Poteau school board approves 2025–26 contracts, policy updates, equipment purchases and personnel hires

The Poteau Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved a package of routine fiscal and operational items for the 2025–26 school year, including vendor contracts, updates to board policy required by state changes, a financed trailer for the band, an ag vehicle purchase, multiple out-of-state student trips and several personnel hires following executive session.

A district staff member who presented the monthly financial report said revenues were higher in July because the district received prior-year federal claim payments earlier than usual, and that despite increased salary and technology payments the general fund ended July without a deficit. "We are very at a good spot in our financials," the staff member said.

Why it matters: The items approved set vendor relationships, student activity plans and personnel for the upcoming school year and incorporate statutory policy changes that affect reporting requirements and employee conduct. Several approvals also commit district funds to capital and recurring services.

The board approved a set of 2025–26 contracts and memoranda of understanding. The packet included an MOU with the Choctaw Nation for special-education screening of 3‑year‑old children, a Schindler elevator inspection contract, a renewed Coke beverage contract, a partnership with Southeastern Oklahoma State University for student-teaching placements, and a career-technology agreement that the presenter said draws more than $100,000 in support for secondary CTE programs. The board also approved annual renewals for Renaissance (reading and math curricula) and Windstream (data/Wi‑Fi service for the bus barn).

The board approved several purchase orders and encumbrances: the presentation listed districtwide purchases including 30 desktop computers, payments for PowerSchool and school-messenger services, purchases related to the PKMS gym HVAC project and the district's recent acquisition of a lot adjacent to Poteau K-8 Middle School (PKMS). A late-added purchase order (PO 388) sought a new 2025 Sierra "3,504" wheel-drive truck for the agriculture department; the presenter said the truck will restore the FFA program's ability to haul animals, replacing a second vehicle that cannot tow.

The board approved a band-trailer acquisition. The presenter described a modification of a 2025 trailer for the band that will add a second tier to increase storage capacity. Community State Bank will provide a four-year, 0% interest note to finance the trailer; the board was told the band will run fundraisers to retire the note. The presenter described the trailer dimensions as about 8 feet tall, 24 feet long and 8.5 feet wide.

Board members approved the annual days-and-hours worksheet for 2025–26, with the presenter noting the district will retain more instructional days than the statutory minimum and that recent state changes limit the use of virtual days. The board also approved adult meal prices for the school year: breakfast at $2.75 and lunch at $5.50.

The board reviewed a lengthy set of policy updates supplied by the OSSBA (Oklahoma State School Boards Association). Changes described in the packet and discussed by staff included additions to record-investigation policy requiring districts to provide letters of "good standing" when employees depart, new language addressing antisemitism in teacher conduct standards, clarified maternity-leave language aligned to FMLA rules, and new mandatory reporting procedures tied to alleged child abuse or neglect that staff said require annual employee attestations and broaden reporting obligations. The presenter said the DO (teacher-termination) policies were updated to require communications to the State Department of Education in cases of dismissal for abuse, neglect or failure to report such allegations.

The board approved three out-of-state student activities: the Poteau High School and junior-high cross-country teams to events in Arkansas (Fayetteville and Acorn), the PHS Palm Squad to a qualifying regional event in Blue Springs, Missouri (with plans to proceed to nationals in Orlando if fundraising completes), and a life-skills special-education trip to Fort Smith, Arkansas, for Special Olympics bowling. The presenter said the Palm Squad would travel by air with 16 students, two coaches and eight parents, and that supervisors and fundraising plans were in place.

The board approved school activity fundraisers, including dollar days and a book fair at PKMS, an off-campus candy fundraiser organized by a local vendor for the SCC that would not meet the district's in-school smart‐snacks standards, and band fundraising tied to the new trailer.

Following an executive session conducted under a cited state statute (recorded in the minutes as "title 25 Oklahoma statute section 307 b4"), the board approved multiple employment items: hiring Frank Gay as upper elementary custodian, pending certification approval for David Hale as a substitute bus driver, and several lay coaching positions at Poteau High School (assistant wrestling and assistant baseball positions listed by name). The meeting record states the executive session produced no reportable action beyond those hires.

Superintendent remarks: The superintendent reported a strong start to the school year, citing heavy attendance at "meet your teacher" events, improved drop-off times at the primary and upper elementary sites (primary drop-off near 8:02 a.m., upper near 8:06 a.m.), and ongoing adjustments to parking and dismissal procedures.

What the board did not do: The minutes record no substantive debate that altered any proposed contract or policy language; where the presenter answered questions, the discussion was mainly clarifying. The transcript does not include full roll-call tallies by name for every vote; actions are recorded in the minutes as approved by roll call.

The board adjourned after approving the listed items.