Poteau board appoints Elizabeth Smith to vacant seat on Board of Education

The Poteau School District Board of Education voted to appoint Elizabeth Smith to fill the vacant Board Seat No. 5 at its meeting. The board moved from an executive session discussion about the vacancy into open session and approved Smith’s appointment by roll call.

The board had met in executive session as authorized by Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes, section 307, of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to consider candidates for the open seat. The board’s minutes state that no official votes or actions were taken while in executive session.

After returning to open session, a board member moved to appoint Elizabeth Smith to the vacancy and another board member seconded the motion. The board approved the appointment by roll call. Following the vote, board members administered the oath of office. Smith recited: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America and the Constitution and the laws of the state of Oklahoma. I will faithfully discharge according to the best of my ability the duties of my office … as a school board member of the Poteau School District.” She then signed the documentation provided by the district.

The board’s publicly stated reason for the earlier closed discussion was to evaluate candidates for the vacancy under the statutory open-meeting exception for personnel matters; the appointment itself occurred in open session. The board did not record additional conditions attached to the appointment during the public portion of the meeting.

Board members present confirmed the appointment by roll call. The district clerk recorded Smith’s oath and signed documentation as part of the minutes. The board then proceeded to the next agenda items.