Tahlequah board approves exchange with city for Armory building, selects contractor for renovations

The Tahlequah Public Schools Board of Education approved a contract to exchange the district’s current administrative building and a five‑acre tract (described by staff as flood‑plain land behind Greenwood) with the City of Tahlequah in return for the Armory building, and separately approved hiring Trigon Inc. as the construction manager for renovations.

Why it matters: District leaders said the Armory provides more usable space, including an auditorium, which the district wants for larger meetings, professional development and community partnerships, and would allow district business offices to be consolidated in one building.

Details of the exchange and renovation plan Superintendent Abby told the board the exchange would move the district into a larger building with an auditorium and create consolidated office space for personnel, payroll and other central functions. The district plans to keep the Armory’s stage and auditorium function while “freshening” the space; the superintendent said one limitation will be that dinner‑theater events would no longer be able to serve wine on campus because of district policy.

The exchange includes an approximately five‑acre tract the district said is in a flood plain and not usable for the district’s purposes. The superintendent said the city is interested in that parcel for future infrastructure work. The district will remain in its current building while renovations are planned; the superintendent said a closing and renovation schedule could allow occupancy within months if all goes to plan.

Contractor selection The board approved a contract with Trigon Inc. to serve as construction manager; the contract does not yet set a guaranteed maximum price (GMP), which will be presented to the board later. The superintendent said using Trigon on multiple district projects could reduce administrative costs by overlapping superintendent and management resources across jobs.

Community partners and interim arrangements The superintendent said the district discussed temporary space options for community partners such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and will present options if the partner needs relocation. The district indicated the renovated Armory would be available for community theater and other events consistent with district facilities‑use policy after renovation and once the building transfers to city ownership.

Vote and next steps The board voted to approve the exchange contract and to authorize the Trigon Inc. construction management contract; the board will consider a GMP and detailed renovation budget in a later meeting before construction proceeds.