The Board of Education meeting of the Altus Public School District was held Monday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. in the Administrative Center. Darrell Moss, Debora Phillips and Col. Greiner were absent.

In the Superintendent’s Reports and Comments, the school district wished to recognize those AAFB service members that helped change the football stadium lights. Appreciation for their sacrifice for our nation and community were expressed.

Supt. Bob Drury said the expected release of the “A to F” School Report Cards has been delayed due to the need for more information. He noted that these new cards are so complicated he can’t explain the grade computations and he doesn’t know who can. The results are easily skewed, which can make the statistics unreliable. Drury said there has been one protest filed so far. He did release the grades given to the Altus Schools, despite the delay on the state level. Drury noted that teachers and principals are working hard. “We work with what we have and try to improve.”

Altus Public Schools received the following: Altus High School - B, Altus Jr. High School - B, Altus Intermediate School -C, Rivers Elementary School - A, Roosevelt Elementary School - C, Sunset Elementary School - A, Washington Elementary School - B, and Will Rogers Elementary School - D. (See approval of another fourth grade teacher for Will Rogers and the discussion that accompanied the item in this article. Also see the related on School Report Cards)

The board approved the claims.

The Consent Agenda was approved. It included: September 10, Regular Board Meeting Minutes; September 20, Special Board Meeting Minutes; Monthly Reports regarding status of: Treasury, Budget Expenditures, Activity Funds, Cafeteria Funds; Teacher and Support Personnel Evaluators for 2012-13; Uniform Allowance for District Cooks; Rental of School Facilities; Revision of the Windy Trails Golf Course Contract; 2012-13 Contract for Vocational Programs; Out of State Transportation Request for JROTC and FFA.

There were no policies to be approved.

The board approved the resignation of a Non-Certified employee, Glenda Cryer.

They approved one Reassignment of District Personnel to Include a Change in Salary for a Non-Certified employee, Amalia Olson.

The board approved the Proposed Substitutes and Time Sheet Employees. Substitutes included: Cecilia Abila, Danyelle Norris, Dannah Santana, Trinda Trejo and Maria West. Time Sheet employees were: Carol Burgamy, Glenda Cryer, and Randy McKee.

There was no executive session for new hires.

The board approved Employment for Certified Personnel and Non-Certified Personnel on a Temporary Contract.

Certified: MSchell Cheek as fourth grade teacher at Will Rogers, effective 10/10/12. Discussion on hiring an extra teacher for the fourth graders at Will Rogers included the purpose for the teacher. Supt. Drury said that her presence will help lower the teacher to student ratio. It is currently one to twenty. This will bring it to one to fifteen among WR fourth graders.

Board member Rosalyn Hall said that the State Supt. of Schools and the Legislature aren’t looking at the big picture (with their approach in the A to F School Report Cards). There are issues that are not being addressed in these new report cards.

Drury said that switching testing companies causes a loss of continuity. They’re ignoring the influence of the family. It’s disheartening to the teachers. He said the WR fourth graders had shown progress on another test given in spring of 2012, just like the other elementary school students. But these tests for the report cards didn’t show that progress.

Dr. Evans said APS spends $28,000 on testing each year. She remarked students are now used to computerized activities. Students don’t relate to paper tests well. She said when the testing is computerized, they’ll do better.

Keith Phillips said that some parents blame the teachers but aren’t spending time to help their own children excel. It’s a tough job.

Dr. John Thomas said that we’re not seeing so much the disintegration of the family, but the family’s “failing to form”. There are very few jobs out there that are labor-intensive. Children must be prepared for a job. He said he couldn’t find a better school support system in the state than here in Altus.

Also approved by the board for hire as Teacher’s Aides in Non-Certified: Jacklyn Ellis, Ashley Gunter, Kortni Kulikowski, Alma Rico,and Juliana Sanchez.

The board held a Public Hearing on Financial Matters of the Altus School District. There were no remarks and that part of the meeting was closed.

The State Core Curriculum mandates schools approve adoption of a “World Language”. The board approved adopting Spanish as a World Language.

There was no new business, and the meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m.