Published: August 18, 2008 10:01 pm         

Hime: Running out of room at the elementary schools

In his report, Enid Public Schools Superintendent Shawn Hime discussed enrollment numbers during the Enid Board of Education’s regular meeting Monday.

“We are up significantly at the elementary schools,” said Hime. “We are running out of room at the elementary schools.”

Running out of room did not seem like a bad problem to Hime.

“It’s exciting,” said Hime. “We want to educate everyone that wants to be educated.”

According to Hime, Enid currently has 6,560 students, which is 32 more than last year’s count on the third day of school. Hime said, like every year, the enrollment numbers will continue to rise for a few more weeks.

“(Enrollment) should grow from now until at least Labor Day,” said Hime.

In her assistant superintendent’s report Dr. Ruth Ann Erdner brought Enid’s ACT scores to the attention of the board.

Enid’s average ACT scores for 2007-2008 in reading, science and English, as well as composite scores, were all above state average and none of the scores were below national average. However, Enid’s average ACT math scores were below the national average by almost one point.

Erdner said work will be done to focus on raising not only Enid’s math scores but the scores of every area.

Erdner also said she thinks offering ACT prep courses would help the scores.

Vance Air Force Base honorary board member Lt. Col. Dave Stewart expressed concern during the meeting, on behalf of some parents of student athletes.

Stewart said some parents of high school students were concerned when they found out their student athlete was practicing off-campus, and even more concerned to find their student had hitched a ride with older students.

“That’s something we may need to look at,” said Hime.

Hime also said perhaps the school needs to look at notifying all parents about the practice facility situation of the high school athletes.

Nearly all high school sports teams currently practice off-campus.

During the meeting the following contracts for fiscal year 2009 were approved by board members: Enid Public Schools to provide meals for Oklahoma Department of Human Services foster grandparent program volunteers; EPS to provide a clinical training venue for nursing students from Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid; EPS to provide GED instruction and testing services to Oklahoma Department of Correc-tions’ Blaine Community Sentencing System; Jacqulyn Biggers and Nicole Gallagher both to provide speech pathology services to EPS students; Michelle Vandal, certified occupational therapist, to provide occupational therapy services to EPS students; EPS to provide family enrichment services to Garfield County Health Department clients who also are EPS students; EPS to provide nursing services to Garfield County (EPS) students in return for funding assistance from Garfield County Health Department; and EPS to provide meals for students participating in Garfield County Alternative Education Academy.

Also approved during the board meeting was the resignation of Ruel “Butch” Lingenfelter as well as the employments of Catherine Allen, Adams Elementary School; Cheila Armour, Monroe Elementary School; Cristin Ashcraft, Waller Junior High School; Matthew Bailey, Adams; Megan Barr, Adams; Melissa Dwyer, Glenwood Elementary School; Brandianne Green, Glenwood; Samantha Haworth, Taft Elementary School; Michelle Kokojan, multi-site; Tammy Kostka, Monroe; Ashley Kronenbitter, Coolidge Elementary School; Linzie Mackey, Emerson Junior High School; Kellie McCauley, Longfellow Junior High School; Nicole Moneypenny, Hoover Elementary School.

Also Angela Pennello, Eisenhower Elementary School and Enid High School; Amy Reed, Emerson; Elizabeth Reynolds, Emerson; Cheryl Sales, Glenwood; Susan Shewey, Taft; Shayne Stanford, Emerson; Bridget Stovall, Waller; Johnny Streck, Longfellow; Courtney Testerman, Adams; Betsy Thomas, Carver Educational Center; Christopher Toney, Longfellow; Betsy Traynor, Monroe; Stacy Troxell, Longfellow; and Lori Tydings, EHS.

Several routine items were approved during the meeting.

Absent from the meeting was board member Taylor Brandstetter.