Board approves signage contracts, Chartwells extension, legal funding and a transportation plan to secure reimbursement

The Wiseburn Unified School District board approved several operational and fiscal items in a series of votes that the board carried without dissent.

The board approved two related contract items for campus signage: an award under a piggyback bid from Arvin Unified (as described in board materials) to Kaya Services LLC for districtwide signage and a separate amendment to update a previously awarded contract’s legal name. Board members moved both items together and voted 4-0 to approve them.

On food services, the board approved a contract extension with Compass Group’s Chartwells division for district food service operations. Board members asked whether the vendor price increase was tied to changes in federal reimbursement; district staff said they would follow up with detailed information.

The board also approved additional funding for legal services with the firm DWK (Dennis Walliver and colleagues). District staff told the board the budget line for outside counsel will be increased in next year’s budget preparation and estimated that the district is likely to need roughly $200,000–$300,000 in general legal services (the figure was described as an approximate range). Staff attributed the increase to a rise in litigation in special education and student‑services matters.

Finally, the board approved a transportation service plan covering the 2024–25 school year required to access approximately $47,000 in reimbursement funds. Staff said the plan must be approved by April 1 for the district to receive the reimbursement; if not approved, staff said the district would need to cover the amount from general fund sources.

All items in this grouping passed on voice votes recorded as 4 yes, 0 no.