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Board approves bond‑funded moves, network upgrades, furniture and field design; authorizes second bond series
Summary
The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools board on March 6 approved several bond‑ and sinking‑fund‑funded projects — from move management to network upgrades and athletic‑field design — and authorized a second bond series not to exceed $50,020,000.
The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Board of Education on March 6 approved a series of bond‑ and sinking‑fund‑related projects and authorized the issue of a second bond series as part of the district’s 2024 bond program.
Key approvals included:
- Move management services: The board authorized the administration to hire Plant Moran (a subsidiary of the Plant Moran group referenced at the meeting) to coordinate move‑management services related to repurposing Geisler Middle School in an amount not to exceed $65,000, to be paid from the 2024 bond program. The contract covers coordination, inventories, vendor solicitations (RFP) for movers and on‑site move supervision. (Motion moved by Mrs. Fernandez.)
- Network upgrades: The board awarded a bid to INNACOMTSG to perform districtwide network upgrades for a total of $503,822.91. The project is funded by bond proceeds and a matching E‑rate grant; roughly half the cost will be covered by the federal E‑rate program, leaving about $250,000 charged to bond proceeds. The recommendation stated the district received the lowest responsive bid and the procurement team recommended award to the lowest qualified bidder.
- Furniture package: The board authorized entering into standard agreements with multiple vendors to furnish Walled Lake Northern and the Phase‑2 spaces at Walled Lake Western at a total cost of $2,526,814.39 funded by bond proceeds. Administrators said the scope included repurposing nonstationary office furniture from Geisler Middle School to reduce costs.
- Athletic‑field design: The board approved entering into a standard‑form agreement with Foresight Design for design and construction‑administration services for Walled Lake Northern’s baseball and softball varsity fields for $54,000 to be funded from the sinking fund. Administrators said the work will include new turf, drainage and related improvements; the district plans similar projects at other high schools in later years.
- Bond resolution: The board adopted a resolution authorizing the administration to issue a second series of the district’s $250,000,000 bond authorization, with the second series amount not to exceed $50,020,000. The resolution delegates execution and closing authority to the superintendent and assistant superintendent of business services and anticipates a May 2025 bond closing.
Administrators emphasized cost‑saving measures tied to repurposing furniture from Geisler Middle School. “We would be taking that furniture and using it, not disposing of it,” said Dr. Lanz, the superintendent, when describing the approach to reduce repurchase costs.
Why it matters: The actions advance multiple capital projects — technology improvements, facility repurposing and athletic upgrades — funded from bond proceeds and sinking‑fund dollars approved previously by voters. The bond‑issuance authorization gives the administration flexibility to sell bonds when market conditions are favorable.
What’s next: The move coordination firm will prepare RFPs for the moving services, procurement teams will award the moving contracts based on bids, and bond closing is anticipated in May 2025 pending market conditions and underwriting.
