Poteau school board amends handbook, approves summer EBT MOU, contracts and hires virtual principal

The Poteau School Board at a regular meeting approved an amendment to the district handbook to allow students suspended for serious offenses to make up missed schoolwork and approved a series of contracts and administrative actions, including a memorandum of understanding with the Choctaw Nation to provide summer electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to qualifying families and the hiring of Amber Brand as principal of Poteau Virtual Academy.

The handbook change was proposed by Miss Lamb (staff member) and brought the district practice into alignment with the board’s stated mission of maintaining inclusive educational opportunities. Board members approved the change on a roll call following a motion and second; the transcript records assent from all members present.

Votes at a glance

• SEC handbook adjustment — Motion: amend language so students suspended for possession of a weapon or controlled substance may continue to complete assignments while suspended. Moved and seconded on the record. Outcome: approved on roll call (no dissent recorded in transcript).

• Choctaw Nation Summer EBT memorandum of understanding — Motion to approve a switch from the Chickasaw program to a Choctaw Nation EBT arrangement providing qualifying households a debit card with $40 per month for summer months. Outcome: approved on roll call (no dissent recorded in transcript).

• Peak Up Time contract (technology for new administration building) — Motion to approve technology contract to equip the new administration building consistent with district standards. Outcome: approved on roll call (no dissent recorded in transcript).

• One-time stipend for virtual academy principal — Motion to approve a $5,000 stipend to compensate the principal of the virtual academy for duties performed January–June 2025 before the position’s July 1 start date. Outcome: approved on roll call (no dissent recorded in transcript).

• DHS amended contract (school‑based family services specialist) — Motion to approve an amended contract changing billing frequency to quarterly and capping funds at $60,000; the board approved the amendment on roll call.

• Hiring of Amber Brand as principal, Poteau Virtual Academy — Motion and second recorded; board approved Amber Brand by roll call.

• 2025–26 superintendent contract — A motion to approve the 2025–26 superintendent contract was made and seconded and a roll call was taken; the transcript shows mixed responses and does not clearly record a final, unambiguous outcome for that motion.

Discussion and context

Miss Lamb framed the handbook change as an attempt to reconcile the written SEC handbook language with current district practice, saying the intent was to avoid students falling behind academically while suspended. A board member asked whether the change would remove discipline; Lamb replied that suspensions and discipline would remain in place but that students should be allowed to complete assignments during the suspension.

District staff described the Choctaw EBT MOU as a continuation of an existing program with a new vendor/partner (switching from Chickasaw to Choctaw) that provides $40 per eligible household per month during the summer. The Peak Up Time contract was presented as a technology package to bring the new administration building’s systems in line with the district’s other sites. The $5,000 principal stipend was explained as compensation for work (hiring staff, preparing a handbook, spring enrollment and recruitment) that will occur before the official July 1 start date.

The transcript records motions, seconds and roll calls for the listed items; where the roll call is recorded the board voted in favor and no “no” or abstention is recorded. The recorded vote on the 2025–26 superintendent contract contains mixed answers in the transcript and the final result is not clearly reported there.

Who said what (speakers referenced in the meeting record)

Miss Lamb (staff member) — requested handbook adjustment. Board members (named in roll calls): Adams (board member); Thompson (board member); Heck (board member); Jochim (board member); Ade Heath (board member); Levy (board member); Wilkam (board member); M. Doogie (board member); Gigi (board member — referenced in roll calls). Mr. Kepnick (district staff member) — referred to financial/state‑aid matters and participated in presentations. Amber Brand — appointee, principal of Poteau Virtual Academy (employment approved by board vote in the meeting record). Lexi Padilla — school‑based family services specialist (program/contract discussed; contract amendment approved).

Clarifying details

• Handbook: language change concerns item on page 17 of the SEC handbook that previously prevented students suspended for possession of a dangerous weapon or a controlled substance (as described in the transcript) from making up schoolwork; the board approved removing that restriction so suspended students may complete assignments while suspended.

• Choctaw EBT: program provides a summer debit card for qualifying households with $40 per month; this is a switch in vendor/nation from the Chickasaw program to Choctaw and requires a formal agreement.

• Peak Up Time contract: technology package for the new administration building to match district standards (detailed scope and dollar amount were presented in the packet, not read into the transcript).

• One‑time stipend: $5,000 for duties performed January–June 2025; the principal’s official start date is July 1, 2025.

• DHS amended contract: billing frequency changed from monthly to quarterly and the agreement includes a cap of $60,000 per the amended document.

Actions (formal motions recorded in the transcript)

1) SEC handbook adjustment — motion text (as spoken): “I move we approve the adjustment to the SEC handbook.” Mover: board member (unnamed in the motion line). Second: (recorded). Vote: roll call recorded with affirmative responses by members present; outcome: approved.

2) Out‑of‑state activity trips (high school boys and girls track) — motion text (as spoken): “We accept the out of state travel for track.” Mover and second recorded. Vote: approved on roll call.

3) Choctaw Nation Summer EBT MOU — motion text (as spoken): to approve the Choctaw ABT/EBT program MOU. Mover and second recorded. Vote: approved on roll call.

4) Peak Up Time contract — motion to approve technology contract. Mover and second recorded. Vote: approved on roll call.

5) One‑time stipend for virtual academy principal — motion to approve $5,000 stipend. Mover and second recorded. Vote: approved on roll call.

6) DHS contract amendment — motion to approve amended DHS contract (quarterly billing, $60,000 cap). Mover and second recorded. Vote: approved on roll call.

7) Hire Amber Brand, principal, Poteau Virtual Academy — motion to approve employment. Mover and second recorded. Vote: approved on roll call.

8) 2025–26 superintendent contract — motion to approve contract 25–26. Mover and second recorded. Transcript records varied roll call answers; final outcome not unambiguously recorded in the transcript provided.

Meeting context and engagement

• Engagement level: multiple formal motions with roll call votes; the agenda included routine business, multiple contract approvals and personnel actions. Discussion on most voting items was brief; the handbook change prompted a short policy discussion. The meeting included a substantive site presentation earlier on the agenda (Upper Elementary) and a facilities update.

Proper names mentioned in this article

Poteau Virtual Academy (program); Choctaw Nation (partner for EBT); Chickasaw (previous EBT partner); DHS (Department of Human Services — contract partner); Peak Up Time (vendor for technology); Amber Brand (hire); Lexi Padilla (school‑based family services specialist).

Searchable tags: Poteau Schools, handbook, discipline policy, Choctaw Nation, EBT, contracts, virtual academy, personnel, DHS

Provenance (selected transcript excerpts supporting this article)

• topicintro: "Discussion about to approve or not approve out of state activity trips for the boys and girls high school track teams." (transcript time ~2286.5)

• topfinish: "I move we approve 2526 superintendent contract. I'll second." (transcript time ~7430.6753)