At a special meeting on Monday, the Okmulgee Public School Board of Education discussed the filling of a part time information technology role.
The board considered retired Maintenance Director Kevin Copeland to fill the position parttime, with the previous Director of IT, Kary Neal retiring at the end of the school year.
There was some pushback from board members who questioned the move, citing issues about the accessibility of the application.
Board member Vickie Jones asked if the job application had been posted online, to which Superintendent Renee Dove responded, “No, I don’t have this one posted, it just came about.”
Dove went on to say that Copeland has been doing part of the work that this position entails– specifically maintenance on the marquee on Wood Dr, and has some familiarity with the internet servers. She also mentioned that he would be responsible for the camera, bell, and clock systems, but was not specific about Copeland’s previous experience with those systems.
“It really upsets them [staff members] when these jobs are not posted,” Jones said, suggesting the matter be tabled until this can be done, allowing for other qualified candidates to apply.
“Kevin is the most familiar with the marquee… why would we post it?” OPS Board President Rod Wiemer asked, adding that the board is not required to post support staff positions.
Jones responded by requesting that job postings be made accessible “even if it’s just customary or out of respect.”
Wiemer then asked board member Leroy Parker for comment.
“I didn’t even know this was on the agenda,” Parker said, noting he had not picked up his board packet until later in the day. He said he was made aware of these concerns after a few “calls from the staff ” asking why this job wasn’t posted.
“I know our IT person does more than the marquee,” Parker said, “an IT person should be the one that is responsible for all the technology for the whole school district.”
Superintendent Dove explained that TeleComp would be the company to handle the school’s IT infrastructure. She explained how Copeland would essentially serve as a point of contact and on-site technician.
“Anything in the district that has to connect to the internet… TeleComp is the company that comes in to get all of that done.” She said that Tele-Comp services all the computers in the district, and that Copeland is the one with their contact information and the equipment to repair the marquee.
Jones made one final appeal for the job to be posted online, saying, “We just may be missing out on someone that actually has that IT [experience]…Let’s give someone that opportunity, instead of just saying ‘Hey, you’ve been here before. You’re hired.’” Dove added that Copeland “is familiar with it, and support staff is not a certified position. Certified positions are posted.” She said that he has been the back-up technician for the previous IT director. After a bit more discussion, board member Parker gave the motion to table the issue.
Dove then voiced concerns that not approving this hiring could hinder the schools ability to deal with IT related issues in the meantime, to which Jones replied that “Kary [Neal] turned in his resignation in time for us to have this done.” The board then voted to table any action, with Wiemer being the lone dissenting vote.
There was no mention of others who may have been trained to fill this role in the absence of either Copeland or Neal, and–while support staff applications are available on their website– at the present time, no information technology positions were listed under the available support staff roles.
Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously approved the rental of Harmon Stadium by the USATF Oklahoma Association, for an event on June 17. They also approved an increase to the General Fund; along with a contract with Oklahoma Consulting & Accounting Services, LLC.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
