Tahlequah board approves armory remodel contract, insurance agreements and adopts state-mandated cell‑phone rule; bond vote set for Sept. 9

The Tahlequah Public Schools Board of Education on a series of unanimous motions on the meeting’s consent calendar approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $1,431,166.66 for the armory renovation, accepted new district insurance arrangements and approved policy revisions to implement House Bill 1087’s "bell-to-bell" ban on student cellphones for the coming school year. Superintendent Tanya Jones also told the board a bond election set for Sept. 9 will include just over $1 million for upgrades to the district’s performing arts center.

The decisions were part of a longer agenda that included routine approvals — minutes, monthly financials, personnel hires and contracts — and several votes to renew leases and designate authorized signers for federal claims. Board members recorded aye votes on each item during roll calls shown in the meeting record.

The armory renovation: scope and contract

The board approved the guaranteed maximum price of $1,431,166.66 for the armory remodel, accepting the base bid plus alternate 3 from the district’s construction contractor. Ryan, the Trigon project representative who presented scope details, described the project as an interior renovation of much of the building (the theater area was excluded from the current scope) plus exterior work including power washing, tuckpointing, window replacement (five exterior windows identified) and canopy repairs. He said building-code requirements triggered a more costly fire separation in one corridor: because the theater-adjacent spaces are not in a sprinklered building, the renovation must create a two‑hour-rated separation wall and bring some areas up to ADA standards, which increased cost.

The board packet and discussion indicate the selected GMP includes that required separation work, new restrooms near the west entry with full ADA turning radii, and other repairs intended to protect the interior investment. District staff said the GMP reflects updated contractor pricing and a desire to complete work correctly rather than defer code‑required upgrades.

Insurance and liability coverage

Corbin Jarvis presented the district’s insurance package, describing changes in property valuation and liability coverage. The district’s insured property valuation was cited at roughly $220,000,000; Jarvis said the district secured an excess liability layer of up to $4,000,000 and that some market quotes for excess property coverage returned substantially higher premium indications and terms (for example, a quoted $770,000 indication with a $100,000 deductible plus a 3% wind-and-hail percentage, which the district declined because such percentage deductibles can be catastrophic for wind/hail losses). The board approved renewing agreements with Oklahoma School Insurance Group (OSIG) and Oklahoma School Assurance Group (OSAG) to provide workers’ compensation, general liability and property insurance for fiscal year 2025–26, with the program keeping a $100,000 flat deductible and the added excess liability protection.

Jarvis also noted a market shift in workers’ compensation underwriting: for the first time in decades the program’s prior underwriter moved business to another carrier (resulting in an approximate 30% rate increase industrywide), prompting the district to market the workers’ compensation program separately.

Cell phones and the district policy change

The board approved revisions to district policies to align with state legislation (referred to in the meeting as House Bill 1087) that restricts student use of personal electronic devices during the school day. The revised policy requires devices to be turned off from the first bell to the last bell; the district will not confiscate phones as a general enforcement method but expects devices to remain powered down and stored on the student’s person or in backpacks. Exceptions listed in the discussion include verified medical needs and emergency use or a designated administrative‑permission area. Administrators told the board they will produce family-facing guidance and that staff may use phones for legitimate business communication during the day but should not use them for recreational purposes while supervising students.

Bond election and performing arts center funding

Superintendent Tanya Jones said the district will place a bond resolution on the agenda next week and has scheduled the bond election for Sept. 9. She said the bond would allocate just over $1 million to the district performing arts center for upgrades to lighting, sound and other systems. Jones said promotional materials and community outreach are under way, including a Chamber of Commerce event and an August 1 public “mingle” to preview projects and renderings.

Other approvals and routine items

On the consent calendar the board approved the May financial report (the board record lists a general fund balance figure, activity and building fund tallies and noted utility cost variances), authorized Sabrina Garner and Lacey Wilson as signers on federal claims for 2025–26, appointed Tanya Jones as the district’s delegate for state and federal funding forms, approved participation in the state’s Teacher Empowerment program (an application the district will submit to offset some special‑education salary costs), renewed lease and sublease agreements required under existing contracts, accepted a vehicle and equipment surplus list, and approved personnel and adjunct instructor appointments. The board also approved additions to the district’s approved communication platforms (the district will consolidate several apps toward a platform called Rooms and add Band) and accepted first readings of district handbooks for 2025–26.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (special meeting 06/10/2025): approved (tally recorded in meeting: aye). - Approve monthly financial report (May): approved. - Approve Sabrina Garner and Lacey Wilson as authorized federal claims signers (2025–26): approved. - Appoint Tanya Jones as delegate for state/federal funding and compliance: approved. - Participate in Teacher Empowerment program (application to state; ~ $115,000 ask noted): approved (application required and subject to state approval). - Approve activity account descriptions (2025–26): approved. - Designate purchasing agents/receiving clerks by site: approved. - Approve surplus items: approved. - Approve contracts/fundraisers/trips/memberships including Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for armory remodel (base bid + alternate 3 $1,431,166.66): approved. - Approve insurance agreements with Oklahoma School Insurance Group and Oklahoma School Assurance Group for FY2025–26 (workers’ compensation, liability, property): approved. - Renew equipment lease purchase with MR, Inc.: approved. - Renew sublease agreement with Tahlequah Educational Facilities Authority: approved. - Approve adjunct instructors from Indian Capital Technology Center for 2025–26: approved. - Add communication platforms to approved list (Rooms; add Band): approved. - First read of 2025–26 handbooks (final reading to follow in July): approved (first read). - Adopt revisions to policies (including school hours/personal electronic devices consistent with House Bill 1087): approved. - Approve schedule of encumbrances: approved. - Approve personnel items and corrections in hires: approved.

What to watch next

District staff said they will present final contract documents and construction schedules for the armory remodel and will proceed with bond‑related outreach in advance of the Sept. 9 election. The Teacher Empowerment application will be submitted when the state opens applications and remains subject to state approval. Superintendent Jones said the district will publish guidance for families and staff about enforcement of the new cellphone rule before the fall semester.

(Documentation: meeting record and board packet excerpts as read aloud during the board meeting.)