Stigler board renews administrator contracts, approves calendars, software agreement and retention stipends

The Stigler Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a slate of operational items at its regular meeting in March, including renewing contracts for four district administrators, revising the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school calendars to make up snow days, continuing a service agreement with the district’s financial software vendor ADPC and approving certified and noncertified retention stipends.

The actions taken affect staffing, the school year schedule and district purchasing. Superintendent Dr. Tom Kettles reported on spring activities and facility work and told trustees, “We’re in great shape,” citing grant reimbursements and recent property-tax receipts.

Votes at a glance: - Continued employment of administrative personnel for the 2025–26 school year: Motion to approve listing Tony Gilmore (Federal Programs Director/Assistant Superintendent), Eric Stout (High School Principal), Michelle Moore (Middle School Principal) and Melanie Garman (Grade School Principal) passed unanimously (mover: David Huggins; seconder: Jennifer Turner). Votes recorded: Brett Warren — yes; Jennifer Turner — yes; Kenny Whitson — yes; David Huggins — yes; Susan White — yes. - Approval of revision to the 2024–25 school calendar (make-up days scheduled for Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 18): approved unanimously (mover: Brett Warren; seconder: Jennifer Turner). - Approval of revision to the 2025–26 school calendar (adjustments for Easter and snow days): approved unanimously (mover: David Huggins; seconder: Kenny Whitson). - Continuing service agreement with ADPC (financial/accounting software) for the 2025–26 school year: approved unanimously (mover: Brett Warren; seconder: Jennifer Turner). The board noted the vendor’s cost is “pretty close to last year.” - Approval of encumbrances (purchase orders and payroll encumbrances for programs including FCCLA, Perkins-related welding trailer, nursing supplies, student worker payroll for a 21st Century program and child-nutrition reimbursements): motion passed unanimously (mover: Brett Warren; seconder: Jennifer Turner). - Acceptance of the retirement of Tracy Hirsch, middle/high-school technology/industrial arts teacher, effective at the end of the 2024–25 school year: approved unanimously (mover: Kenny Whitson; seconder: David Huggins). - Approval of certified and noncertified retention stipends: approved unanimously (mover: Brett Warren; seconder: Jennifer Turner). The meeting record contains an unclear reference to amounts as “7 and 500”; the transcript did not specify a clear stipend dollar amount.

The board convened an executive session under the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, Title 25 O.S. §307(B)(1), for personnel matters and retirements; Superintendent Dr. Tom Kettles and all five board members were present, and the board returned to open session at 6:13 p.m. with no actions taken while in executive session.

Financial and budget context Superintendent Kettles presented financial reports showing encumbrances for items including an exterior digital sign (partially paid by the Jerry Jackson Foundation), a middle-school sound system to replace failed equipment, reimbursements under Perkins for an agricultural welding trailer, nursing supplies for all four campuses and recurring child-nutrition purchases. The superintendent said the district’s current bills are about $149,000 higher than the previous year, and that roughly $141,000 of that increase represents grant or donated funds tied to projects (for example, the sign and intercom work). The district reported a $345,000 deposit to the building fund (including a $263,000 “red bud” payment and about $82,000 in property-tax receipts) and described the child-nutrition fund balance as recovering (transcript: “hundred and 18,” interpreted as an approximate amount; not fully specified in the record).

Superintendent’s updates and operations Kettles reported district extracurricular activity results and building progress: the high-school band earned superior ratings and will advance to state competition in April; baseball, softball and golf seasons have started; three students qualified for the state powerlifting meet; and the grade-school addition is near completion with final punch-list work under way and an anticipated move-in and open house to follow.

What the board directed or decided Most items before the board were approvals of staff continuing employment, calendar adjustments and vendor or payroll encumbrances. The board explicitly distinguished discussion from action: the executive session was used only for discussion of the personnel items and retirements, and all formal approvals occurred in open session after reconvening. Several trustees asked clarifying questions about capacity limits for student transfers (the board conducts this review quarterly and made no changes) and about final inspections on the grade-school addition.

The board adjourned at 6:16 p.m.; the next regular meeting was noted as April 14, 2025.