CareerTech board approves business plan, backs Beaver County annexation and grant support

The Oklahoma CareerTech State Board approved the agency’s business plan and took three formal actions on agenda items relating to service-area boundaries and grant support at its meeting.

Director Hagan told the board the business plan highlights a projected 9.5% enrollment increase and sets goals for growth and appropriations; after brief discussion the board moved to approve the plan and passed it by roll call. Board members approved a separate resolution asking Beaver County voters whether to annex the county to the High Plains Technology Center service area, a step Hagan said would allow residents and businesses to decide whether to join that technology center. The board also authorized a letter of intent to permit Family and Children Services to apply for opioid‑abatement settlement funds as part of a grant process; Hagan said an Attorney General opinion required board action before the agency could lend formal support.

Votes at a glance
• Approval of minutes: roll-call vote — yes votes recorded from Peter Dillingham, Kendra Wesson, Michael Brown, Randy Gilbert and Edward Hillary; motion recorded as passed. (SEG 249–256)
• Business plan (02/24 CareerTech business plan): motion moved and seconded; roll-call approval by the board. (SEG 1049–1122)
• Beaver County annexation resolution: board moved and approved a resolution requesting an election in Beaver County to annex that county to High Plains Technology Center; roll-call vote approved the resolution. (SEG 1124–1171)
• Letter of intent — Family and Children Services (opioid‑abatement grant): board approved a letter permitting FCS to apply for funds; the director named Lisa Bader as the agency designee for contact. (SEG 1176–1236)

Board chair and other members framed the votes as procedural approvals needed to advance agency outreach and service‑area options; multiple members praised local partnerships and the agency’s outreach work. The meeting concluded with a formal motion to adjourn and a roll‑call vote closing the session.

The board made no further formal policy changes at this meeting; next procedural steps cited by staff include coordinating any community engagement for the Beaver County election and following Family and Children Services’ grant application process.