The Altus Public School District held its monthly board meeting on Monday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.

With all members present, the board received an informational update on the proposed Altus High School (AHS) Athletic Facility (See architect's rendering). The board was addressed by Rick Vernon and the architect, David Reed, of Sparks and Reed of Tulsa. Vernon said he will be working with Altus Community Foundation toward the goal of building the facility which is estimated to cost $3 million to $5 million.

This was not an action item, but will be on the agenda for the October meeting per Superintendent Drury's wishes. The facility, if approved by the board, and paid for by the foundation, would be built on the north end of the football field at AHS. It would be built in three phases, and would be a two-story, 13,400 square foot state-of-the-art complex.

More good news, Board Chair Rosalyn Hall announced that the district is down only 26 students, from 3,896 last year to 3,870 now.

And the district has received its accreditation with no deficiencies. It has been designated as having "No Sites on the School Improvement List" by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

The board received an update on payments for the remodeling and construction at AHS. The total completed and stored to date by Joe D. Hall is $10,516,061.15. The district also received a statement for multimedia devices and their installation for $5,334.34. This is all paid for by the MAPS project

The Oklahoma State School Boards District 11 training, to be held in Walters, will be Nov. 17. RSVPs should be given to by Nov. 1.

The board approved the claims.

The consent agenda was approved. It included the following items: Submitted August 8, 2011, Regular Board Meeting Minutes, Monthly Reports Regarding Status of the Treasury, Budget Expenditures, Activity Funds, Cafeteria Funds, Appointment of Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee, Appointment of District Professional Development Advisory Committee, Continued Participation in the Oklahoma Public School, Unemployment Compensation Account, Statewide Alternative Academy Plan for FY12, Rental of School Facilities, Agreement with Hollis Public Schools.

A new policy was submitted by Col. Peccia, involving students who have a parent or parents deployed. As a result, the board approved the Military Deployment, Student Absences – policy 700.323.

In personnel matters, there were no retirements. Each of the following were approved by the board.

In resignations, for Certified, was Ross McCulloh. For Non-Certified, Jo Ann Adams, Steven Farmer, and Vera McDaniel.

In Reassignment of District Personnel to Include a Change in Salary, there were no Certified, but Non-Certified were: Glenda Cryer, Elizabeth Granado, Rachel Richardson, and Carolyn Watson.

Time Sheet Employees were: Penny Bush, Jean Cargal, Staci Cope, Janet Diltz, Donna Mortimer, Sheryl James, Tammy Richeson, Rhonda Simonson, and Robin Wenk.

There was no executive session.

New hires were approved on temporary contracts : Certified: Jackie Bostic, Jennifer Cole, Annetta Drake, Patience Newsom. Non-Certified: Randal Parks.

Each year the district must submit an Estimate of Needs to the County Excise Tax Board. The board approved this report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2012.

The board approved Jim Atkinson as architect for a development of plans for a metal roof for the AIS Cafeteria and Gym areas.

The board also approved a Change Order in an Amount of $112,769.28 to change four AHS classrooms to computer labs. This was to correct an oversight, those having been left out of the remodeling process.

The board approved an emergency repair for a gas line leak at Will Rogers. This will cost about $50,000 to replace 1,200 feet of three-inch gas line to remedy the situation.

The board approved the selection of an architect and call for bids for the remodel of Altus HS Agriculture Building.

Also approved, was increasing the facility insurance for approximately $66,000.

There was no new business.

The meeting adjourned to recognize the students whose artwork was chosen to illustrate the School Calendar this year.