The Summersworth School Board on July 30 approved up to $115,000 in end-of-year capital expenditures to cover technology, safety and communications projects and set aside a separate allocation for athletics and arts equipment.
The vote amended an initial memo of proposed items and added two board-directed allocations: a not-to-exceed $20,000 “district website revamp and strategic communications materials” line and a not-to-exceed $15,000 allocation for multi-year athletic and arts equipment to be purchased by Sept. 1. The full package of end-of-year expenditures was approved in a single motion, with board members saying remaining unspent funds would be returned to the city audit fund.
Board members and district staff said the purchases must meet the audit rule that unanticipated revenue be spent on capital, multi-year items and not on next year’s recurring salaries or annual operating expenses. “Unanticipated revenue must be returned to the city,” the superintendent said, adding the district sought city permission to include $200,000 of unanticipated revenue in next year’s budget and expected about $120,000 more to be returned to the city once books are closed.
Most of the specific items were drawn from a business administrator memo and discussed in public. Business Administrator Katie described technology and safety items recommended from the current year balance: $20,000 to upgrade malfunctioning security-camera servers to stop recording glitches; two fire-panel upgrades (Idlehurst and the high school) whose components are near end-of-life after roughly 15 years; a district website overhaul estimated at $20,000 in the amended motion; neoprene protective Chromebook sleeves (about $3,500) for high‑school devices that will travel home with students; and two additional Clear Touch interactive displays already used in classrooms.
Board members discussed priorities for student-facing spending versus communications. Several members urged the board to direct part of the unanticipated funds toward extracurricular support—equipment for athletics, music and the arts—that would be capital purchases and usable for multiple years rather than fees or next-year operating costs. One board member moved to split the discretionary money, proposing the website/communications work and a separate up-to-$15,000 pool for multi-year athletics and arts equipment; the board approved both the amendment and the allocation.
The motions included reporting requirements: staff will return to the board with a clear accounting of purchases and an update at the August meeting. The board agreed that if concrete purchase plans are not presented within the agreed window, the funds will revert to the city audit process.
The board did not approve year-over-year operating changes or fund new staff positions with these dollars; members emphasized that audit rules prohibit using this year’s balance for next year’s salaries. Business Administrator Katie told the board proposed purchases must be specified and capped (“not to exceed” amounts) for audit approval; she said equipment purchases would need to be concrete (for example, an instrument or piece of athletic gear) rather than a general reimbursement category.
The board passed the amended website revamp language and the athletics/arts allocation before approving the total end-of-year package “not to exceed $115,000.” The board chair said the district would publish a detailed accounting of each purchase once procurement is completed.
The approvals followed discussion of vendor options and prior website work: board members noted a 2021 site update that cost about $16,000 and the district’s existing contract with Intrado for the current site; technology vendors including Nuvia and a Nuvia leader, Tim Martin, were mentioned during discussion of costs. Superintendent John framed the communications work as part of a strategic effort to present Summersworth to prospective families and to respond to enrollment and funding pressures from state and federal policy changes.
The board asked staff to bring contracts, vendor scopes and spending plans back to the board for review and to ensure purchases meet audit rules and capital‑asset standards. Ending
The expenditures approved are intended as one-time, capital or multi‑year purchases; the district will report back to the public and city auditors with line-item detail at upcoming meetings.