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Board debates snow-removal performance after winter storm; superintendent says legal review underway
Summary
Board members sharply questioned vendors’ performance after a storm left ice and blocked access at school sites. Superintendent Daphne Negron said the district is collecting evidence and pursuing legal guidance while the board authorized increased payment authority to clear invoices pending final resolution.
Board members pressed district staff about snow- and ice-removal problems after a recent storm and voted to authorize a higher not-to-exceed payment threshold so invoices can be processed while staff collect evidence and pursue contract remedies.
“Just like you, we were very discouraged with the performance,” Superintendent Daphne Negron told the board, saying she personally inspected operations the morning of the storm and later convened staff and vendors to review scope-of-work evidence. Negron said the district has photographic evidence from school principals and is engaging legal counsel “to say, here’s the evidence” when a job was not completed to satisfaction.
Board member Ms. Downer described seeing sites with “a brick of ice,” parents reporting inaccessible ramps and people unable to reach schools. She cited a round of snow-removal payments she said totaled about $540,000 this season and contrasted that figure with roughly $600,000 the prior year. “What are we doing? Are we just giving money away? Are we not following up? Are we not being good stewards?” she asked.
Several board members urged clearer contract enforcement and penalties when vendors underperform. Dr. Joyner praised staff leadership during the storm and asked that the board and public be informed about the budget pressures that produce contract decisions. Mr. Wilcox clarified the board was voting to raise a not-to-exceed threshold so vendor invoices could be paid against that authorized account; he emphasized the change does not guarantee full payment to vendors beyond invoice review.
After discussion the board approved the change order motion (which included raising the not-to-exceed amount for snow-removal invoices). The vote recorded Ms. Downer as opposing the motion and one board member as absent; the motion carried.
Ending: Superintendent Negron said the district will continue to document instances of nonperformance, work with legal counsel, and pursue “rework” or remedies per contract terms while the board monitors budget impacts.
