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On Thursday, January 23, Superintendent of Poteau Schools, Scott Kempenich facilitated a public forum to discuss the bond issue that would increase the millage on property taxes.
The proposed Student Investment Plan is a $1.23 million series bond that would raise the district’s millage from just under 12 mills to approximately 18 mills, which would be a 6.5% tax increase for all property within the Poteau School District.
The bond is to be used to install HVAC systems in the gyms at the Primary and Upper Elementary Schools, and the Pansy Kidd Middle School gyms. The new HVAC systems will provide not only a more comfortable environment for students and faculty but also enhanced safety as well.
Currently, the gyms are being cooled by propping the doors open and having large fans circulate the air, which causes an unsecure facility.
According to Mr. Vance Smedley who teaches PE at both the Primary and Upper Elementary Schools, temperatures reach at least 990 when school first starts in August. To help keep students from over-heating, staff utilize large commercial fans set in front of the open gymnasium doors. Propping the doors open is not effective in keeping the temperature cool enough for the students to have the full PE time allotted, so they have to forfeit about half of their physical education to go sit in an air-conditioned classroom. In addition, propped open doors removes the security of the gyms and would allow would-be intruders free access to the buildings and to anyone inside.
As well as a physical education facility, each gym is utilized for school-wide activities and events such as the Choctaw Tribal Dancers and assemblies. Security is a top priority for students during these activities as well.
According to Kempenich, there are three schools in Class 4A with a greater Average Daily Membership or student enrollment than Poteau. Those three schools (Ardmore, Woodward, and Tulsa McLain) have significantly higher millage rates than Poteau.
Ardmore has 24.29 millage, Woodward has 16.78, and McLain has 27.94.
The rest of District 4A schools range from 0 mills (Stilwell) to 36.18 mills (Tuttle). The average millage of these eight schools is 21.21 mills. Poteau Schools’ current millage rate is 11.88% which places the school above only Stilwell (0) and Broken Bow (6.91) and significantly lower than the other 4A schools—Sallisaw 20.14, Tulsa McLain 27.94, Hilldale 29.06, Ada 31.40, and Glenpool 32.99. The proposed 6.5% tax increase would move Poteau closer to the millage rate of the other schools in District 4A.
The proposed increase of 6.5 mills would mean that Poteau School District property owners would pay an additional $65 per year for each $1,000 in property taxes, or $5.42 per month.
“Poteau Schools strives each day to meet the needs of the students and has developed “The Capital Improvement Committee” to accommodate the facility improvements and updates throughout the district,” Mr. Kempenich stated.
“The new Seventh and Eighth Grade Center, updates of the FFA Building and The BLK Center, the High School Second Story and new HVAC units and ductwork in the high school gym, were improvements the older students needed. Now is the time to meet the needs of the younger students, with climate control in their gyms. Unfortunately, the funds are not available for HVAC units at these facilities. Having this tax increase is the only way we are able to fund these improvements.”
The Special Election to allow residents of the Poteau Schools District to vote on the bond and proposed tax increase takes place on Feb. 11, 2025. In order for the tax increase to take place, a minimum of sixty percent of the voters will need to vote in favor of the bond.
Anyone who wants more information on the proposal can contact Kempenich. There will be another public forum about the bond issue on Feb. 7 at the Donald W. Reynolds Center in Poteau.
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