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Board of Education

Board of Education

The Great Plains Technology Center Board of Education meets monthly on the first Tuesday of the Month at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. The Great Plains Technology Center Board of Education consists of five elected members.

For more information, please use any forms of the communications below.

Call: 580-355-6371

Walk-in or Postal:
Great Plains Technology Center
4500 SW Lee Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73505

Contact Form: Contact Us

  • Zone 1 - Homer Ryan - Deputy Clerk
  • Zone 2 - George Bridges, Jr. D.D.S - Member
  • Zone 3 - Clark Smith - President
  • Zone 4 - Arthur Patrick - Vice-President
  • Zone 5 - Cindy Sheppard, D.D.S. - Clerk
  • Stacy Pifer – Administrative Assistant/Treasurer/Minutes Clerk

Board Bios

Dr. Bridges is the senior member of the Great Plains Technology Center Board of Education. He was first elected in 1976. He practiced dentistry in Lawton since leaving the service of the U.S. Army in the mid 1970’s. He is an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. Dr. Bridges is active in many local and statewide philanthropic organizations. He also serves as President of the Great Plains Technology Center Foundation.

Patrick was appointed to the GPTC Board when Dr. Nathan Grantham resigned in 2009. Patrick was elected in 2010 to fill out the remaining three years of Dr. Grantham’s term. He has served as general manager of Lawton Communications for more than 30 years. As a high school student in 1974 and 1975, Patrick attended Great Plains electronics program. He graduated from Cameron University. Patrick has served on the board of directors for Marie Detty Youth Services and the Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation.

Ryan is a Tillman County farmer-rancher and businessman. He attended Southwestern State University on a football scholarship. He graduated from Southwestern with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Ryan was the John Deere dealer in Frederick, OK and Wichita Falls, TX for nearly 30 years. He enjoys playing a significant role each year in the Tillman County Junior Livestock Show. He has served on the Great Plains Board since 2005.

Smith has served on the Board of Education since 1987. He is a leader and active volunteer within the Lawton-Fort Sill Arts Community. He is an avid photographer having served as a past president of the Wichita Mountain Wild Light Society. Smith is also an active outdoorsman. He is president of Smith and Son’s Insurance Agency, Inc., as Independent Insurance Lawton agency.

Dr. Sheppard has served on the Great Plains Technology Center Board of education since January 2024. She practices dentistry in Lawton, first with her husband and now with her son. She has 3 grown children that attended Lawton Public Schools, and all were National Merit Finalists. She has served on the board of the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra and the board of directors for Marie Detty Youth Services. She enjoys quilting and sewing in her free time. 

Board Agenda

The Great Plains Technology Center logo features blue text.

Board Meeting Agenda - October 5, 2026

  • School District No. 9
    Regular Board Meeting
    Frederick Campus, Loyd Benson Seminar Center,

    2001 E Gladstone Ave, Frederick, OK 73542
    Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM

    1. Prayer – Blake Thomas

    2. Call to order

    3. Introduction of guests

    4. Consent Agenda:

    a. Approve Minutes of September 1, 2026 Regular Board Meeting.

    b. Approval of FY27 General Fund Encumbrances for September 2026: #948-1227 in the amount of $408,388.25 and Payroll #50216-50238 in the amount of $9,751.10; General Fund Change Orders in the amount of $59,583.03.

    c. Approval of FY27 Building Fund Encumbrances for September 2026: #115-135 in the amount of $61,364.14; Building Fund Change Orders in the amount of $695,231.61.

    d. Approve Activity Fund Overview for September 2026.

    e. Approve Transfer of Activity Funds for September 2026.

    f. Approve Public Surplus.

    g. Approve Update to Great Plains Technology Center Policy and Procedure Manual Section 10: Tuition Payment Policy and Procedures for Full Time Programs - Short Term Programs.

    h. Approve General Fund Purchase Order 1019 to Lawton Communications in the amount of $1,590.00 and a Change Order on Building Fund Purchase Order 109 in the amount of             -$248.78.

    5. Public Comment
    This is an open, public meeting held in accordance with the Open Meeting Laws of the State of Oklahoma.  The purpose of this meeting is to conduct the business of the Great Plains Technology Center.  As elected representatives of the voters and patrons of the Center, the members of the Board of Education will be making decisions concerning the operation of the District.  The agenda for Regular Meetings includes an opportunity for the public to address any item appearing on the agenda. Members of the public wishing to speak must sign in with the Clerk of the Board fifteen (15) minutes prior to the convening of the Board meeting.  Statements to the Board by the public are limited to no more than three (3) minutes per speaker.  The Board reserves the right to limit repetitive comments, comments unrelated to the business of the Board, or the total amount of time dedicated to public comment in a single evening.  Board members will not respond to questions or comments during public communications, but the Board President may refer matters of concern to the Superintendent for review and recommendations.

    6. Information Only: Presentation of Certificate to Dr. George Bridges for Serving Fifty (50) Years on the Great Plains Technology Center Board of Education — Dr. Shawn Hime

    7. Information Only: Campus Roof Repairs Update — Jeff Jung, Ford Roofing and Sheet Metal Co.

    8. Treasurer's report - Stacy Pifer

    9. Director of Marketing and Communications report - Teresa Abram
    (Presented by Ken McKee)

    10. Tillman/Kiowa County Campus Director's report - Ken McKee

    11. Director of Human Resources report - Valerie Anderson

    a. Discussion and possible board action on approving expenses to send up to eight staff members to attend the Model Schools Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in June 2027.

    9. Director of Information Technology report – Bill Matthey
    (Presented by James Bishop)

    a. Discussion and possible board action on the purchase of one hundred (100) computers with basic peripherals.

    b. Discussion and possible board action on the purchase/renewal of employee and student Microsoft accounts and associated management features.

    13. Director of Maintenance and Purchasing report - Justin Neeley

    a. Discussion and possible board action on the purchase of two vehicles for transporting students and staff.

    b. Discussion and possible board action on contracting with Clayco Industries Inc., DBA Ford Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., to provide material and labor for the replacement of the roof on Building 100 on the Lawton campus, and to pay the state administrative fee to the Oklahoma Office of Management Enterprise Services (OMES) at 1.5% of the project cost.

    c. Discussion and possible board action on contracting with Clayco Industries Inc., DBA Ford Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., to provide material and labor for the replacement of the roof on Building 300 on the Lawton campus, and to pay the state administrative fee to the Oklahoma Office of Management Enterprise Services (OMES) at 1.5% of the project cost.

    d. Discussion and possible board action on contracting with Clayco Industries Inc., DBA Ford Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., to provide material and labor for the replacement of the roof on Building 400 on the Lawton campus, and to pay the state administrative fee to the Oklahoma Office of Management Enterprise Services (OMES) at 1.5% of the project cost.

    e. Discussion and possible board action on contracting with Clayco Industries Inc., DBA Ford Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., to provide material and labor for the replacement of the roof on Building 500 on the Lawton campus, and to pay the state administrative fee to the Oklahoma Office of Management Enterprise Services (OMES) at 1.5% of the project cost.

    f. Discussion and possible board action on contracting with Clayco Industries Inc., DBA Ford Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., to provide material and labor for the replacement of the roof on Building 700 on the Lawton campus, and to pay the state administrative fee to the Oklahoma Office of Management Enterprise Services (OMES) at 1.5% of the project cost.

    14. Superintendent's report - Joelle Jolly

    a. Information Only: Update on the renovation/remodel of the property at 6501 West Gore Boulevard from Herring Construction.

    b. Next regular board meeting is November 3, 2026.

    15. New Business: New business refers to any matter not known about or which could not have been reasonably foreseen prior to the time of posting of the agenda.  Okla. Stat. tit. 25, Sec. 311(A)(9).

    16. Proposed executive session to discuss:

    a. Discussion on resignation of David Mendiola, Custodian, effective September 29, 2026.
    b. Discussion on resignation of Joshua Ewald, Landscaper/Flowerbed Maintenance, effective September 30, 2026.
    c. Discussion on retirement of Reggie Davidson, Custodian, effective December 31, 2026.
    d. Discussion on retirement of Dana Newsom, Business Development Center Secretary, effective January 1, 2027.
    e. Discussion on resignation of Jennie Owens, Practical Nursing Instructor, effective February 1, 2027.
    f. Discussion on resignation of Ken McKee, Campus Director (Frederick), effective July 6, 2027.
    g. Discussion on employment of candidate as Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Operations Secretary - Evening for FY27.
    h. Discussion on employment of candidate as Marketing and Communications Director for FY27.
    i. Discussion on possible employment of part-time personnel and part-time Workforce and Economic Development (WED) personnel for FY27 as listed on agenda item so the board can return to open session to vote on employment matters discussed. 
     

    Executive session authority: 25 Okla. Stat. Sec. 307(B)(1).

    17. Vote to convene in executive session

    18. Acknowledge board's return to open session

    19. Statement of executive session minutes

    20. Action Items

    a. Discussion and possible board action on the resignation of David Mendiola, Custodian, effective September 29, 2026.

    b. Discussion and possible board action on the resignation of Joshua Ewald, Landscaper/Flowerbed Maintenance, effective September 30, 2026.

    c. Discussion and possible board action on the retirement of Reggie Davidson, Custodian, effective December 31, 2026.

    d. Discussion and possible board action on the retirement of Dana Newsom, Business Development Center Secretary, effective January 1, 2027.

    e. Discussion and possible board action on the resignation of Jennie Owens, Practical Nursing Instructor, effective February 1, 2027.

    e. Discussion and possible board action on the resignation of Ken McKee, Campus Director (Frederick), effective July 6, 2027.

    f. Discussion and possible board action on the employment of candidate as Workforce and Economic Development (WED) Operations Secretary - Evening for FY27.

    g. Discussion and possible board action on the employment of candidate as Marketing and Communications Director for FY27.

    h. Discussion and possible board action on employment of part-time personnel and part-time Workforce and Economic Development (WED) personnel for FY27.

    21. Vote to adjourn




    The agenda was posted in the front entryway of the Frederick campus, the front entryway of Building 100 on the Lawton campus, and on the school district's website on October 5, 2026 before 4:00 PM.

    Attested by: Stacy Pifer, Board of Education Minutes Clerk