Alva board hears detailed finance report, approves consent agenda and routine out-of-state travel; tables church bus request

Alva Public Schools leaders reviewed a detailed financial report and approved the consent agenda, authorizing routine purchases, travel and summer driver education while tabling a separate request to loan a bus to a church group. The board also voted to convene an executive session to discuss district staffing for 2025.

District finance staff reported that at the end of fiscal 2024 (June 30) the district's gift fund (Fund 81) held $372,724. Project-specific balances cited included $3,154.18 for an out-of-state fine arts project (Project 215), $75,000 for the Wisdom Foundation agriculture project (Project 216), and $235,000 for the Knuckles Foundation grant (Project 217). Since June 30 the district paid $46,550.94 in scholarships; the presenter said a $30,000 gift from Apple State Bank in December increased Fund 81's balance.

Revenue and investments: the general fund collections through March were reported at $16,704,144, with $1,140,278 collected in March alone. The presenter described several one-time revenue items that have increased current-year collections, including an adjustment for a prior teacher pay raise, anticipated further payments on the school resource officer grant and a settlement described as a target settlement. The district reported approximately $6,996,000 invested from the general fund and $2,969,000 in the billing/building fund for roughly $9,965,000 in operating investments; including other accounts the presenter cited roughly $10,426,000 total invested across funds.

Purchases and program spending approved under the consent agenda included network and security upgrades with NexTech (purchase order, $7,667), bus fleet maintenance with R & T Diesel ($4,977), technology purchases from Amazon for special education ($2,675), and a federal-program-funded purchase of $14,791 for Kronos timekeeping devices. The board was told the district acquired roughly a little over 100 Chromebooks to refresh older devices using federal program funds.

Child nutrition and activity funds: child nutrition served fewer meals in March compared with February (32 fewer breakfasts and 320 fewer lunches), which was attributed in part to spring break. Activity fund receipts and fundraisers were reported for several groups (baseball, yearbook, band, library, student council, choir), with Longfellow Elementary reported to have raised $15,131 for its activities.

The board took these formal actions during the meeting (roll-call or voice votes recorded in the minutes): the consent agenda (items 6.1–6.11) was approved; two out-of-state travel requests (Longfellow second grade and a high-school club) were approved; the board approved two summer driver education sessions with a $200 fee per student; a late request from College Hill Church of Christ to use a district bus in July was tabled pending further discussion with transportation staff; and the board voted to convene an executive session under Oklahoma's executive-session statute to discuss 2025 staffing.

Votes were recorded aloud for each motion; the minutes show the motions carried with affirmative votes from members present.

The board's administrative reports also included updates on grant-funded playground painting (Painted Playscapes from Healthy Schools Oklahoma), a new Healthy Schools grant for physical-education activities, grant-funded classroom resources and upcoming student events and state competitions. Transportation staff reported fleet maintenance issues and that a bus-driver training class will be offered in June to recruit additional drivers.