Central Unified trustees approve contracts, purchases and construction awards in 7-0 votes

The Central Unified School District Board of Trustees on April 8 approved a series of contracts, purchases and construction awards, voting unanimously on each formal item and scheduling several larger contracts for the board's May 13 agenda.

Board members voted 7-0 to approve an interim superintendent contract beginning March 26, 2025, to pay the interim superintendent $1,056.58 per working day with no fringe benefits; to accept a $3,550 donation to Central High School FFA; and to approve multiple facility- and operations-related purchases and awards, including the low-bid awards for Justin Garza High School Athletic Complex Increment 3 and the purchase and installation of security cameras at a single elementary site.

The board also approved routine and policy items by unanimous votes: the quarterly Williams uniform complaint report, revised board policies (including updates to student activity funds language), field trips, authorized signatures and mailing permits, and the purchase of kitchen equipment. Administration presented additional construction- and service-related itemsmaterial testing, DSA inspection services, and change orders for Charles Watts/Colorado Elementary Schoolwhich the board received as information and placed on the May 13 agenda for formal action.

Key votes at a glance: - Interim superintendent contract (daily rate $1,056.58; effective 03/26/2025): approved 7-0. - Acceptance of gifts (Central High School FFA donation $3,550): approved 7-0. - Williams quarterly uniform complaint (one facilities complaint resolved): approved 7-0. - Justin Garza High School Athletic Complex, Increment 3: award to lowest responsive bidders as tabulated: approved 7-0. - Field trips (including Justin Garza university/STEM trip on April 26): approved 7-0. - Revised board policies (including student activity funds policy BP 03/1952 revisions): approved 7-0. - Authorized signature and mailing permits: approved 7-0. - Security camera purchase and installation (single elementary site via CMAS): approved 7-0. - Purchase of kitchen equipment: approved 7-0. - Consent agenda (multiple recognition resolutions and routine items): approved (motion carries 7-0 after two items pulled for discussion).

Administration said the Justin Garza athletic complex bids came in near the project estimate (district staff reported an approximate $8 million scope as expected) and recommended award to the lowest responsive bidders. For a playground repair and improvement at Steinbeck Elementary, staff described a revised timeline due to DSA involvement and noted the district may return with a minor budget increase request to finish the project before the 2025—26 school year.

Several procurement items were described as using preexisting contracting mechanisms: the security camera purchase will be procured through the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) contract; DSA inspection services and material-testing proposals for the Justin Garza project were presented for placement on the May 13 consent agenda.

Items scheduled for the May 13 agenda for formal board action include the Care Solace mental health navigation contract (total cost $59,250 to be paid from the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant), DSA inspection services for the Justin Garza Athletic Complex, materials testing and laboratory services, and change orders for Charles Watts/Colorado Elementary School.

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2025, with closed session at 6 p.m. and open session at 7 p.m. at the district office.

Votes and outcomes reported above reflect motions and tally statements recorded in the meeting transcript; individual roll-call votes were not read aloud for each item in the transcript and the board recorded the final tally as seven in favor, zero opposed for the items listed.