Tahlequah board approves stipends, calendar, personnel items and food-service MOU
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Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the board approved one-time staff stipends, the 2026–27 school calendar, personnel hires, surplus items, encumbrances and an MOU with Compass Group/Chartwells; the board also held an executive session for the superintendent evaluation and reported no action.
The Tahlequah Public Schools Board approved a series of routine and policy items during its Dec. 16 meeting, including one-time staff stipends, the 2026–27 school calendar, personnel hires and a memorandum of understanding with Chartwells.
Key outcomes:
- Staff stipends: The board approved a one-time payment of $200 for full-time staff and $100 for part-time staff to be paid the week of the meeting; administrators told employees they could change withholding choices in advance. The board recorded voice votes of "Aye" for the approval.
- School calendar: The 2026–27 calendar was approved; the superintendent and board members said it starts the school year about one month earlier than previous years to provide more instructional days before end-of-year assessments. The calendar approval passed by voice vote.
- Personnel: The board approved personnel items including hires listed on the agenda (examples cited include Larry Canvas, maintenance; Catherine Martin, paraprofessional; Cynthia Haines, SPED teacher). The motion was moved and seconded and carried.
- Surplus property and encumbrances: The board reviewed Board Policy 3127 on surplus procedures, discussed auction and sale options, and voted to approve the listed surplus items and the schedule of encumbrances.
- Food-service MOU: The board approved a memorandum of understanding with Compass Group USA, Inc. (Chartwells K-12) to determine the final maximum profit guarantee for the 2024–25 school year.
- Executive session: The board entered executive session under the stated statutory authority to discuss the superintendent’s evaluation (district goals and community relations) and returned to open session at 07:52; the president stated ‘‘No action was taken.’’
Most votes were recorded as voice votes with board members responding ‘Aye.’ Where recorded, the board made motions, seconded them and adopted the items as presented in the consent and business dockets. Future board agenda items will include bond bid approvals and continued reviews of capital requisitions.