Poteau board calls Feb. 11 bond election for $1.23 million HVAC work; approves hybrid virtual academy for 2026

The Poteau Public Schools Board on Dec. 9 approved a resolution calling a special election on Feb. 11, 2025, asking voters to authorize $1,230,000 in general obligation bonds to fund HVAC installations at three campus gyms and related building work, and approved a plan to launch a hybrid Poteau Virtual Academy for the 2025–26 school year.

The board voted to place a bond proposition on the February ballot that would, if approved by voters, raise the district sinking-fund millage so the district can pay debt service on bonds. A staff presenter said the proposal would increase the sinking-fund millage from 11.88 to an estimated 17.69 and described the projected tax impact as “around 6 a half percent,” equivalent to about $6.50 more per $100 in property taxes (about $65 per $1,000 annually, or roughly $5.42 per month) based on current market and assessed-value projections.

Why it matters: District officials said the money would buy and install HVAC systems at the Primary School, Upper Elementary School and Pansy Kidd Middle School gyms, and that at least 85% of proceeds would be spent on those projects. Staff emphasized the district’s limited remaining building-fund capacity and the need to spread capital projects across revenue sources.

Board members also approved several operational items tied to the district’s short-term budget and program plans. The board employed Stephen H. McDonald & Associates as the district’s financial consultant before approving the bond resolution; district staff said the consultant will assist with projections, bid timing and the bond-sale process.

Virtual academy approved

The board unanimously approved creation of a hybrid Poteau Virtual Academy for fiscal year 2026. District leaders described the model as a blended program that will allow students to pursue core classes online while remaining eligible for in-person electives, fine arts and athletics when academically eligible.

Superintendent (title not specified) said the district plans to hire a full-time principal and five teachers for the secondary-level program (math, English, science, social studies and an elective) and to cap enrollment at 150 students in the first year. The district intends to locate the program in the current administration building after administration moves to the new facility.

District leaders said program safeguards will include a parent portal for regular grade visibility, mandatory on-site “SOS” tutoring for students who fall behind, weekly communication requirements, an initial orientation and a physical location for in-person support. “If a kid starts to struggle, yes” they will be required to attend on-site support, the superintendent said.

Other approvals and business

- Emergency procedures guide: The board approved a newly drafted emergency-operations guide intended to provide site-level procedures and improve readiness with input from administration, teachers and local law enforcement.

- Stipends and payroll items: The board approved a one-time adjustment to the 2024–25 stipend list to add a $500 stipend for a girls powerlifting sponsor and approved a revised stipend schedule for 2025–26 that aligns athletic and extracurricular pay with comparable districts and introduces a playoff-week payment schedule so coaches receive weekly pay for additional postseason weeks.

- Donations and activity account actions: The rodeo club’s activity account donated $5,525.66 to Mains and Miracles at Chaffey Crossing; the board approved disbursing the remaining funds and closing the rodeo account.

- Memoranda of understanding: The board approved annual MOUs with Karl Albert Mental Health (student services), Save the Children (early childhood/special-needs entry for 3-year-olds) and a Bluebird Body Company agreement tied to the district’s planned electric bus purchases and related vendor obligations.

- Routine fiscal and operational motions: The board approved November minutes, the November financial reports and encumbrances, quarterly student-transfer capacity numbers and a single out-of-state activity trip (soccer team to Van Buren, March 4). Staff reported the district expects a roughly $141,000 child-nutrition federal claim to post the following week and reminded the board of near-term building-fund and loan payments and upcoming expenditures for turf and facility renovations.

Facilities and accountability updates

Facilities staff showed progress photos and an updated schedule for the new administration building, saying interior work should be substantially complete by early January, with IT installation planned for February and furniture arriving in March; the team said the project is slightly ahead of schedule. The facilities report included mock-ups of exterior signage and a proposed illuminated pirate head for the façade.

The board also received a preview of state report-card results for the 2023–24 school year. District staff reported most sites held steady with last year’s grades; several sites improved chronic-absenteeism scores and the high school’s postsecondary and graduation-related indicators moved from C to B.

What’s next

Board members signed election resolutions and related documentation so the bond question can be published and filed before the district’s Thursday filing deadline. If the bond is placed on the ballot, the election will be held Feb. 11, 2025. District leaders said they will work on public information and outreach between now and the vote and will return to the board in January to post the virtual-academy principal position and begin hiring.

The meeting closed after the board convened into an executive session and accepted routine resignations; the board adjourned at the end of the evening.