When the Watonga School Board entered into executive session July 10, it agreed to hire Jessica Taylor, Renee Ross and Joan Holie on a temporary contract for the 2023-24 school year.
Ross and Holie will be on half days.
The board also hired Trina Hansford as support staff. It had previously accepted Alyssa Fuxa on an extra duty contract to teach algebra I and geometry, Adan Rendon to teach physical science on a similar contract, Lindsay Bertsch to teach English I and II and Melissa Roberts to teach English III, English IV and AP English. Each is a certified teacher, but are accepting extra duties to teach outside their areas of certification. This is a not uncommon practice, given the ongoing teacher shortage in Oklahoma.
In other personnel business during the meeting, the board agreed to issue $1,000 stipends to certified and support employees. Those checks will be handed out on the first day of school.
It also revamped its policy on maternity leave for staff. The state approved paid leave during the just concluded legislative session and the policy was rewritten to reflect that change. There is now a six-week paid leave for new parents, which will be reimbursed to the district by the state.