The Board of Education for the Altus Public Schools met at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 11 at the Administrative Center. Board members Rosalyn Hall and Col. Jim Peccia were absent.

During the Superintendent’s Reports and Comments , the AHS Girls Soccer Team was recognized. The 5A Academic State Champs’ Coach Sassy was on hand to talk about the team and to show off their trophy.

Valerie Roberts then gave a 2012 Foundation Grant recipients overview, saying that since the inception, the Foundation has awarded nearly $80,000 in grants to our teachers. This year, the Foundation awarded a total of $3,346.24 in grants to fund projects at Altus Jr. High, Altus Intermediate School, Rivers and Sunset Elementary Schools.

Principals Dr. Haught and Mr. Worbes then gave Remediation Reports for Altus High School and Altus Junior High. Haught said that they have an extensive remediation plan for the summer, as well as for the upcoming school year. He said that remediation began June 4 with Algebra II, Geometry, and Albgebra I. This process will continue this week with U.S. History, Biology and English II-III June 18-22, and the writing tests to be given on June 21. He added that the remediation process at Altus High School has been successful, and that all AHS seniors that were eligible for graduation did so.

Superintendent Bob Drury gave a school enrollment report, stating that the school year began with 3,875 students, and ended with 3,727 - a loss of 148 students. He said that some graduated early, and that 130 of those students were military or military job related.

Pay requests for renovation and new construction was approved by the Board, as were claims and the consent agenda.

Also approved were two retirements: Sandy Fanning and Susan Hepner, both 5th grade teachers at AIS. There were also seven resignations, five certified: Jill Barnes, Pre-K at Roosevelt; Kristi Brinkman-Lee, Family & Consumer Science at AHS; Patricia Bryce, Special Ed at Washington; Patience Newsom, 2nd grade at Washington; Tent Shelby, Social Studies at AHS; and non-certified: Katrina Estep, Special Ed Aide at Roosevelt; and Lyn Hepner, bus driver for the district. Also approved for reassignment was Stephanie Robertson at AHS from part time special ed teacher to full time. Time sheet employees approved were summer maintenance and custodial services, Robert Jameson and Hassan Pulomo, and painter Kynsea White.

The board did not go into executive session, but recommended temporary contract hires for, 2nd year Tammy Hampton, Special Ed at Washington; for OTR recipient Julie Harris, Elementary Teacher at Will Rogers; certified new hires: Jozetta Esposito, 1st Grade at Washington; DeAnn Hart-Swanda, Special Ed at AHS; Kelsey Haught, 5th grade at AIS; Lara Johnson, English/Social Studies at AHS; Ed Leverdure, ROTC at AHS; Randy McKee, Social Studies at AHS; Mitch McLaughlin, Athletic Trainer at AHS; Rochelle Robinson, Pre-K at Sunset; Dianna Woolbright, 5th grade at AIS; and non-certified: Rebekah Grimes, Special Ed Aid at Roosevelt; Olivya Hall, Special Ed Aide at AJH; Oralia Perez, 5 hour cook at AJH; and Nanci Tapia, 7 hour cook at AJH.

A lengthy discussion over the District’s Liability and Property Insurance Coverage for 2012-13 led to the item being postponed for a special meeting on Friday. Other items postponed for the same 4 p.m. meeting were the selection of a drug testing firm, and the purchase of furniture and equipment for the new Media Center at Altus High School.

Under new business, facility agreements for the use of Marshall Field at Altus Junior High for Relay for Life was approved, as well as the use of the high school band room by the Oklahoma Arts Institute was approved, waiving rental costs.

The meeting adjourned, but a special called School Board Meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the Administrative Center.