy.

Tire lot (southeast corner of State Highway 51/ Mitchell Road) – Property still being cleared and there has been interest in buying the current 30x60 metal building south of tire lot. Sternberger said at some point the board needs to decide if the district should declare a metal structure as surplus and take bids. He said dirt south of the track will be used to level that area once the buildings are cleared.

Suggestion he received was to put up an LED marquee at the entrance to the football and baseball fields.

HS west storage room – It has been cleared out and Sternberger said they are looking at ideas to repurpose the room. It needs new lights, paint and a quote for heat/air is $12,000 for 3,000 square feet.

HS basement – Elevated floor in basement. “We’ve lost power and have pumps in there,” he said.

Ag shop/classroom – Getting roof quotes on both.

Dome roof – The district has “accepted The Dome,” the superintendent said “so we have filed a warranty claim.” He said the contractor, Wynn Construction, noticed an error on their part and fixed it, but now the manufacturer of that product will make a site visit.

Lighting – Griffin suggested they discuss going to LED lighting conversion districtwide. Sternberger said he’d request an energy audit.

Turf – Griffin said Pawhuska is about the size of Hennessey and has turf on their fields. He said he knew it was expensive, but said versus a grass field “that goes dormant before the fourth game” would be a consideration.

Lunchroom – Sternberger asked about lunchroom capacity and he said, “High school will still be packed, but we’re trying to deal with it in scheduling.”

It was suggested that they take the kitchen off-site and use that space for seating.

“That’s something to look at,” Sternberger said.

Middle School Handbook

Middle School Principal Ricardo Tarango said cell phones in the classroom have been distractions and students who bring them to school may drop them off at the office before school begins. He said the mobile devices would be put in a vault for security.

“Why not allow students to put their phone in their locker?” asked David Tillman, board member and clerk.

“Not all students have locks on their lockers since that’s something they have to provide,” said Tarango. “Also, some say they don’t have enough time in the four minutes between classes to put their phone in their locker…And, some have been able to trick a substitute teacher into letting them use their phones.”

Griffin said there is also a problem that some teachers allow students to have their phones in class while others don’t.

Tarango said they are working on that, and 90% of the students have cell phones.

“Why do middle school students (fifth through eighth graders) even have cell phones?” asked board member Dr. James Matthew Matousek.

“My fifth grader has one,” said Vice President Cristopher Choate. He also said he’d sent a text to his son during the day, thinking he wouldn’t get it, or reply, until after school. But the boy did, only to remind his dad that he was in school and couldn’t talk.

Grooming and improper clothing has also been a problem, the principal said. “Sometimes when we

“Sometimes when we call the parent to ask them to bring clothing they say they didn’t think it would be acceptable,” he said. “Other times, students say they have to go home to get the clothes when they may have extra clothes in their bag.”

Tarango said they’re arranging to have different sizes of clothing available for those students to wear when they come up with excuses.

He was the only person in the audience other than press.

A story about a staff raises and hiring of a high school math teacher at the June 13 meeting was published in the Wednesday, June 15, edition.