The Woodward News

Local News

June 26, 2009

Extra funds allow High Plains to hire oil and gas instructors

Because of extra dollars from Oklahoma, High Plains Technology Center board members were able to approve the hiring of two oil and gas instructors at their last meeting of the fiscal year, which was Thursday.

During the special meeting, Superintendent Don Bird said the instructors, Barry and Brady Mills, were “really good.”

At first, “we were told there would be no money to hire these guys,” Bird said. “But about two weeks ago, we received a call from the state saying we got more money. So we’re hiring them.”

The instructors will have a one-year contract with the school.

As for the board holding its last meeting of the year, Bird said he thought the staff “did a good job this year managing our expenses.”

“We have a real solid (financial) carryover for next year,” he said.

During a discussion about projects concerning the school, Bird noted that the wind energy program recently received a wind tower blade from Suzlon that was purchased for $5.

“It’s really big,” he said of the blade. “You can walk inside of it without stooping over for a long way. It’s 16,000 pounds of fiberglass.”

It was one of two the program will have for students to work with.

While the blades were purchased for a low fee, the school still had to pay for transporting them, Bird said.

Bird said plans were in the works to expand parking at the school.

One area that will be expanded to 10 to 12 spaces is visitor parking in front of the technology center.

About the same number will be constructed for employees to the side of the center.

Before the meeting adjourned, board members approved general fund encumbrances in the amount of $374,729 and a building fund encumbrance in the amount of $2,000.

The technology center’s new fiscal year will begin July 1.

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