Report presented on partnership between KTC and Durant Schools

Lane Jackson, director of Kiamich Technology Center’s Durant campus, spoke during a recent meeting of the Durant Board of Education and he presented charts that show the number of students enrolled at KTC.

The Durant KTC campus provides full-time career education programs to adult students and high school students from the following school districts: Durant, Achille, Bennington, Caddo, Calera, Colbert, Coleman, Epic Charter Schools, Rock Creek, Silo and Legacy Christian.

The following numbers represent all partner schools served by the Durant campus and are based upon follow- up data from the 20222023 school year: - 85 percent completion and retention.

- 95 percent positive placement.

- 401 certificates received. - $19.63 average wage following completion of program.

“The thing that we’re very very proud of, on the left (of page) it says completion and retention, 85 percent,” Jackson said. “A student comes and enrolls with us at any point, 85 out of 100 are completing their program and getting their full certification. That’s very high, very good numbers with 95 out of 100 being put to work in the field they trained in.

“The average wage of students who graduated last May, we followed up with them in October, was $19.63. That’s just under three times minimum wage for a high school senior that comes through with us for two years and then comes out. That’s a pretty good way to start life. It’s way better than my first teaching contract, I can tell you.” The report states that enrollment as of Oct. 1, 2023, revealed KTC is serving 39 students from Durant High School.

“We hope to grow the partnership with Durant,” Jackson said. “We are working very hard to grow the campus and are working on getting funding for another building.”

In other action, the board voted to name Maegan Morgan principal of Washington Irving Elementary School after the resignation of Gary Canada. Morgan was previously assistant principal of WI.

A project update was presented on the high school ag shop that is under construction and Superintendent Duane Merideth said the estimated completion date is November.

A report by the Oklahoma State Department of Education on alternative education was presented on the Durant Vision Academy and it showed the academy has criteria scores ranging from effective to highly effective.

According to the Durant School District, the goal of the Vision Academy is to provide students who have dropped out of school and challenge students who are at risk of dropping out with an alternative path to education that will lead to completion of high school or the General Education Development (GED) test.

There are four certified teachers on staff for the Vision Academy.

“Reward systems and motivational strategies are clear to students and utilized by all staff,” the report states. “Records of student progress, attendance and behavior are kept. Data is used to support students.”

According to the report, the academy also has unlimited support from the community with partner agencies, including the OSU Extension Office, the Choctaw Nation, Southeastern, Hands of Hope, local churches and many more who provide supplies, food, mentors and field trip experiences.

Merideth said the staff of Vision Academy is doing a great job.

“They are helping a lot of kids who might not otherwise graduate,” he said.

Board members also approved the following employment contracts for the 2024-2025 school year: Cheryl Conditt, DHS principal Josh Perrin, DMS principal; Aaron McCoy, DIS principal; Valerie Crabtree, GW principal; Taylor Downs, NWH principal; Lisa Whitley, REL principal; Torrey Gaines, DHS assistant principal; Amber Bullard, DHS assistant principal; Todd Vargas, DHS dean of students; James Pratt, DMS assistant principal; Carrie Gosnell, DIS assistant principal; Mellissa Sherrer, NWH assistant principal, and Vicki Woody, GW assistant principal.

The board also approved the following employments for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year: Beth Bean, principal for Choctaw Nation POSSE 2024 summer school session; Maegan Morgan, assistant principal for Choctaw Nation POSSE 2024 summer school session, and Erainna Winnett, special education teacher at Durant ISD.

Employment of the following was approved: Alice Dills, Vision Academy counselor; Teryn Bailey, Jaci Joines, Kimberly SanMillian and Jackie Sternberger, certified teachers for the 2024-2025 school year; Tonya Burgess, nurse/secretary for the Choctaw Nation POSSE summer school; Shae Tarr, kindergarten teacher assistant at NWH; Michael Marion, transportation employee, and Sabrina Tynan, reassignment from teacher assistant to enrollment clerk.

Students Nickia Willis and Bryce Smith were approved for employment with Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services transition work study program.

The following resignations were received: Lisa Reeves, music teacher at DIS (retirement); Jolinda Emge, fourth grade teacher at GW; Rhonda Harrison, special education teacher at GW (retirement), and Dianna Dale, receptionist at GW (retirement).

The board approved LouAnn Lively, HOSA-Future Health Professionals sponsor, to take 12 HOSA students and two sponsors to the University of Nevada in Las Vegas to participate in the HOSA National Anatomage Tournament from May 30-June 2. This trip is after school is out for the summer.

A $224,000 bid from ALPR Construction for interior painting at the middle school was approved and Merideth said this was part of a rotation among Durant campuses to be repainted, and next year, it will be the high school.

Board members approved a contract for auditing services with Bledsoe, Hewitt & Gullekson CPAs, the firm that has conducted the Durant Schools audit for many years.

Last month, Superintendent Merideth announced that he is retiring effective July 1 and the board met in executive session with him to discuss a search process to secure a superintendent. No action or vote was taken on this.