When the Watonga School Board met Monday in regular session, four members made up a full board. Member Andy Wigington has resigned from the board, citing other commitments that keep him from completing his term.
That meant the board had to determine whether it wanted to hold a special election in addition to the regular upcoming election in 2026, or accept applications for the remainder of Wigington’s term.
Boards and towns must pay their own way when it comes to the cost of elections, so the school board decided it would accept applications.
“We have a policy to accept applications and then appoint a board member,” said long time board member Aaron Clewell. “I move we accept applications through (October) the 24th.” The vote upheld the motion, and anyone interested in filling board seat three may pick up an application at the board office and return it to the same office when it is completed.
Greg Adams, a recently added coach for boys’ and girls’ track and strength training, came to the board asking to take some students to a Texas marathon known as the Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour race. It is a fundraiser to fight childhood cancer. Adams has participated twice and last time he noted there were school teams taking part relay style.
Watonga would enter 10 runners in a relay format. It begins December 30 and ends January 1.
But Adams wasn’t seeking full funding, but some costs and permission to take the trip. To meet the other costs, he has already set up some fundraisers where the track students will work doing cleanup of private and school property, such as the gym after basketball games.
“I want the kids to roll their sleeves up,” Adams said.
He selected the Snowdrop event because it would not only challenge the students physically, but stretch them socially and mentally as well.
“I think it’s amazing,” he said. 'It’s building relationships and bonding.”
The board agreed to allow the trip and that Adams, who has a commercial driver’s license, to take one of the school’s newer ultra liner buses.
The board also learned the granite for the Dunbar memorial statue has been selected and work would commence soon on the site of the memorial, the sidewalk that once lead to the school on the east side of town that largely served the Black community prior to school desegregation.