Brandon Valley board hears construction updates, insurance savings and enrollment growth; approves routine finance and personnel items

The Brandon Valley School District 49-2 Board of Education on Tuesday received construction and financial updates, approved routine bills and personnel items and was told the district’s enrollment has grown by 93 students.

Superintendent Larson told the board that construction at Berkman Valley Elementary School and Bridal Valley Middle School is progressing and remains on the district’s schedules. “We are nearly all the way, to what would be the east side of the building in terms of steel stud masonry,” Superintendent Larson said, describing masonry, steel-stud erection and concrete work at Berkman Valley Elementary. At the middle school, Larson said workers began setting roof joists on a south classroom addition and masonry was under way on a classroom addition near the football field. Larson said work on underground utilities and the child nutrition area was nearly enclosed.

The construction updates were accompanied by contract and payment figures discussed during the meeting. A staff member, Mr. Lambert, said the district has paid $12,350,000 to date on the Berkman Valley Elementary contract and described that figure as 56% of the total contract; he also said a middle-school contract is roughly 25% complete. On construction billing for another contractor, Lambert said a Visions Construction invoice of $614,519 brought pay-to-date totals to $1,650,000, which he described as 24% of that contract.

Lambert also reviewed insurance changes the district has made. He said the district switched property carriers and secured a policy that he said is about $40,000 less than the prior option. “People are just running away from property. It’s amazing to me how nobody — no companies want anything to do with the school,” Mr. Lambert said, describing difficulty in the market. He also said the district substantially expanded its cyber insurance, increasing coverage and moving to a different carrier, and described the premium and coverage as “much, much better” and referenced a $15,000 policy level.

In the board’s financial report, Mr. Lundberg reported cash and investment balances for August and reviewed payroll and trust-and-agency holdings. Lundberg said cash on hand entering the month was just over $36,000,000, with receipts of $3,160,000 and expenditures of just over $7,000,000 leaving a balance of $32,120,000; he enumerated amounts in the general, capital, special education, bond redemption, enterprise and projects funds. Lundberg also reported total payroll for August of $2,169,411 and trust-and-agency balances of $168,365.

Superintendent Larson said district enrollment stood “just over 5,220” students, a growth of 93 pupils from the prior count; he noted official enrollment can shift on the district’s count day at the end of September. Larson also reminded families that applications for free and reduced-price meals must be submitted for eligibility and certification even when the district covers the cost: “Individuals that qualify for a reduced meal receive a free meal in the Brandon Valley School District. We cover that expense. But an application and a successful certification and meeting of the requirements is required,” Larson said.

The board also heard an activities update on the district’s recent Pigskin Classic events, including 113 teams competing in dodgeball across Friday and Saturday, a 3-on-3 tournament and a fun run. A staff member who reported on the events said the district signed a five-year contract with event announcer Skibsted for the dodgeball tournament.

Votes at a glance - Approve meeting agenda: approved (unanimous on voice vote). - Approve minutes from Aug. 11 and Aug. 25: approved (voice vote). - Approve bills and claims as presented: approved (voice vote). - Approve August financial report as presented: approved (voice vote). - Approve general business items 1 and 2: approved (voice vote). - Approve personnel items 1–8: approved (voice vote). - Adjourn meeting: approved (voice vote).

Most motions were made and seconded with outcomes recorded by voice; the minutes recorded no roll-call tallies or named dissent.

The board’s next scheduled events noted in discussion include upcoming parent-teacher conferences Oct. 6–7, a teacher comp day Oct. 10 and the end of the first quarter on Oct. 22. The meeting record shows routine building-permit items and board reports were available for review but did not include additional substantive action on those items at this session.