Poteau board declares movie theater surplus, approves lease with church; district outlines lease‑purchase plan

The Poteau Public Schools Board approved a lease agreement with The Gathering Church for use of the movie theater at 2214 North Broadway Street and declared the property surplus as staff outlined a plan to market the property and pursue a long‑term lease‑purchase arrangement.

Superintendent Kietnick told the board the district wants to put the theater into productive community use and eventually convert proceeds to pay down land debt. He said Community State Bank currently holds primary ownership under existing terms and that the district’s ability to sell or enter a lease‑purchase depends on timing tied to that arrangement.

"We want to be able to sell that at some point and use that money to start paying off some of the land that we've got," the superintendent said, explaining the lease‑purchase vision. He said staff will advertise the surplus in the paper for one month and seek proposals; the district plans a seven‑year lease‑purchase option with a balloon payment on the back end to let an entrepreneur build revenue before paying an agreed amount.

The board also approved a lease agreement with Giving Grace and The Gathering Church to operate the theater under the lease terms in the packet. The district emphasized the local need for indoor recreation and entertainment for young people and said it hopes the arrangement will produce community benefit while generating revenue for the district.

Board members approved declaring the theater surplus and the lease agreement by roll call. Staff said they will return with formal lease‑purchase paperwork and bid results after the public notice period.