Guthrie school board approves $6.15 million bond sale, renews contracts and affirms superintendent decision in student appeal

The Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education on March 10 voted to award $6,150,000 in general obligation building bonds to TD Securities, approved multiple contracts and personnel items, and affirmed the superintendent’s decision in a confidential student appeal after an executive session.

The board’s business session opened with a unanimous (7-0) roll call approval to award the district’s general obligation building bonds, series 2025A, to TD Securities. The board packet said the bonds total $6,150,000 with two maturities that include a 2027 maturity; a presenter reported TD Securities’ winning true interest cost at 3.012443 percent and noted that S&P had affirmed the district’s A+ rating.

Why it matters: The bond sale lowers the district’s near-term borrowing costs compared with the district’s offering document assumptions and will affect next year’s debt-service estimates and property-tax levy calculations.

Votes at a glance

- Award bonds: Motion to award $6,150,000 general obligation building bonds, series 2025A, to TD Securities — Approved, roll call 7-0. Finance presenter (unnamed) reported low bid at 3.012443% and that the issue matures in 2027.

- Bond resolution: Motion to adopt a resolution authorizing issuance of $6,150,000 general obligation building bonds, series 2025A, prescribing form, continuing-disclosure certificate and levying an annual tax for payment — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- Student appeal (Executive Session): Motion to affirm the superintendent’s decision regarding “Student A” — Approved, roll call 6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Plagg). The board conducted the matter in executive session under Oklahoma law; only the board discussed the matter in executive session and no votes were taken during that session.

- Auditor contract renewal: Motion to approve a contract with S and B CPAs Associates PLLC for auditing services for fiscal years 2024–25 and 2025–26 — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- FMX contract renewal: Motion to renew the FMX contract for 2025–26 (year 4) — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- Imagine Learning contract: Motion to approve a contract with Imagine Learning (Edgenuity product referenced in packet) for school year 2025–26 — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- K–6 remedial summer school program: Motion to approve the annual K–6 remedial summer school program for planning and staff hiring — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- District policy F5 transfers (Exhibit A): Motion to ratify quarterly transfers under district policy F5, Exhibit A — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- Extra duty assignments for 2024–25: Motion to approve the listed extra duty assignments — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- Adjunct teacher classification: Motion to approve Chase Plagens as an adjunct physical science teacher at Guthrie High School — Approved, roll call 7-0.

- Building-level administrator contracts for 2025–26 (salary/assignment unspecified): Motion to approve the listed building-level administrator contracts (without specified salary/assignment) — Approved, roll call 7-0.

Board procedure and confidentiality

The board used executive-session authority under Oklahoma statutes cited in the meeting packet when discussing the student appeal and when discussing personnel, FMLA requests, resignations, separations and administrator contracts; the board returned to open session and recorded that only the listed items were discussed in executive session and that no votes were taken during those sessions.

Meeting context and next steps

Board members completed routine consent and personnel business and approved the financial and operational contracts that allow the district to continue auditing, facilities management and digital-learning services into the 2025–26 school year. Officials said the district will incorporate the bond sale results into next year’s budget and debt-service planning.

The board adjourned after approving the remaining personnel and administrative items on the agenda.