Board approves LED upgrades, irrigation work, state energy grants and other items; designates April as Month of the Military Child

The Clover Park School District Board of Directors voted on multiple budget and contract items at its April 14, 2025 regular meeting, approving the consent agenda and seven individual action items ranging from energy-efficiency work to personnel reorganization and a scholarship fund.

Consent agenda: The board approved consent agenda items 25-096 through 25-102 by voice vote; the motion carried unanimously.

LED lighting and McKinstry contract (Agenda item 25-103): The board approved a performance-based contract to complete LED lighting upgrades at Lakes High School. Superintendent Banner said the work relates to the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (House Bill 1257 of 2019) and that the district secured a Department of Commerce grant for $607,020; total project cost is estimated at $741,105 with the remaining $134,085 covered by the district capital projects fund. The motion to authorize the contract with McKinstry was moved by Director Darren Lowery, seconded by Director Thomas, and passed unanimously.

Lakes High School irrigation contract (Agenda item 25-104): The board awarded the construction contract for Lakes High School field irrigation to Frost Landscape and Design LLC with a construction budget of $289,012.50. The bid process was conducted per state procurement rules (RCW 28A.335.190 was cited during the discussion). Director Thomas moved approval; Director Caldwell seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Department of Commerce energy audits grant (Agenda item 25-105): The board accepted a $203,500 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to fund energy audits of Clover Park High School and Lakes High School under the Clean Buildings Performance Standard. The resolution was moved by Director Darren Lowery, seconded by Director Thomas, and approved unanimously.

Designating April as the Month of the Military Child (Agenda item 25-106): The board adopted a resolution designating April as the Month of the Military Child, noting that more than one-third of district students are military-connected and encouraging district-wide recognition. Director Caldwell moved the resolution; Director Lowery seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Resolution to reduce position in early learning (Agenda item 25-107): The board approved a resolution to eliminate an unrepresented early learning supervisor position and replace it with an assistant director for early learning to oversee ECAP, Head Start, early childhood special education and related grants and compliance. The motion was moved by Director Thomas and seconded by Director Lowery; the motion passed with one abstention recorded in the meeting transcript (the individual who abstained was not identified on the public record) and otherwise carried.

Thomas Eagle McLeach Rambo Memorial Fund scholarship (Agenda item 25-108): The board approved acceptance of donations to establish a $1,300 annual scholarship administered through the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation for Lakes High School graduating seniors demonstrating financial need. Director Caldwell moved the resolution; Director Lowery seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

No other individual action items failed. Several board members noted the procurement and grant activity supports ongoing facility and energy-efficiency work in the district and that the personnel change in early learning is a programmatic reorganization rather than a curriculum decision.