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Poteau board approves 2026–27 salary schedules, meal prices and capital spending
Summary
The Poteau Public Schools board approved salary schedules and stipends for 2026–27, minor increases to meal prices, and several building- and equipment-related expenditures after hearing May financials and year-to-date budget impacts.
The Poteau Public Schools Board approved its 2026–27 salary schedules, multiple extra-duty and athletic stipends, and a modest increase in high-school lunch prices during its June meeting.
Treasurer Valerie opened the discussion with May financial results, noting general-fund revenue was down year-to-date because prior-year ESSER funds had skewed last year’s totals while expenditures rose "due to our increase in salary benefits" and new positions. "The 1.5 million has been paid off," Valerie said, referencing a debt payoff that affected the month’s figures. She also told the board the district purchased two diesel and two electric route buses this year and expects some timing differences to appear in next month’s reports.
Board members then reviewed proposed compensation items tied to increased state funding. Valerie said the district’s certified staff averages rose by about $2,000 per person under the state pay-raise program and that the support schedule had a single change for a cafeteria manager. "We ended up spending a little over $2,000 on every single employee in Poto that's a certified employee," she said. The board approved the salary schedules and an updated administrative salary index as presented.
The board also adopted changes to extra-duty compensation — adding stipends for yearbook sponsors and recognizing longtime assistant Missy Haney — and revised athletic stipends to split athletic-director pay, adjust coaching stipends and equalize dance and cheer pay. The district approved for the first time a playoff stipend schedule to compensate coaches for postseason work.
On food-service pricing, the board approved next year’s meal rates: breakfast will remain $2.10 and lunch will increase from $2.85 to $2.95 for the 2026–27 school year.
The meeting included routine approvals of POs and encumbrances: diesel fuel contingencies, OT/PT therapy services, a primary-school water-leak repair and epoxy work in a stage area. Valerie described investments in facility projects — HVAC, gym flooring and a walk-in freezer for the cafeteria — and reminded the board that a Red Bud payment expected in June should bolster the building fund balance.
The board concluded by approving the presented salary and stipend packages and the ancillary POs needed to support the district’s operations going into FY27.
