SUBJECT: Press Release – December 9, 2025, Regular Board Meeting and November 18, 2025, Special Board Meetings
The Comanche Board of Education met in November and December. At both meetings, board members approved various consent agenda items, including the activity fund reports, treasurer’s reports, resignations, and general fund encumbrances.
In other actions, board members approved an extended medical leave for three employees, and hired Donny Wright for a maintenance/groundskeeper position, Kyle Ressel as a teacher's assistant, and Mackenzie Levielle as a part-time reading instructor
In the monthly superintendent’s report, Mrs. Bills reported on the district’s goals, Differentiated Monitoring results from the SDE Office of Special Education Services, and the district's school report card. Bills indicated that the district is 100% compliant with IDEA. The district is showing gains in various areas, even though the grades assigned by SDE do not reflect this. Middle School attendance increased by 8.46%, Academic Achievement decreased by 18.54%, and Academic Growth decreased by 3.97%. Elementary showed an overall improvement of 1.52%, with academic growth increasing by 8.9%, and the chronic absenteeism score improving by 0.52%. High School attendance increased 18.45%, Postsecondary opportunities increased by 3.72%, and the overall increase was 3.62%.
Superintendent Bills updated the board on the new graduation requirements for this year’s freshmen, which will include one additional unit of math and one additional unit of science. Locally approved classes that address the required content may be used to fulfill the additional unit requirements. Course syllabi were provided to the board, and the board approved Horticulture, Animal Science, and Agriscience for science credits. Ag Power and Technology, Ag Business, and Computer Science Principles were approved for Math credits. Following local approval, the courses will be submitted to OSDE for final approval.
During the November and December Board meetings, Bills discussed staff professional development, the Tomahawk program for high school students, and highlighted that several Comanche Band, FFA, Speech, and Choir students had received outstanding honors.
Mrs. Bills expressed appreciation to Amy Shelby for her dedication to the school system. She will be missed when her term ends in May. Mrs Shelby has served the district for 19 years.
Peyton Hale and Patrick Jones both filed for Seat No. 1. The election will be in April, with the new board member taking office at the May meeting. Seat No. 1 has a 5-year term of office ending in 2031.
In the regular meeting on December 9, 2025, board members approved retention stipends for full-time and part-time support employees. Superintendent Julie Bills recommended the stipend. “At this time, with the reduction in enrollment, the uncertainty over future ad valorem taxation, and the need to preserve our fund balance, we are only able to provide a stipend for support personnel,” Bills said. “We appreciate all of our faculty and staff and their dedication to the students in our school district.” Full-time support employees will receive a stipend of $350, with part-time support staff receiving $200.
The district will be on Christmas Break from December 22 to January 2. Classes will resume on January 5th.