The Woodward News

Local News

October 10, 2012

School fills additional positions

Brandi Thomas Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — The Woodward Public Schools Board of Education approved hiring 6 more employees for the district during its monthly meeting on Monday evening.

After an executive session, the board voted to hire the following people:  Ada Baynes as a bus driver; Wendy Alvarado as a custodian for Cedar Heights; Kim Boeckman as a Middle School math teacher; Krystan Pierce and Donna Meeler as Boomer Kids Club full time workers and Silvia Routh as the district English Language Learning paraprofessional.

During his report to the board, Superintendent Tim Merchant talked briefly about the delay of the A-F Report cards being released.

"The concern is not on the grades themselves, but on the accuracy of how the average growth is being figured," Merchant said.

This concern was brought up by the State Board of Education and they have asked the State Department of Education to re-figure the growth using all the students in each school district according to Merchant.

"I am pleased with the State Board of Education realizing that something needed to be changed," Merchant said.

He said that enrollment continues to grow in Woodward and that they are still looking to add one more Pre-K teacher at the ECC.

"If we can't find another teacher we may have to freeze pre-k enrollment since it is not a required class," Merchant said.

JoLynn Love also gave a short report on new additions to the elementary gifted and talented program.

"We have had several students in the district, in grades 2nd through 5th grade, that have tested into the gifted program," Love said.

The board approved the treasurer's report and all items on the consent agenda except an item relating to a revised list of the sports extra duty positions, which was tabled until the next meeting in November.  Merchant said the list was "not ready at this point" to be presented for approval.

The board also approved the Estimate of Needs for 2012-2013 and the Financial statement for 2011-2012 by Carroll Auditing Firm.

The Estimate of Needs outlines what the district anticipates spending in it's various funds over the next year.  The following is how much was allocated in each fund:

• General Fund: $18.9 million

• Building Fund: $3.1 million

• Co-op Fund: $180,000

• Child Nutrition Fund: $1.3 million

• Sinking Fund: $2.7 million

In other business, the school board approved a resolution calling for the election of a board member to the 3rd board seat which is currently held by Glenn Billings.  The election will be held in February 2013.

In a related matter, the board approved closing the following split precincts for the February election:  #300303, #770203; #770105.

These precincts were closed because they have less than 100 registered voters in them and will save the district money by not having someone sitting at a location all day when only a handful of voters would show up.  The voters in those split districts will be allowed to vote in neighboring districts.

The next monthly meeting for the Woodward Board of Education will be held on Monday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Board of Education building.

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