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District debates landscaping contract, Lexia license and transportation plans; electrical panel flagged as costly summer project
Summary
Administrators described a proposed landscaping contract, changes to reading software licenses, ongoing transportation hiring and vehicle plans, and a potentially expensive electrical-panel replacement for the high school. Board and staff discussed cost, priorities and grant timing during the budget review.
Administrators described multiple facilities and operations items during the budget meeting that intersect with the capital plan and summer work schedule: a proposed district-wide landscaping and grounds-maintenance contract, a decision to discontinue the district-wide Lexia site license, transportation plans emphasizing non-CDL vehicles and charging infrastructure, and an electrical-panel issue at the high school that may require replacement.
Landscaping and grounds: Capital facilities manager Matt Cashman described a proposed landscaping scope covering spring and fall cleanup, branch removal, mulch refresh, pruning, weed control and mowing up to twice weekly at peak season. Cashman said outside contractors had been used last year because of staff shortages and that the district has roughly a million square feet of school property and five maintenance employees, with two projected out and only three remaining in the summer. A $100,000 landscaping proposal was discussed as part of the broader $703,000 FY26 capital facilities total presented in the packet; Cashman and board members discussed trade-offs and possible volunteer 'adopt-a-bed' programs to reduce costs.
Lexia and curriculum software: Administration confirmed the district will discontinue the full district Lexia site license because usage did not justify the approximate $70,000 site-license cost. Lexia Pro will be retained for high-school special-education students funded from a special-education budget line; Title I schools can continue to support primary-level licenses using existing Title I funds if sites choose.
Transportation and vans: Administration reported continued driver shortages (roughly 11—12 vacant drivers referenced) and ongoing negotiations to expand non-CDL vehicle use for student transport. Staff said the district currently has a mix of CDL and non-CDL small vehicles and is exploring leases or trade-ins rather than immediate purchase, and that decisions on buying non-CDL vehicles would depend on workforce availability. Electric-charger installation for buses remains pending on external grant funding; administrators said chargers and electrical runs are expensive and that they have set aside an insurance payout from a totaled bus to help pay for chargers if needed.
High-school electrical panel: Capital staff and a vendor flagged a main breaker panel at the high school with older equipment (a discontinued Schneider/Square D legend switch/breaker). The panel is a 3,000-amp main; vendor notes indicated a known design flaw in the handle mechanism that could break during maintenance and render power inoperable. Administration said replacement would be best performed during an already planned summer shutdown; preliminary cost estimates provided in the meeting ranged approximately from $50,000 to $200,000 depending on scope and required arc-flash safety upgrades.
Board members asked that administration prioritize projects, provide precise cost estimates and timing tied to summer shutdowns and bids, and return with potential funding sources. The board agreed that, because some items are contingent on grant awards or bids, administration should present firm figures and options before committing to large purchases.
Ending: Administration said it would bring detailed bids and prioritization to the capital facilities committee and the board; transportation items and charger funding remain contingent on grant awards and workforce availability.
