Hoping to put its school in position to have a bigger voice in debating education issues in Oklahoma, the Red River Technology Center board of education approved a membership in a “think tank” group representing most of the south-central and southwest quadrant of the state.

During its regular June meeting, the board voted unanimously for Red River to become a member of the recently-formed Southwest Oklahoma Impact Coalition (SWOIC). The coalition is a partnering between the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG) and the Southwest Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA), which represents eight southwestern counties that extend west to the Oklahoma-Texas border.

“SWODA had opened up its membership and ASCOG came up with a grant that will open the Impact Coalition so that Career Tech superintendents, college presidents and others can join,” said RRTC Superintendent Ken Layn, noting that membership will cost the Duncan technology school $5,000 per year.

“It’s kind of like a ‘think tank,’” Layn explained. “We discuss issues of the day; things dealing with employment and the economy and education issues. Just like the name says, we talk about areas where the group can make an impact or where it can accomplish some of its goals, and we look into the education situation in Oklahoma.”

Most of the other action at the relatively brief meeting in the conference room of RRTC’s main building dealt with preparing for a new fiscal year and a new school year.

Layn told board members that only minor tasks remained to complete the physical plant for the newly-created Biomedical Science Academy, which opens in the fall, and that lighting and roof repair projects were also in final touch-up stages.

The board was in favor of shifting the school’s contact to provide drug and alcohol testing for bus drivers to a local medical firm. “Newberry Clinical Services has a new service for on-site drug testing, and the board approved a contract with them,” Layn said.

“Newberry’s cost for the service is cheaper than what we had before, and we like dealing with district businesses when we can,” he add.

Layn was also pleased that the school recently received a bid and has accepted a contract for the roll-away house constructed by carpentry department students.

The board also unanimously approved:

n Renewing an annual contract with Duncan Care Center for practical nursing student training.

n Renewing annual participation in a post-secondary school consortium with Murray State Junior College, Pontotoc Technology Center and Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, which is part of the fiscal year 2009 Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education grant.

n Paying out-of-state travel expenses for: LTN Director Earlene Werner to attend an ATI Test Development workshop in Kansas City, Mo.; Diesel instructor Allan Leatherbury to attend a Cummins update seminar in Arlington, Texas; and auto service instructors Don Deal and Stacy Estes to attend a Honda/Acura Instructor Training seminar in Denver, Col.

n Employing Sylvia Loveday, a former counselor and math teacher at Duncan High School, as career development counselor, replacing Anne Heaton, who retired.

n A contract with A&H; Security for fiscal year 2009 to provide on-campus security.

n An FY 2009 workers compensation quote from OSAG of $25,269, which Layn said, “Went up a little from last year.”

n Employee contracts.

n The FY ’09 work calendars for support personnel.

n Minutes from a May 6 regular meeting.

n The May 2008 Activity Fund and treasurer’s reports..

n The General Fund payroll change orders, warrants and encumbrances for FY ’09.

n The General Fund change orders, warrants and encumbrances for FY ’09.