The Duncan Banner

Local News

November 13, 2012

Duncan school board votes to reject funding cut

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — The Duncan Board of Education took a stand against cutting of federal funds.

During Tuesday’s regular meeting, the board adopted a resolution to avert sequestration by the federal government. Duncan Superintendent Sherry Labyer said school districts around the state have been asked to pass the resolution.

“This says, ‘Please don’t cut our funding across the board by eight to 10 percent,’” Labyer said.

She said the resolution takes a stand against the federal government withholding funding. She said the state stands to lose as much as $38 million.

While Labyer acknowledged that Duncan Public Schools will feel the impact of federal funding cuts, she wasn’t sure what kind of impact that will have on a local level.

She said the resolution will let the federal government know where the school district stands on the issue. The board members supported the resolution, approving it unanimously.

Labyer said the resolution will be submitted to the Oklahoma State School Boards Assocation (OSSBA).

“We as a board are showing that we are united in saying ‘Please find an alternative,’” Labyer said.

In other action:

• The school board approved hiring PBK Architect to resurface the running track at Halliburton Stadium. The cost of the project will be $7,750.

Labyer said the school district initially tried to write spects for the project, but didn’t feel comfortable in doing so.

“We didn’t feel like we had enough expertise to write the spects,” Labyer said. “We decided to bring them on board.”

She said the goal is to have the project completed quickly to have it ready for the spring track season.

“We’re going to push hard to get that going so they can enjoy the track starting April 1,” Labyer said.

• Duncan Public Schools was entered into an agreement with the Wisconsin Center for Education Products & Services to allow for data analysis to be run on the school district.

Terry Grissom with the Regents Office said all school districts will be going through data analysis processes by the year 2015. With Duncan Public Schools undergoing the process now, the district will be ahead of the curve.

“Jump on,” Grissom said. “Be leaders of the state.”

Labyer agreed.

“As Terry said, it puts us ahead of the game,” Labyer said.

• The board accepted the resignations of Jackie Sleeker, Mark Twain cafeteria server; Tami Weeks, bus driver; Jennifer White, Woodrow Wilson teacher assistant; Amy Ramsey, Irving Pre-Kindergarten teacher assistant; Barbara Eastham, Duncan High School teacher.

• The board also hired people for nine positions, incluing two new positions.

The new positions included districtwide special education paraprofession, which was filled by Maci Morrow; and a Plato/Irving special education paraprofessional, which was filled by Megan Law.

The board also hired Jessica Shirley as a crossing guard at Horace Mann Elementary. Labyer said there has been an increase in enrollment at the school, which has increased traffic at the school.

Other people hired included Laura Wade as Emerson teacher assistant, Missy Troutman as DHS cafeteria server/helper, Jana Bowen as Duncan Middle School cafeteria truck driver/helper, Shinice Curry as Woodrow Wilson/EDGE teacher assistant, Carol Bartell, DHS cafeteria server/helper and Jermaine West as standby bus driver.

Text Only
Local News
  • Jack Braught 2013 Crossman winner.jpg Duncan's Jack Braught named 2013 Crossman Award winner

    Jack Braught was named the 2013 Crossman Award winner during an awards assembly Friday at the Duncan High School.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 3-28 Crossman Nominees.jpg Crossman Award presentation today

    Today, one of five nominated senior students at Duncan High School will be named the Crossman recipient. The awards event is scheduled for 12:45 at the DHS auditorium.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-17 Farm to You5230.jpg Farm to You visits area schools

    In Farm to You program’s fourth year to come to Stephens County, it made an appearance at Marlow and Plato elementary schools.
    A collaborative effort of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, OSU Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Southwest Dairy Farmers, the primary focus is to teach children where their food comes from and how to eat healthy.
    “We were excited about this program coming,” said Cathy Duke, Plato teacher.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Vote reflects community’s attitude

    Disappointment.
    That’s the sentiment of city leaders following the defeated streets and road election Tuesday that only pulled in 1,507 registered voters in a city with 16,098 active voters.

    May 17, 2013

  • Agritourism bill provides protection

    Much recent state legislature has been focusing on helping out family-owned small businesses and the agritourism industry is in the process of being included in these measures.

    May 17, 2013

  • 5-17 Maple Crossing.jpg Maple RR crossing to stay closed

    The closed railroad crossing at Maple Avenue was a point of contention with two Duncan residents, when they spoke to the Duncan City Council on Tuesday.
    Norma and Marian Lennox discussed their concerns during the council’s regular meeting, and expressed their desire to reopen the railroad crossing.
    “We need that street back open,” Norma Lennox said.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Senator Inhofe key speaker at GOP Fish Fry

    Republicans from throughout Oklahoma will gather Saturday at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center in Duncan, for the 9th annual GOP Fish Fry. This year, they will get a chance to hear U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, as he is the keynote speaker and is expected to arrive just before 5 p.m. for the event.
    Inhofe, R-Tulsa, is a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and has been instrumental in the passing of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013, or S. 601. The measure passed 83-14 in the Senate on Wednesday and authorizes new projects for water infrastructure for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    May 17, 2013

  • Veterans hope to reach out to homeless peers

    Local veterans will be heading to Lawton Friday in hopes of connecting and helping homeless veterans.

    May 16, 2013

  • Tornado hits Granbury, Texas Tornadoes tear through East Texas; 6 people killed

    A pack of tornadoes killed at least six people and injured dozens more in East Texas Wednesday night.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • 5-16 FAME Art Show1.jpg FAME Academy students host art show

    Creative minds are at work at FAME Academy.
    And Wednesday’s art show was a display of those creative minds in action, as the students showed off the masterpieces they had created throughout the school year. The various art media ranged from fabric art to pottery to crochet.

    May 16, 2013 3 Photos