The Comanche Board of Education met on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
During the meeting, the board recognized Amy Shelby for her twenty years of dedicated service to the district. Shelby reflected on the many positive changes that have taken place during her tenure, including the addition of the fitness center, wrestling room, and high school commons area, as well as the expansion of academic and extracurricular programs. She shared her appreciation for the district and noted that she looks forward to remaining actively involved as a grandparent in the community.
Newly elected board member Peyton Hale took the oath of office. The board also established its officers, with Charlie Gay continuing as president, Thomas Winton as vice president, and Marty Clark serving as clerk.
In the regular session, the board approved routine consent agenda items, including the minutes of the March board meeting, activity fund reports, and temporary appropriations for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The board also approved encumbrances for the General Fund, Co-Op Fund, Building Fund, and Bond Fund.
Superintendent Bills provided updates on academics, end-of-year activities, athletics, and district operations. The district is currently in testing season, with the ACT recently administered, elementary testing beginning April 13, and middle school testing scheduled to begin April 20. Summer school will be offered in June and will be limited to high school credit recovery. Online enrollment for the upcoming school year will open after April 15.
Class size projections were reviewed, with the clarification that current numbers do not fully reflect special education students who are not in general education classrooms throughout the entire day. District leadership is exploring staffing adjustments and restructuring options in response to anticipated funding changes. The district is also considering the addition of a reading specialist to support student remediation, which may require filling a vacant position if hired internally.
Kaylee White has earned her library certification and will transition into the librarian role following Mrs. Tilley’s retirement. Superintendent Bills also recommended the hiring of Courtney Troxel for a self-contained high school special education classroom. Additionally, plans are in place to hire another special education teacher, with the position split between the high school and elementary campuses to best meet student needs.
The district has received several strong applications for the high school boys’ basketball position, with interviews expected to conclude within the next week.
Several important end-of-year dates were highlighted, including the FCA Banquet on April 28, Prom on April 18 at the Chisholm Event Center, and Teacher Appreciation Week from May 4–8. Night of the Arts is scheduled for May, and elementary awards and promotions will take place during the final week of school. The last day of classes is May 21, with high school graduation scheduled for May 22. Additional activities and class trips are detailed on the district calendar.
Athletic programs remain active, with golf, track, and baseball seasons underway and performing well. The middle school track meet is scheduled for April 30, and the agriculture program will attend the State Convention during the first week of May.
Student academic achievements were also recognized. Mrs. Kimbro’s ASL students earned multiple top placements at the USAO Academic Meet, including Isabella Whitfield (1st place, ASL I), Savannah Keinhofer (2nd place, ASL I), Alyssa Martin (1st place, ASL II), Kadence Billy (2nd place, ASL II), and Caison Yackeschi-McLean (3rd place, ASL II). Additional honors were earned by Bentley Hatfield, Paige Pollard, and Jared Aker in academic events. The district expressed pride in these accomplishments and the educators who support these programs.
In other business, the board discussed the legislature’s proposed $2,000 salary increase for certified staff, excluding directors and administrators, for the 2026–2027 school year. The increase is expected to be funded through the state aid formula. However, the Comanche School District will not see an increase in state aid because student membership decreased from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026. The legislature did not provide funding for a salary increase for support personnel. Bills also noted that several pending legislative measures related to property taxes and ad valorem funding could significantly impact future district finances.
Superintendent Bills also shared information regarding upcoming school board training opportunities and reminded members that financial disclosure statements must be filed online with the Ethics Commission by May 15.