February 13, 2018
Board of Education Report February 5, 2018 The Kingfisher Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 7PM in the Board of Education Building with all members present. President David Dieselhorst called the meeting to order and asked Superintendent of Schools Jason Sternberger to report on any honors and recognitions received by the district during the previous month. Supt. Sternberger told the Board of upcoming events including wrestling and basketball tournaments and that the FFA and 4H programs are beginning their competition season. He also reminded the members of the upcoming board member election on February 13. After approving minutes, the Board considered financials and encumbrances. Mr. Sternberger told the Board the district is in exceptional shape and with ad valorum tax collections up over $1 million from this time last year; the district is on track to have an exceptional carry over of funds. In fact the carryover may exceed that permitted by law and the district may have to spend money on non-recurring projects. He suggested the district needs to keep the carry-over at around $1.7 million and so would have about $700,000 extra to spend on projects. These projects may include resurfacing parking lots, repairing the roof at the Heritage School annex, replacing phone systems, installing new doors, continuing improvements for the softball fields and numerous other small projects including planned improvements to the technology of the district. After approving the usual encumbrances, the Board also approved two contracts for the district’s software needs and two fundraisers for the Gilmour and middle schools. They also declared surplus a number of computers and other technology items after the IT specialists had taken all the useable parts. The Board then heard a proposal from Supt. Sternberger for an additional way to “spend down” the anticipated carry-over. He suggested there is sufficient money to provide a “professional development stipend” for employees of the district and, after some discussion, this was approved and details will follow. He also discussed the need for both a recruiting stipend to compete with other districts when seeking to employ teachers to come to Kingfisher due to the somewhat higher cost of housing and the possibility of a retention stipend, payable in August, for those current staff who commit to return to the district for the next school year. The Board liked this idea and will reconsider it in March or April when a clearer picture of how much extra money there’ll be. Mr. Sternberger showed the Board a graph indicating that, for example, a $1000 staff stipend would cost the district about $237,000. The Board hear a report on a recent grant fro Devon Energy to the middle school for $10,000 to build a greenhouse and then discussed a technology plan for the district. This plan involves a three year period of purchasing “Chromebook” laptop computers that would only be useable via the district’s server. There would be no storage space on the computer itself and only the “cloud” would serve as the source for student use. Thus, any computer could be used by any student with an email login. The ultimate goal would be to have a 1 to 1 arrangement for all students and a secondary goal of having all text books online and moving toward a paperless classroom. Clearly, intensive professional development will be required for most teachers. The Board accepted the resignation for retirement of Kari Patterson then went into executive session at 750 returning at 824 to hire a 4th grade teacher, a special ed paraprofessional and reemploy all principals and the district Special Ed Director. The Board adjourned at 827.
School Photos Available To view and order photos from this school year. Be sure to visit the website at:
www.khsphotography.com