Board approves supplemental curriculum, selects architect and auditor; tables STEM Charter MOU

The Lakeland District Board of Trustees on an evening meeting approved a package of supplemental curriculum materials, selected Architects West to provide architectural services and agreed to renew independent audit services with the district's incumbent auditor while tabling a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with STEM Charter pending further legal review.

The actions came during a meeting that produced several discrete votes. The board voted to adopt the supplemental curriculum, approved Architects West as the district architect for upcoming projects, approved the independent financial audit contract, and voted to table the STEM Charter MOU for additional legal guidance. The board also approved a modified final-exam schedule for secondary students and took personnel actions in executive session.

Why it matters: The approvals set procurement and oversight arrangements for planned construction and the district’s external financial review. Tabling the STEM Charter MOU pauses any change in bus-rental or related liability arrangements with the charter school until the district receives clearer legal counsel.

Key votes and outcomes - Supplemental curriculum: Motion to approve carried (4 in favor, 1 opposed). The board approved a set of middle- and high-school supplemental books and related materials that administrators brought forward for adoption. - STEM Charter MOU: A motion to deny the MOU failed (2 in favor, 3 against). A subsequent motion to table the MOU pending further legal guidance passed (4 in favor, 1 opposed). Legal guidance had focused on liability and whether the district would rent or lease buses and whether drivers and insurance exposures would transfer. - Architects contract: The board approved Architects West as the district architectural services provider (motion carried unanimously). The selection followed a requests-for-qualifications review by a small committee using locality, references and project teams as evaluation criteria. - Independent financial audit services: The board approved a multi-year option for Hayden Ross (the district’s incumbent third-party auditor). The district reported it paid $23,600 for the most recent audit year and the auditor’s proposed fee for 2025 is $30,900, with modest annual increases built into the option. - Final-exam calendar modification: The board approved a modification to the 2024–25 secondary final-exam schedule that implements three two-hour exam days per semester with early releases for participating students (motion carried unanimously). - Personnel actions (executive session): The board approved superintendent personnel recommendations and accepted a resignation and related contract release in executive session; associated motions carried by roll call vote.

Clarifying details: The STEM Charter MOU discussion flagged liability questions about renting school buses, driver qualifications and which party’s insurance would respond in a vehicle incident. The audit contract approval included a one-year award with up-to-three-year extension options and the district said the audit scope has expanded due to state regulatory requirements (which added time and cost). Architects West was selected from three respondents; the RFQ committee that reviewed proposals included district facilities and administrative staff.

What’s next: District staff will seek additional legal guidance on the STEM Charter MOU and return recommendations to the board. The architect contract enables staff to move forward with bid documents for concrete and other facility projects.