The Kingston Board of Education met for its monthly meeting on December 9 at the Kingston Public Schools Administrative Office.
The meeting feature a decision about the renewal of Superintendent Brian Brister’s contract and the purchase of a new bus.
Brister’s contract was extended for three more years. He has been the superintendent for three years. Brister was previously principal of the middle school and the district’s athletic director.
“We’ve got a good thing going at this school,” Brister said. “And I appreciate they’re confidence in me. So uh, we’re gonna try and keep this thing rollin’.”
The meeting was called to order at 6 a.m. by Board President Jeff McDonald.
In addition to McDonald, the other board members present were Steve Beebe, Michael Herndon, Randy Arneson and BJ Belletini. Also present were superintendent Brian Brister and minute clerk Kathy Burnett.
Herndon made a motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval for the following items:
Minutes of the Regular meeting, November 11, 2019
Budget, encumbrances, change orders, warrants, claims, and payroll
Activity reports, fundraisers, and transfers
Treasurer’s report
Student Travel
Resignations
Service Contracts
Arneson seconded the motion which passed by a 5-0 margin.
Brister presented the Principal’s Reports for Kingston Elementary School and Kingston Middle School on behalf of the respective principals.
The KES report showed its current enrollment at 572 students. Additionally, it was reported that the Fall Festival was a big success even with colder temperatures, the KES Book Club has started meeting every Tuesday after school and the Angel Tree Project is serving about 80 students.
Highlights of KMS report included enrollment being 293 students, students winning first, second and third places in the middle school division of the Marshall County Art Show and more than 900 cans of food were donated to the Bread of Life Food Bak in Madill.
Arneson made a motion to approve the Indian Policies and Procedures. Beebe seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
Arneson made a motion to approve a $500.00 stipend for all certified and noncertified employees. McDonald seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
McDonald then moved the meeting onto its next step: a proposed executive session following 25 O.S. Sec 307 (B) (1) to discuss their superintendent evaluation, the employment status of the superintendent and modification of the superintendent contract.
Arneson made a motion to convene into executive session at 6:12 a.m. and Beebe seconded the motion which passed 5-0.
The board then went into executive session and invited Brister to join them.
They returned to open session at 6:28 a.m.
At that time, Jeff McDonald made the executive session compliance announcement that only item #8was discussed and no vote was taken.
McDonald made a motion to modify Bister’s contract starting in July 1, 2020 to reflect all terms remaining the same but extend his contract term to three years. Arneson seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.
In the superintendent’s report, Brister congratulated McDonald in not drawing an opponent for the upcoming school board election. Mc-Donald, the board member for Office 5, will serve a fiveyear term. The other board members also congratulated McDonald.
Brister also shared his thoughts on purchasing a business that is handicap accessible. He said most district replace smaller busses with ones of similar size. However, he felt it was smart to buy a larger bus that can be made ADA-compliant and serve other students.
Brister said at this time there is only child who uses this bus and they along with their family live near the Village rout.
“Everyone buys the little bus but why don’t we order a big bus so we can combine it with a regular route,” he said.
Brister said he wants to combine it with the Village route.
All of board members responded positively.
Specifically, McDonald praised the idea.
“That’s a smart deal to combine the route,” he said.
The board then adjourned its meeting at 6:36 a.m.