Board affirms preventive maintenance fund commitment; final deductive change order closes Hubbard Bridal school contract

Trustees considered and approved the annual commitment of general fund balance to the district's preventive maintenance fund and approved a final deductive change order to the contract with CDI Contractors for the Hubbard Bridal School project, which administration described as finishing under budget.

During discussion a trustee noted the preventive maintenance commitment amounts to roughly a million dollars in current-year funding and recalled that the original strategy began about 20 years ago at a per-penny allocation; another trustee observed that three cents per penny was the historical reference point and asked when the district should consider increasing that allocation in light of inflation and rising construction costs. Finance staff (Miss Russell) reported the district had about $3,000,000 budgeted for preventive maintenance in 2024–25 and said the district ended FY2024–25 with an $10.9 million fund balance after starting with $11.9 million, indicating the district currently spends more than it brings in for that fund.

Administration described the Hubbard Bridal School project's final deductive change order as a closeout item that technically left the project under budget; board members celebrated finishing that facility work. Trustees approved consent items and closeout-related motions by voice vote.

No immediate change in the preventive maintenance per-penny commitment was adopted at the meeting; trustees asked staff to consider longer-term strategies for funding preventive maintenance and to bring options back for future discussion.