Enid Public Schools elects new officers, approves Eisenhower design contract and building‑fund appropriation; hears academic updates and student recognitions

The Enid Public Schools Board of Education on Monday reorganized its officers, approved a series of finance and contract items tied to a new Eisenhower Elementary project, and heard district updates on student achievement and extracurricular recognitions.

Chad Mance was elected board president and Randy Long was elected vice president in uncontested nominations and roll‑call votes. The board also approved routine appointments of other officers and consent agenda items, a March financial report, auditor engagement notices, a supplemental appropriation to the building fund and a design contract for the Eisenhower project that will be funded in part through the Department of Defense.

Why it matters: The board’s financial and contracting votes put the district further into design and procurement for a replacement or new Eisenhower Elementary while increasing the building fund appropriation to allow purchase orders and early work to proceed. Board members and staff said a large share of project costs will be reimbursed through the Department of Defense program, reducing net local outlay but adding dependency on federal timing.

During the superintendent’s report, district administrators presented interim academic data showing growth in early‑grade reading on the Istation platform and described mixed results in math. Staff also summarized use of AI tutoring tools (Amira for reading and Khan Academy/course integrations) and previewed upcoming test windows, WIDA results for English learners, ACT/CCR testing counts and an AP exam schedule. The board recognized multiple students and programs, including five Allen Family Scholarship recipients, six speech and debate qualifiers to state, the district’s first state esports champion and Emerson Middle School’s Oklahoma Unified Champion Banner designation.

Quotes and context

“We have very high expectations for our students. I don’t like to see any red, but the realist in me also knows that we have kids from very diverse backgrounds,” said Mr. Raider, a district staff presenter on reading and math data, describing progress on Istation reading measures and the district’s target percentiles for state tests.

Lyric, a senior and the district’s state champion in esports, told the board: “I never thought that I would get this far in this program…all it took was me losing that made me wanna play this game more.”

Board business, votes at a glance

- Elect Chad Mance as board president. Motion: (text on the record). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: Matt Lohman — yes; Randy Long — yes; Kim Tinius — yes; Tory Turnbull — yes; Matt Sampson — yes; Chad Mance — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Elect Randy Long as board vice president. Motion: (text on the record). Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: unanimous (roll call recorded as all yes). Outcome: approved.

- Approve consent agenda items 1–11 (routine personnel, minutes, and standard items). Motion and second on record; roll‑call vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Approve district financial report for March 2025. Motion: (on the record). Vote: unanimous (roll call recorded as all yes). Outcome: approved.

- Approve notice of audit engagement (S&B CPAs and Associates) to satisfy state audit notification requirements. Motion and second on the record; vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Approve engagement letter for fiscal‑year 2026 temporary appropriations and estimate of needs (Chas W. Carroll, CPA). Motion and second on the record; vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Approve supplemental appropriation to the building fund for fiscal year 2025, $1,759,522.39. Motion to approve and second on the record. Roll‑call vote: Matt Lohman — yes; Randy Long — yes; Kim Tinius — yes; Tory Turnbull — yes; Matt Sampson — yes; Chad Mance — yes. Outcome: approved. Board discussion noted the appropriation allows the district to open purchase orders tied to expected Department of Defense reimbursements and to cover items such as Redbud carryover and other building‑fund obligations.

- Approve design contract with Corbin Mertz (Corbin Mertz & Haney) for new Eisenhower Elementary: contract amount cited at $1,200,000; design/construction program costs discussed with an expected $9,960,000 to be paid through the Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Operation (as stated in meeting remarks). Motion and second on the record; roll‑call vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Approve participation agreement with OG&E to voluntarily reduce power consumption during grid events in exchange for compensation. Motion and second on the record; roll‑call vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

- Approve motion to enter executive session for personnel and negotiations (as listed on exhibit A). Motion and second on the record; roll‑call vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved (board entered executive session).

Details and clarifications from the meeting

- Eisenhower project: Administrators said the district’s application for the design phase has been accepted and the design calendar is currently scheduled as January 1, 2025–December 31, 2025. Corbin Mertz is under contract to perform design work; an earlier purchase order for preliminary work was referenced (amount cited in board remarks as approximately $4,048,000). Board members and staff said one of the DOD conditions requested a special‑education classroom per grade; the renderings shown at the meeting were described as preliminary and subject to change.

- Building fund appropriation and DOD reimbursement: The $1,759,522.39 supplemental appropriation was described by staff as needed to open purchase orders so the district can begin contracted work; staff said they expect substantial reimbursement from the Department of Defense and that the appropriation is not intended to represent net, long‑term deficit spending.

- District finances and possible investment: The business manager reported the district is considering placing carryover funds into a 10‑year U.S. Treasury instrument and cited a target investment around $10,000,000 at an interest rate north of 4 percent; staff framed this as under investigation and not finalized.

- Academics and digital tools: Presenters highlighted steady month‑to‑month reading growth reported by Istation, with the district tracking percentiles against national norms…