The Comanche Board of Education met in a regular session on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Board members accepted the superintendent’s recommendation to approve a contract for career and technology education programs. The board also approved the hiring of Jordan Shelby - Paraprofessional, Amber Myers - Paraprofessional, Josh Goeders - Janitorial/Maintenance, Tyrnan Clark - Janitorial, Ammie Toellner-Mullins - McKinney-Vento Tutor, Steve Dunham - McKinney-Vento Outreach Specialist, Krystal Doucet - Adjunct MS Science, and Shayson Hodges - Elementary Teacher.
In other business, the board approved various routine consent agenda items, including the minutes of the regular board meeting held in July. The board also approved the continuation of covering the cost of lunches for staff who stay on-site during their lunch period.
Bills recommended that the board also approve the continued participation of the district in the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program (OTEP) through the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). This program is a great way for the district to recognize teachers who are willing to go above and beyond in their professional learning and training. The teachers who qualify for OTEP are selected by a district administration committee based on a history of merit, experience, and highly effective TLE scores. Selectees receive additional financial compensation funded by OSDE. Comanche Elementary receives Title I funds and is within the top quartile of individual student allotment amounts and may designate an additional ten percent (10%) of teachers employed at the site. Qualifying teachers must spend the bulk of their day in the classroom and be willing to add days to their annual contracts to participate in additional professional development, analyze district data, mentor teachers, and engage in district planning.
Comanche’s 26-27 OTEP Teachers are Dilynn Hare, Gina Hamovitz, Jason Hawkins, Jeri McCauley, Shelbi Morgan, James Morgan, Kallie Ogletree, and Jessica Rice. “This is an exceptional team, and all of the individuals represent the profession and the district at the highest level, Bills said. “We are grateful for their commitment and willingness to give back to the district and their fellow educators.”
The OTEP team will also provide professional development for other staff members during the school year, as well as serve on the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Leadership Team. The elementary and high school recently received an Overall D on the 2025 Oklahoma A–F Report Card. Under the current accountability cycle, schools that did not meet the criteria in 2025 will receive a CSI designation in 2027, based on student sub-group performance in the elementary subcategory of attendance and the high school in academic growth. Our OTEP teachers, principals, and counselors will be part of the Leadership Team that meets quarterly to analyze school data, identify areas of need, and implement evidence-based practices to build on the activities in place to address the concerns.
Finance Director Terry Davidson reported that the financial team is working with auditors to prepare the FY27 Estimate of Needs. A detailed update of financials will be presented next month when the board is asked to approve the Estimate of Needs. Mr. Davidson also indicated that the district has a healthy carryover to help offset the student decline, as was planned when the district received the stimulus money in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Davidson reported that the school district has been approached to sell the Educational Broadband Service (EBS) license owned by the district for more than thirty years. Historic information was presented regarding the EBS License WNC575 and the proposed offer from T-Mobile, noting that the district has kept the license up to date during a time when many license owners allowed the licenses to expire. During the last eight years, the district has had the license leased to 360 Broadband Services in Durant, Oklahoma. That lease was recently transferred to T-Mobile.
Davidson shared with the board the official opinion of Todd Gray, partner of Gray Miller Perch, LLP, regarding the future earnings of the sale in comparison with the likely income to be generated from the existing lease agreement. Davidson negotiated an offer of $490,000 for the sale of the license. Based on Davidson’s recommendation, the board voted to approve the sale of the license. Mr. Davidson credited former Superintendent Dwayne Baxter, who, with the assistance of Morgan Mannen, secured what was then referred to as an Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) license. “I know Mr. Baxter and Mr. Mannen would both be very proud (and likely surprised) that the district-owned license has become so valuable,” Davidson said. “We are grateful for their vision and willingness to work through the process of securing this asset.”
Mrs. Bills, on behalf of the staff, expressed appreciation to First Baptist Church for providing lunch and classroom supplies for the staff during inservice on Tuesday.
District students returned to class on Thursday of last week, and Mrs. Bills expressed her excitement about the start of the new school year. “We have excellent returning staff and have added to our programs with great hires over the summer. The beginning of a new school year is a time filled with anticipation and excitement,” Bills said. “We are looking forward to building on the successes of previous years, strengthening relationships with our students and families, and providing new opportunities for our students to learn and grow. We are grateful for the continued support of our staff, parents, and community as we begin another school year together.”