Superintendent details enrollment, bond projects and child nutrition trends

Superintendent delivered the monthly report to the Tahlequah Public Schools Board, reporting enrollment, bond-project updates, attendance trends and child nutrition figures that staff said they are watching closely.

Enrollment and staffing: The superintendent reported 522 employees and 3,673 students districtwide, with small month-to-month enrollment changes noted at individual schools.

Bond and facilities: Bond-funded work is underway at Greenwood (window replacement and trim/electrical panel work) and the superintendent said remaining bond funds will be used for renovations across the district, including flooring and bathroom work. The district described a planned 40-by-40 agricultural barn to be added to an existing building between the middle and high school; construction is expected to be bid soon with an internal goal to have the barn available by August next year. The superintendent said the barn is expected to cost about $200,000; the district had secured $103,000 in donations and plans to use roughly $100,000 from the building fund if needed.

Attendance: Each building remained above a 90% attendance rate; the superintendent supplied point-by-point attendance percentages for several schools showing small declines month to month but year-to-date improvements compared with last year.

Child nutrition and meal programs: District child nutrition served 61,958 meals across 15 serving days and recorded that monthly expenditures exceeded receipts by about $12,000 for the month reported. The superintendent said that difference partly reflected timing and benefit costs and that the district is working with Chartwells to review operations. The district is expanding grab-and-go carts (in place at the high school and targeted for middle school rollout) and piloting a supper program to feed athletes at away games; staff reported separate programming numbers are expected to increase participation and help offset CEP (community eligibility provision) cost implications.

Community engagement and planning: The district hosted seven OSSBA listening sessions with about 110 participants to inform strategic planning. A consultant will visit the district to conduct facility assessments; early enrollment projections suggest modest growth (around 100 students) over the next 6 to 8 years.

Thanksgiving/community outreach: The district reported serving 4,310 people on Thanksgiving Day (an increase of 518 over last year) and is continuing food-box and voucher distribution through an Eastern Food Bank partnership.

What the board requested: Members asked staff to provide additional participation numbers for meal program uptake and to produce clearer calendar materials for public use. The superintendent committed to continuing monthly updates on nutrition finances and project timelines.

No formal board action was taken on bond projects or nutrition at this meeting; those matters will return for budget or procurement approvals as required.