During the Monday school board meeting, Weatherford Interim Superintendent Steve Callen said the district financials are in good shape all things considered, but it will be receive about $1.4 million less in revenue this year.
The good news is the district received $1 million from the recent stimulus bill, which will cover the majority of that loss. The rest will be covered through the reserve funds.
Callen said the district will be in similar shape for the next few years, but the foundation laid by the previous superintendents puts the district in a good place moving forward.
School returned last week, and Callen said the district is off to a good start thanks to the hard-working staff.
Progress at the Gen. Thomas P. Stafford Elementary and former East Elementary sites is moving at a satisfactory pace. Callen said he will meet with the architect and project manager sometime this week to get a better overview of work done since the break.
The bids for turf and track at Woody Roof Field will be opened today. The school board will have a special meeting to accept bids after they have been qualified by the project managers.
Callen also mentioned it is board appreciation month. A short video thanking the Weatherford School Board can be seen on the Weatherford Public School Facebook page.
Weatherford principals also gave a quick update during the school board meeting.
Assistant Weatherford High School Principal Danny Clifton said despite post-holiday COVID-19 predictions, WHS only has four positive cases and eight people in quarantine.
The WHS National Honor Society members are looking into fundraisers to benefit an OPAA! employee who recently lost their house in a fire.
Weatherford Middle School Principal Doug Gunselman said the new semester is off to a good start. The school site has several students return from the virtual academy, but several more have gone with alternative routes.
The seventh grade basketball tournament begins today and runs through Saturday. ACT Aspire assessments began this week and may run through February.
East Principal Brad Howl and West Principal Robyn Randol said their school sites also have lost a few students to the virtual academy but have gained many back.
All school sites had Project AWARE meetings Wednesday to discuss ways to help at-risk students identified by faculty and staff.
East and West also will begin running drills soon.
Burcham Elementary Principal Brooke Brown said school starting went well.
The school site was able to go on its annual shopping trip along with East and West. Brown said it was touching to see the students pick out items for parents and siblings.
School Resource Officer Justin Bushong said he was happy to be back working with the schools after patrolling during the break. The fifth grade DARE program has begun and Bushong is working with West staff to plan the graduation ceremony.
Bushong said the STOP It app has been in use by Weatherford students, even among the older students. He also said there have not been any false alarms or tips given through the apps. So far, Bushong has been able to look into the situations quickly and keep them from developing further.