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East Grand Forks school board approves FY27 facilities plan, adopts policy and OKs $498,023.79 in payments
Summary
At its July 28 meeting the East Grand Forks Public School District board approved the district's FY27 long-term facilities maintenance plan, adopted a second-reading policy, awarded food and fuel bids and approved nearly $498,024 in payments as staff outlined year-end finance results and near-term audits.
The East Grand Forks Public School District board on Monday approved the district's fiscal-year 2027 long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) plan, adopted Policy 709 on second reading, awarded milk, bread and fuel bids, and approved payment of K12 bills totaling $498,023.79.
Board members voted to adopt the FY27 LTFM plan by roll-call; Vanessa voted yes and other members answered in the affirmative. Board Chair Bridal and member Hank Slavin were absent for the meeting. The board also voted to adopt Policy 709 on its second reading and to award the procurement bids for milk, bread and fuel; motions on the consent agenda and those items passed by voice vote.
The board heard a year-end finance update from district finance staff, who told members the budget was slightly over target heading into audit. Finance staff said the district's revenues and expenditures were "pretty close" to balanced, but purchases of technology supplies pushed the district over budget. Staff said the district's cash position is up about $1,200,000 from last year, and that community education operated at a roughly $52,000 deficit even though one line item showed an approximate $2,000 overall position. An external districtwide audit is scheduled to begin Aug. 11, followed the next week by the single audit covering federal funds, staff said.
On facilities, staff reported $21,000 remaining in the construction fund and said some of that money would be used for a water-heater replacement. The board discussed larger planned projects included in the LTFM plan: a boiler replacement at Southpointe, work at New Heights and completion of a project at CMS from last year. Staff characterized many line items as budget placeholders for routine maintenance and safety repairs (for example, bleachers or fire-extinguisher work), and said major projects would be prioritized as costs are refined.
Administration also updated the board on labor negotiations: the district reported a tentative agreement with bus drivers; draft language had been received and the agreement will come to the board for formal approval after the drivers' group reviews it. The superintendent's office said it expects further discussions with the teachers' group and that a closed session to discuss negotiations may occur at the Aug. 11 meeting.
The superintendent described preliminary work on a federal/state solar-for-schools grant. Staff are preparing a readiness assessment and working with a solar provider on system sizing and payback estimates. The superintendent said the district's preliminary modeling assumed the district might invest roughly $100,000 to $150,000 of local funds and anticipated a two- to three-year payback on a larger array; a smaller 40-kilowatt array would be mainly educational and produce less savings. If the district is selected for the program, an RFP would follow and any final contract would return to the board for approval.
The board approved payment of K12 bills numbered 12979229837 totaling $498,023.79. The motion to approve payment was made and seconded; the board voted in favor.
Board member Amanda welcomed back building principals and praised recent updates to the district's transportation policy, saying she hoped the changes would "make it easier for the bus drivers and better for the kids." The board set its next regular meeting for Aug. 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the same meeting room.
