AMIE

The Gore Board of Education addressed full agendas during its regular meetings in July and August, approving new staff hires, administrative authorizations, a construction bid for school improvements, and bond sale plans.

July 14 meeting

Superintendent Nick Humphries and Principals Amanda Andrews and Tonya Pugh provided reports on district operations and school updates.

The board accepted the resignations of Tera Robbins and Sharlene Barnes before entering executive session to discuss personnel matters, including the employment of a secretary and speech pathologists.

Following executive session, the board voted to hire Tammie Cearley on a support employee contract, as well as Jennifer Biffle and Neisha Lemier as speech pathologists for the 2025– 26 school year.

In other business, the board took several actions solidifying Superintendent Humphries’ administrative authority. Members approved him as the district’s official representative for signing reports, documents and insurancerelated forms, as well as adding him to all Armstrong Bank accounts. Humphries was also added to the Administration Negotiation Committee and granted authorization for single purchases up to $25,000.

The board approved Waysen Construction as the lowest bidder, at $22,500, for concrete removal projects at the district’s bus barn and Winn site.

Several contracts and agreements for the upcoming school year were also approved, including those with Keystone Food Service Management, the Department of Rehabilitation Services for the “Transition School to Work” program, OKTLE for teacher evaluations, and Tom Cameron and Associates for federal programs.

All agenda items passed unanimously, and no new business was introduced. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

August 11 meeting

After routine approvals of general and building fund purchase orders, the board entered executive session at 6:05 p.m. to discuss employment matters regarding the lower elementary secretary and speech pathologists. The board reconvened at 6:18 p.m., announcing no violations of executive session compliance.

Following the closed session, the board approved the hiring of Emma Montgomery as a high school and upper elementary teacher on a temporary contract for the 2025–26 school year.

Members also voted to retain Stephen L. Smith Corporation as the district’s financial consultant for the year.

In preparation for an upcoming bond sale, the board appointed Cody Sloan as acting president and Amanda Munson as acting clerk to execute necessary documents in the absence of the board’s president and clerk. Additionally, members set a special board meeting for Sept. 16, to finalize the sale of $255,000 in building bonds and designate bond counsel.

The board also approved allowing Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) to provide math and science courses that will count toward graduation requirements for Gore students during the 2025–26 school year.

A list of adjunct teachers for high school, upper elementary and ICTC courses was approved, including:

• Jacob Constant – Middle School Geography, Health, Leadership, and High School Athletics/ Physical Education

• Brandon Ellis – High School Physical Education

• Donald Chapman – High School Geography, World History, Government, and Oklahoma History • Julie Kinion – High School Physics

• Emma Montgomery – High School Family & Consumer Science

• Summit Murray – English III

• Michael Randolph – Sixth Grade Math

• Leslie Staley – High School Earth Science and Chemistry

• Kyle Wooten – Middle School Outdoor Education, High School Biology, and Physical Science The board further approved contracts with Anger, Johnston and Blasingame- Treasurers, handbooks for all school levels, a School Resource Officer contract with the Town of Gore, a GPTA negotiation agreement, and a Progressive Therapy Solutions contract for occupational and physical therapy services.

All motions on the agenda passed unanimously with the meeting ending at 6:23 p.m.