Board approves CTE renovations, middle school ceiling and district water‑filter work; awards four summer contracts

The Romulus Community Schools Board of Education voted May 13 to award four construction and equipment contracts ahead of the summer work window: CTE classroom renovations at Romulus High School, ceiling and lighting replacement at Romulus Middle School, a districtwide drinking‑fountain replacement tied to the Filter First mandate, and new furniture for renovated CTE rooms.

The board approved all four motions by roll call vote.

Why it matters: the measures refurbish classrooms used for career and technical education, update aging lighting and emergency fixtures at the middle school, and complete mandated water filtration work; together the projects change physical learning environments and deploy funds that must be spent or preserved for infrastructure work.

The largest item — a ceiling and lighting replacement at Romulus Middle School — was awarded to Spartan Construction at a base amount of $1,232,000 plus a board‑added 10% contingency for unforeseen construction conditions; funding will come from the sinking fund. Director of Operations Jason Perkins said two of the three bids received were incomplete and that the committee determined the single complete bid was competitively justified. Perkins added the project includes tying the school’s existing generator into emergency lighting.

The board approved a CTE improvements package (culinary arts "Eagle’s Nest," health sciences and accounting classrooms) awarded to Shaw Construction for up to $199,999 plus a 10% contingency. Perkins said CTE grant funding must be spent on program‑specific infrastructure, and that the district accelerated these improvements to avoid losing eligible CTE dollars.

KJ Miller Mechanical was awarded the drinking fountain replacement contract at a cost not to exceed $135,255 plus a 10% contingency. Perkins said the work implements the district’s Filter First mandate for drinking stations; he noted that sink‐point‑of‑use filtration for some staff or kitchen sinks is not included in this package. Perkins reported grant funding covers $91,610 of the fountain work, leaving a $43,645 shortfall that he recommended draw from the sinking fund.

Finally the board approved the purchase of new furniture from Holland Desk and Chair for the renovated CTE spaces for $169,152.24 to match the planned classroom upgrades. Perkins said the purchasing method uses consortium pricing and did not require a separate public bid.

Each construction resolution included a 10% contingency. Motions were moved and seconded as follows: the CTE contract motion was moved by Trustee Davis and supported by Trustee Rogers; the drinking fountain and ceiling/lighting motions were moved by Davis and supported by Rogers; the furniture motion was moved by Davis and supported by Trustee Kennard. Roll call votes were unanimous in favor.

Board members discussed overlap between the pending bond initiative and the sinking fund, with trustees and the superintendent noting many facility projects could be funded via either mechanism. Perkins said legally either sinking fund or bond proceeds can pay eligible facility costs, and he framed the recommended approach as "a bird in the hand" — use available sinking and grant funds now rather than wait on a bond outcome.

The board did not authorize additional point‑of‑use sink filtration in this motion; Perkins said that work remains a separate procurement. Trustee Kennard asked whether contractors could engage students interested in construction trades; Perkins said he would facilitate such opportunities.

Outlook: formal purchase orders and vendor contracts will follow the board approvals; Perkins said contractors expect to complete drinking‑fountain work and other items over the summer before school resumes.