The Allen Board of Education voted Thursday to accept the lowest bid for the $930,000 general obligation building bonds of the school district.

The lowest bidder was First United Bank.

The matter — which must be done annually or biennially — concerns the sale of the building bonds, part of a bond issue that was passed by voters in 2017 to construct the new gym, renovate and add classrooms to the junior high school and build new elementary-school classrooms.

Superintendent Jeff Hiatt said the interest rate — 4.998813% — is good for what rates are now.

JC Leonard from Stephen H. McDonald and Associates was present at the meeting to go over the annual sale.

“He said they are projecting (interest rates) won’t go down any time soon, but they may go up, actually,” Hiatt said.

Regular School Board Meeting Immediately following the special meeting, a regular meeting was held to close out the fiscal year 2024 books and open up the budget for the fiscal year 2025 school year, beginning July 1st.

Board President Frankie Bell, Board Clerk Ron Batey and Board Member Mario Gonzalez were present. Board Members Mike Todd and Brad Wofford were absent.

During a previous June meeting, Hiatt said that Allen Schools is in summer mode, trying to get everything ready for the start of the upcoming school year.

Hiatt confirmed that everything is on track to be completed by the start of the school year, which, for students, classes begin Thursday, August 15th, while teachers will return to school a few days earlier, Monday, August 12th.

Consent Agenda

The board voted to approve the consent agenda, which included: - The fiscal year 20232024 Purchase Orders and Encumbrances: Building Fund numbers 31 and 32 ($47,470.75); Child Nutrition numbers 43 and 44 ($75,628.)

- The fiscal year 20242025 Purchase Orders and Encumbrances: General Fund numbers 1 through 101 ($700,229.75); Building Fund numbers 1 through 21 ($258,500); Child Nutrition Fund numbers 1 through 20 ($63,000).

- The appointments of: Brenda Robertson as Treasurer and Minutes Clerk to the Board; and Lisa Cundiff as Encumbrance Clerk and Activity Fund Custodian for fiscal year 2025.

- Effective July 1, 2024, Jeff Hiatt, Superintendent, appointed as Purchasing/ Receiving Agent, district representative in all matters concerning state and federal funds, including PL 874, Child Nutrition, Surplus Property, Title Programs, REAP, Johnson O’Malley, Career-Tech, Carl Perkins, E-Rate, Mineral Royalty, Insurance and other items of district concern for fiscal year 2025.

- Jeff Hiatt, Superintendent, the authority to increase purchase orders for fiscal year 2025 by $250.

Hiatt said an ability to increase purchase orders if needed will help avoid problems if something costs a little more. “So, if someone writes a PO (purchase order), like for Home Depot, and say they need to buy something that’s $1,000, and then they get over there and it’s actually like $1,100, I can up it as much as $250,” Hiatt said. “Otherwise, the PO wouldn’t be any good, they would have to come back, re-write it and have the board approve it.” - T e m p o r a r y Appropriations for the fiscal year 2024-2025 REVISED: General Fund $6,750,000; Building Fund $3,558,654; and Child Nutrition Fund $795,000. -Renewing procurement plan for the Child Nutrition program for fiscal year 2025. - Math and science credits for Allen students completing courses at Pontotoc Technology Center for school year (2024-2025), ending June 30, 2025. - Renewal of memberships, services and contracts for fiscal year 2024-2025, (OPSRC, Oklahoma Public School Resource Center).

Action Items There were no action items listed on the agenda.