Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Finance And Contracting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DeSoto County Schools board approves multiple contracts, policy updates and financial reports
Summary
The board approved a slate of construction and service contracts, accepted financial statements for November 2024, revised two graduation-related board policies and approved personnel recommendations and the consent agenda.
At its Jan. 23 meeting the DeSoto County Schools Board of Education approved a series of bids and contractual agreements, accepted November 2024 financial statements, revised two board policies related to academic recognition and approved personnel recommendations.
Board action included approvals to enter contracts or accept bids for construction and services across several schools. Mr. Williams presented multiple bid recommendations and, following staff recommendations, the board voted to accept the lowest/best bidders and enter into contractual agreements. Motions were routinely seconded and approved by voice vote with the board chair calling for "aye" and noting "hearing none" for opposed votes; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.
Key approvals included: - Architectural services with Allen and (as transcribed) "Alan Voschel/Allen and Hochul E LLC" for a parking-lot expansion project at Lewisburg High School; motion approved. - Bathroom renovation contract for Oak Grove Central Elementary School awarded to "Grinder Taber and Grinder" (as transcribed); motion approved. - Fresh produce contract for Child Nutrition awarded to M. Palazola/Palazola Produce Company (as transcribed); motion approved. - Roof replacement at Oak Grove Central Elementary School awarded to Roofing Solutions of Louisiana LLC; motion approved. - Window replacement contract for Horn Lake Elementary School (transcribed also as Walnut/Fort Lake in places) awarded to Murphy and Sons; motion approved.
The board also approved routine business and financial items: the Jan. 9, 2025 minutes were approved; the consent agenda (items a through rr) was approved; the board accepted the statement of revenues and expenditures for November 2024, the combined balance sheet for November 2024, the statement of cash flows for November 2024, and certified bank reconciliations for November 2024. Board staff reported revenue collections and fund balances year-over-year comparisons during the financial presentation.
Policy changes: the board approved revisions to Board Policy IHCA (valedictorian and salutatorian) and IHCB (graduates of distinction and special distinction) to incorporate a recently approved JROTC endorsement and to correct the name of a distinguished academic endorsement. District staff described the revisions as technical updates to align policies with recently added endorsements.
Personnel and other routine items were approved under the personnel packet (pages 1–11 and memos described during the meeting), including provisional pay and an internal reclassification request for a special education position at DeSoto Central Middle School. The superintendent requested up to five days (40 hours) of administrative leave with pay for certain 200-day full-time employees between Jan. 23 and Feb. 6 in the event of inclement weather closures; the board approved personnel as presented.
All motions described in the meeting were approved by voice vote; the transcript records "all in favor, say aye" and "hearing none, that motion passes" for each item. No item in the transcript was tabled or failed.
The board adjourned and set its next meeting for Thursday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.
