Freedom Public Schools board accepts $5,000 bid for corner lot; awards bleachers to rodeo committee and approves routine business

The Freedom Public Schools Board of Education voted to accept a $5,000 bid for a school property at the corner of Eagle Pass and North Trail and approved a separate sealed bid of $100 from the Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo Committee for the district’s high‑school bleachers during a regular meeting.

Board members opened the auction for the property with a minimum bid of $5,000 and received the high bid that the board recorded as belonging to Tiffany Sheldon. Board members discussed logistics for payment; the winning bidder asked about wiring funds and the meeting record notes the board indicated there is time to complete payment through Sept. 30. The board also requested legal guidance about the process if any board member chose to bid, saying such a member could bid but could not participate in the vote to accept or reject bids.

The board accepted a sealed bid from the Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo Committee for $100 to acquire the high‑school football bleachers. Trevor Baird, identified in the sealed submission as president of the Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo Committee, submitted the bid and said the committee would arrange payment and transfer. The board and a representative discussed that county crews would pull the bleachers from the ground but the rodeo committee would be responsible for removal logistics and any transport; the committee would contact Shane Moore in District 2 to coordinate the extraction.

Separately, the board reviewed financial estimates and routine reports. The district reported a general fund balance of $525,915.39 as of June 30, 2025; a building fund of $12,114.59; and a child nutrition balance of $9,851.84. The packet presented to the board said estimated expenditures were derived from last year’s actuals and noted some projected increases tied to ad valorem tax receipts. The presenter told the board that recently received protested taxes had increased available funds.

The board approved travel for a group of students to attend the FFA national convention in Indianapolis from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, 2025, with an expected delegation of about four to six students. The board also accepted the district’s annual college and career readiness and dropout report required by the State Department of Education for accreditation; the report covered 2022–23 and the board noted no recorded dropouts for that year. The board adopted the schedule of regular board and education meetings for 2026, accepted paperwork to begin the school board member election process for position No. 1, approved the consent agenda of routine items and authorized signing of necessary documents.

Votes at a glance

- Accept sale of school property at Eagle Pass and North Trail, $5,000 (accepted; recorded yes votes: Kyle Rhodes, Robert Babcock, Frank Berry, Shane Morris) - Accept sealed bid for high‑school bleachers, $100 (accepted; recorded yes votes: Kyle Rhodes, Robert Babcock, Frank Berry, Shane Morris) - Approve travel to the FFA national convention, Oct. 27–Nov. 2, 2025 (approved) - Accept college and career readiness and dropout report (approved) - Adopt 2026 meeting schedule (approved) - Accept school board member election resolution paperwork for Position No. 1 (approved) - Approve consent agenda and authorize necessary signatures (approved)

The board did not provide full detail in the meeting record for every maker/second of motions; votes were recorded verbally by roll call for the items listed above. Several items were routine and moved with little discussion. The board indicated it would seek legal clarification about board members bidding on district property and left specific payment arrangements for the property sale to follow‑up communications with the winning bidder and district staff.

The board’s next regular meetings and the steps to finalize the property sale and bleacher removal will be handled by district staff as directed at the meeting.