Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committees brief board on capital projects, roofing bid and preliminary 2025-26 budget with 3% tax proposal
Summary
Operations and budget committees reported on completed capital projects, a low roofing bid just over $2 million (projected $2.2M insured), HVAC assessments, a Penn London E-Rate wiring project (50% funded by E-Rate) and a preliminary 2025-26 budget that proposes a 3% tax increase and uses $8.06 million of fund balance.
Committee chairs updated the board on facility work and early budget planning, highlighting several capital maintenance items and a preliminary 2025-26 budget that includes a 3% proposed tax increase.
Michael Wooden, reporting for the operations committee, summarized completed projects and upcoming facilities work: installation of a new turf field at the high school, replacement of a damaged cinder-block wall at the middle school, removal of a chiller rental at the intermediate school, and replacement of exterior doors across buildings. He said a roof-replacement bid for Fred S. Engle Elementary produced the lowest bid of a little over $2,000,000; with owner-controlled insurance included, the district estimated a total project cost of roughly $2,200,000.
Mr. Carsley reviewed facility procurement items and an HVAC engineering assessment for the Henry Campus and district office; he said the HVAC assessment has been finalized and a contract recommendation appeared on the meeting agenda. Dr. Koch presented a plan for network upgrades at Penn London Elementary as part of the E-Rate program; the presentation said E-Rate funds would cover roughly 50% of the wiring project's cost and the district would cover the rest.
Budget discussion: committee of the whole and budget committee members received a high-level preliminary budget update. Committee reporting showed the district ending fiscal 2023-24 with strong fund balances: total fund balance across the general fund, capital projects and internal service fund reported at more than $44.7 million. The preliminary 2025-26 proposed budget total was presented at $121,493,482 and included a proposed 3% tax increase and $8,062,720 of planned fund-balance use. Committee members said rising personnel costs and a notable increase in medical insurance premiums are driving cost pressures.
Other committee business noted: policy items moved to second reading (including policies on nonresident eligibility, tuition income and school security personnel); the operations committee recommended moving several of those policies forward for board action; and the education committee previewed curriculum and textbook-adoption timelines, an early learning lab planned to open in September 2025, and an April calendar for public and legislative review of the district's Future Ready Comprehensive Plan.
Committees signaled additional meetings in February to refine calendar, curriculum and budget details. Several items discussed (roofing contract, HVAC engineering services, Penn London wiring) were listed on the evening's agenda for formal approval.
