CCISD board recognizes retirees, approves technology purchases

By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees recognized five district employees who are retiring and approved more than $92,000 in purchases for network and infrastructure needs for the new administration building and the new transportation facility at their December meeting held Tuesday evening. 
The board approved the purchase of technology hardware for the new administration building for a total of $35,350.27. They also approved $57,169.02 for network infrastructure and hardware for the transportation building. 
The board approved the termination of Copperas Cove High School Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Tonya Anderson McKelly during Tuesday’s meeting, having gone into executive session during their workshop meeting Monday afternoon to discuss the matter. 
The board accepted the Annual Financial Report presentation for fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2017. The board also accepted the report on Continuing Education requirements for school board members. Bob Weiss, Place 5 trustee, was not a board member when the board held their team building meeting and was missing those required hours on his evaluation. 
The board also shared about their trips to the OASIS (Oklahoma Association Serving Impacted Schools) Conference in Tulsa December 6-7 and to the NAFIS (National Association of Federally Impacted Schools) Conference in San Antonio on December 8. CCISD superintendent Dr. Joe Burns announced that Copperas Cove would host the NAFIS conference next year, on December 14, 2018. 
The board recognized the CCISD Campus Communication Liaisons for the first quarter Newsmaker Awards. 
“Each year, we create our own individual, customized award and this year, you can see it’s puzzle pieces, because they truly are the pieces of the puzzle that help us put the good news out about Copperas Cove ISD,” said CCISD’s public information officer, Wendy Sledd. 
Winners included Brandy Petty, Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy; Sharon Whitis, Crossroads High School; Tammy Boast, S.C. Lee Junior High; Bonnie Terry, Clements/Parsons Elementary; Sandra Zeihlke, Hettie Halstead Elementary; Edith Natividad, Williams/Ledger Elementary; Jennifer Kayhoe, Martin Walker Elementary; Ashley League, House Creek Elementary; Karen Folger, Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary; Alicia Weikum, Copperas Cove Junior High School; and Miguel Timarky accepted the award for CCHS on behalf of the different clubs and organizations. 
The board recognized five district employees who are retiring. Terrie Sands is retiring after 13 years with CCISD from his position as Assistant Network Engineer with Technology Department. Jerry Miracle is retiring after 24 years of service, 11 with CCISD, from his position as Instructional Coach with Academic Services. Jo Ann Griffin is retiring after 24 years of service with CCISD from her position as Instructional Coach with Academic Services. Danielle Troub is retiring after 29 years of service with CCISD from her position of secretary at Hettie Halstead Elementary. Mary Austin-Crawford is retiring with 20 years of service with CCISD from her position as a Special Education Aide at Mae Stevens. 
The board also recognized CCISD paraprofessional Wilford Elmore, who was this year’s CCISD holiday card artist.