When the Watonga School Board met Jan. 9 in regular session, the meeting was swift and to the point.
The board learned during the financial report that although the gross production tax payment was lower in January than the September high of $494,000, it had rebounded from the yearly low in December. December figures were $351,283, but January brought a check of $391,599. Gross production is a tax paid by oil and gas exploration and drilling companies based on the amount of natural resources they harvest in a particular county. The percentage paid to various school districts in the county are determined on student population and other data. The GPT is estimated at $3.54 million for the district in fiscal year 2023, which ends June 30. The encumbrances – basically bills that had been presented and paid – for the month included some $10,000 in band instruments. That money had been part of the recent bond issue, but when the district ordered the instruments it wanted back in the fall, they were unavailable. It accepted the smaller shipment of instruments but kept the order for the original amount in place. The rest of the instruments were finally available and shipped, completing the order and fulfilling the band instrument promise made during the bond process.
The board entered executive session to discuss the continued employment of Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran. He was reappointed as superintendent for a three year contract and received a 13 percent raise in salary.