Board approves $73,030 contract for rooftop-unit labor after capacity concerns

The Leavenworth Schools Board of Education approved a $73,030 contract to hire labor to install rooftop HVAC units after staff said the district does not have the capacity to self‑perform the work.

Board approval was sought after staff told trustees the district originally planned to install the units using in‑house labor but later determined it lacked the equipment and capacity. A staff member said, “We are requesting approval so that we can move forward with the work as it does necessitate board approval.”

The motion to approve was made by Mrs. Murphy and seconded by Mrs. Reed. During discussion trustees pressed staff for an explanation for the change, noting that prior month materials and labor had been presented separately. One board member said constituents needed clarification about why the district now must pay for outside labor, adding that the cost could reflect safety considerations or lack of equipment. The staff reply said the pricing for labor and materials is “both coming from the Greenbush Purchasing Cooperative Agreement.”

Trustees were also told a 30‑day window applies to the pricing. A board member raised concern that as weather and contractor demand changes, prices could rise. The motion passed; the transcript records an affirmative response following the vote. The meeting record does not include a full roll‑call tally for this item in the transcript.

The board did not amend the contract amount during the meeting. The administration did not present additional written alternatives for completing the installation in‑house during the discussion.

Notes on next steps: staff will proceed with contracting for installation labor under the Greenbush cooperative purchase and said they would provide whatever clarifying information trustees requested for constituent communications.