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Derby board approves operational purchases, meal price rise and capital items as budget calendar advances
Summary
At its June 9 meeting the Derby Board of Education approved several operational and capital items: a $0.25 per meal price increase, replacement of two school dishwashers, purchase of a new grounds tractor, and a band and orchestra capital plan. Finance staff also reviewed the revenue‑neutral timeline and a small Medicaid repayment error.
The Derby Board of Education approved multiple operational and capital items June 9 as finance and operations leaders worked to align purchases with the district budget calendar.
Director of Operations Burke Jones asked the board to approve a tractor replacement for grounds. The board moved the item from discussion to action and approved the purchase of a new Kubota tractor for $21,700 with a $3,000 trade‑in allowance (approved motion passed 6–0). Jones told the board the 1992 unit had become difficult to maintain and parts were limited.
Jones also presented two unplanned capital dishwasher replacements for Wyantier and Park Hill elementary cafeterias; the board approved the purchases (vote 6–0). He said the items exceeded the originally budgeted amounts and therefore deferred some serving‑line work to fund the dishwashers this summer.
On school foodservice, the board approved a 25‑cent meal‑price increase across elementary, middle, high school and adult meals (vote 6–0). Jones said inflation and rising food and supply costs necessitated the modest increase; he also described planned cost‑reduction measures for the upcoming year.
Pam Kelly, director of finance, reviewed budget timing and the state revenue‑neutral rate calendar. Kelly said the district must submit its revenue‑neutral rate on or before July 18, 2025 (the Friday before a July 20 Sunday deadline) and that staff planned to present the preliminary budget for review at the July 7 board meeting to allow time before mailings go to patrons.
Kelly also reported a previously undisclosed Medicaid cost‑settlement overpayment of $12,642.55 from 2016, attributed to a contractor error; the amount will be repaid immediately in June and is not material to the district’s reserves, she said.
Other actions the board approved 6–0 included: district meeting dates and times for 2025–26, the district organizational chart, a high‑school engineering automation pathway, the five‑year band and orchestra capital plan, and a revised lead nurse job description. The board tabled action on the high‑school student handbook cell‑phone language to the June 23 meeting so all board members can weigh in.
