The Seminole Public School Board conducted a special meeting on July 6 and took a number of actions, including the hiring of new staff members.

Following an executive session near the end of the meeting, the board approved Superintendent Bob Gragg’s recommendations for the vacancies which need to be filled within the district. The additions include: Amber Cox as Ag Education Teacher, Ryan Creel as an Elementary teacher, Jerry Graham as special education teacher,

Kolt Carver and Sandy Marshal as maintenance/janitorial support employees, and Jennifer Stuteville as the new 7th grade reading teacher.

The meeting was kicked off with a recap by Assistant Superintendent Angela Willmett of what the school refers to as “Good News SPS,” which included updates regarding the Camp I Can Summer Program, credit recovery at the high school, and enrollment in the new three-year-old program. Ann Biddy was also thanked for her work in the schools’ summer learning program, before it was announced that Seminole was one of the districts whose preschool was awarded a three-year matching grant for an additional school counselor to address the rising student needs which have emerged as a result of the stresses of life both during and post pandemic.

Because there were no requests made by guests to address the board, the next item on the agenda was the sale of the annual series building bond for the high school in the amount of $1,320,000. Andy Davis, a representative of the Stephen L. Smith financial group, opened the sale up for bids and an eventual six were received. The lowest was submitted by First United Bank and Trust of Durant, in conjunction with Country Club Bank, of Kansas City, for a net interest cost of $10, 216.80, with an average interest rate of 0.387%.