Poteau school board returns from executive session and approves personnel actions for 2026–2027

The Poteau school board met in executive session to review personnel matters under Title 25 §307(B)(1) of the Oklahoma statutes, returned to open session and then voted 5-0 to approve resignations listed on the agenda and to hire multiple district staff for the 2026–2027 school year.

The board announced it convened in executive session to discuss personnel matters and reported in open session that Mr. Kipnick, Mr. Hackler (for a brief time) and Coach Hayes attended; "No actions were taken, no motions were made," the board reported after returning to open session.

Following the closed-session report, the board considered a motion to approve the resignations listed in agenda item five and to approve employment actions. The board approved the employment of French McLemore as district grounds custodian. It also approved, pending required certification where noted, the hiring of Blake Andrews as head boys wrestling coach, Jimmy Hornbuckle as head girls wrestling coach, Tyler Davis as an English teacher, and Sydney Womack as a pre-K teacher. The motion was seconded and carried on a 5-0 roll-call vote.

The meeting then concluded with a motion to adjourn, which carried on a roll-call vote. A brief, informal exchange followed as the presiding officer asked Coach Hayes about his family’s health.

The board’s references to the personnel discussion cite Title 25 §307(B)(1) of the Oklahoma statutes as the legal authority for the closed session. The transcript phrase "resignations set out in five" was recorded as spoken; the board’s motion referenced those resignations as part of agenda item five. The transcript does not list the resigning employees by name in the open session record.