Board members press for clarity on maintenance fund after Higgins promotion ceremony concerns
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Summary
Board members raised concerns about the condition of Higgins school and sought clarity on what the district's general maintenance fund covers, touring practices and how maintenance priorities are set within the budget process.
Board members questioned how the district defines and spends its general maintenance fund after one member described visible facility issues at Higgins school during a promotion ceremony.
A board member recounted problems at Higgins — peeling paint, flooring and potholes at the bus drop-off — and said the board had not toured schools since the pandemic. The member said touring helps trustees see conditions firsthand and urged resuming site visits.
Staff and other board members explained that the general maintenance fund covers district maintenance expenses and salaries for maintenance staff who are not funded by federal programs. One speaker said the maintenance department's direct budget line is a fraction of overall district maintenance spending and suggested the department's working budget in recent years had been "3 or $400,000" (as stated in the meeting).
Board members asked who decides priorities for building repairs. Staff described a facility-assessment process: departments submit needs to the business manager during budget meetings, which the business manager uses to allocate funds; projects above $5,000 typically require separate board approval. Board members said some repairs have been funded previously through ESSA or other allowable sources but noted some of that one-time funding has ended, increasing reliance on district maintenance budgets.
Why it matters: Facility conditions affect student safety and program delivery; trustees sought clearer reporting and reaffirmed interest in district-wide facility tours and a written facilities plan.