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Berwick Area SD to craft spend‑down plan for large cafeteria surplus; board discusses tennis courts, track and architect search
Summary
Superintendent reported a large cafeteria fund balance that requires a spend-down plan; the board also discussed potential USTA grant applications for tennis courts, track replacement and hiring architects to prepare plans.
Superintendent and administrative staff told the Berwick Area SD board that the district’s cafeteria program has accumulated a sizable fund balance and that auditors are requiring a formal spend‑down plan.
The superintendent said the district’s food-service operator has produced an operating surplus in recent years and that auditors indicated the district must identify allowable uses and a plan to reduce the balance. “How that works in school districts is that money cannot be spent on anything other than cafeteria,” the superintendent said, and added the district would develop a spend‑down plan with stakeholders.
The superintendent reported a cafeteria fund balance presented to the board as $2,100,000,000. That figure was presented during the meeting materials; meeting speakers said they would work with auditors and stakeholders to specify permissible uses and develop floor plans for cafeteria improvements such as new tables or booths. The superintendent said allowable purchases can include cafeteria equipment and furnishings and that staff will bring potential plans back to the board for approval.
Separately, the board discussed athletic facilities. The superintendent reviewed prior quotes for resurfacing tennis courts and replacing the track and said the district could apply for a USTA grant that provides up to $200,000 for tennis-court projects. “If you’re awarded that, you can get up to $200,000,” the superintendent said, and recommended the district hire architects who specialize in sports facilities to produce drawings required for grant applications.
Board members discussed whether the existing tennis-court locations are optimal and urged subsurface testing before construction. One board member advised testing the ground to avoid costly repairs later: “Make sure that it’s a solid base so you don’t spend all this money that 10 years later, you’re in the same boat again.”
Administrators said they would solicit quotes from several firms with sports‑facility experience and return with recommended architects and cost estimates. If the district pursues the USTA grant, plans and professional drawings will be required as part of an application.
No final design contract or construction vote was taken during the meeting; the board asked staff to continue developing options and to return with more detailed cost and site information.
