Greenlights renovations of baseball complex, new hires in monthly meeting
The Gore Board of Education convened at 6 p.m. on May 13 to address a range of topics, including the hiring of a new school principal.
Among the highlights of the evening was Coach Tyler Lewis’s presentation regarding the renovation of the baseball complex, reflecting the ongoing commitment to improving athletic facilities within the district.
Further demonstrating their dedication to enhancing infrastructure, the board approved the lowest bid of $15,300 for earthwork with McCoy Backhoe Services, facilitating the development of a softball dressing facility.
The board deliberated on various agenda items, with unanimous approval granted for matters such as federal program assurances for the upcoming school year, contracts, and requests pertaining to school operations and services.
Notable approvals included a resolution authorizing the filing for FCC Form 471 and a food service management contract with Keystone Foods Service. A Craig PC quote on a district security upgrade of $71,980 from a school security grant was also approved by the board.
Executive sessions were conducted in accordance with legal mandates, focusing on employment considerations for the 2024-25 academic year. Following these lengthly sessions, the board returned to open deliberation and unanimously approved the employment of several key positions, including Zane Rose as a Special Education certified temporary teacher, Donald Chapman as a certified temporary history teacher, Kyle Wooten as a certified temporary science teacher, and Amanda Andrews as the new upper elementary and high school principal.
Andrews and her husband Jordan are Gore Pirate alumni and have lived in Webbers Falls for about 12 years. The couple has three children.
“I’m excited to join the Pirate family and unite with such a strong, small-town community,” Andrews said. “Our daughter just graduated from Warner High School, and our boys will be in second and fourth grade at Gore.”
Originally from Muskogee, Andrews graduated from Hilldale High School and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University.
“After working in banking for almost 10 years, I began my teaching career at Warner in 2014, where I taught mostly middle and high school English,” she said. “I became certified as an elementary and high school principal in 2019, and worked as an instructional coach for Muskogee Schools the following year.”
“We are fortunate to have educators at Gore who are deeply committed to doing what’s best for kids. I bring with me that same passion for student academic growth and success. I hope to work together with other community leaders to grow a school that not only produces successful students, but also radiates with positivity and heart,” she added. “I would love to see the amazing students of Gore Schools reach their highest potentials in and out of the classroom, and I hope to bring new energy and ideas to do just that.”
Adjunct classes were also greenlit for Wooten, allowing for expanded course offerings in various scientific disciplines, enriching the academic opportunities available to students for high school credit for the 2024-25 school year.
Superintendent Lucky McCrary delivered a report on the district budget, updates on construction projects and other ongoing projects, and in new business, the board accepted Kimberly Gardner’s resignation.
Resignations were also reportedly received from Nicholas Murray, Crystal Bliss and James Bliss, according to meeting minutes.
With the conclusion of the agenda items, the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
This news story is based on the unofficial minutes from the board meeting and could be in error if the minutes are changed prior to adoption.
