Board approves multiple contracts, interlocal agreements and budget items; levies move to study session

The Tacoma School District Board of Directors approved a slate of business items covering contracts, interlocal agreements, procurements and a debt write-off. Most items passed on voice votes with no recorded opposition. The board also received first readings of two levy resolutions and scheduled a study session to dig into levy details before final action.

Key approvals (summary): - Amendment No. 4 to contract TSD-2017 with Graduation Alliance (estimated $321,084) and related PO increase to close 2024–25 (see separate article). - Interlocal agreement TSD-25-232 with Bellevue College for College in the High School programming for 2025–26 (approved). - Contract increase/closeout for Graduation Alliance (purchase order 27461 increased to $296,228.82) (approved). - Contract TSD23085 Amendment No. 5 with Lilac City Behavioral Services: $600,000 for support services from 09/01/2025 through 07/31/2028; funding source: Student Services (approved). - Contract TSD24074 with ProCare Therapy: $203,748.48 for therapy services (01/01/2025–08/31/2025); funding source: Student Services (approved). - Interlocal TSD-25-252 with University Place School District: $260,000 to provide special education and related services for the 2025–26 school year (approved). - Interlocal TSD-25-265 with Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD): $131,436 to enable PSESD’s reLife program to provide special education services for one student 2025–26 (approved). District staff explained reLife is used when district resources are not available to meet a student’s individualized education plan. - Contract TSD25-245 with Urban Grace Church: $22,725 (08/26/2025–06/30/2026) funding Tacoma School of the Arts (approved). - Purchase of training equipment from Dactic in North Park for the Maritime Skills Center: $825,941 (approved); board members expressed enthusiasm for the project. - Amendment to contract TSD24-036 with Northwest Fire Systems: $600,000 (approved). - Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendment No. 2 for TSD-25-005 (Maritime Skills Center) with BN Builders Inc.: $38,948,616 (excluding sales tax) (approved). - Amendment No. 2 to contract TSD24-147 with First Student (alternative vehicle transport services): additional $600,000, increasing total contract value to $1,628,885.85 for 2025–26 (approved). - Amendment No. 2 to contract TSD23-102 with Meadows Sweet Farms for dairy and juice products: $901,212.92, increasing the total contract value to $5,447,574.16 for 2025–26; funding source: Nutrition Services (approved). - Uncollectible debt write-off: $18,149.28 recommended by the CFO, approved.

Levies: staff presented first readings of Resolution 2168 (replacement levy for K–12 educational programs and operations) and Resolution 2169 (technology levy replacement). The district will hold a study session on October 16 to review levy details — including cost and tax implications — and plans to return the resolutions for adoption at the October 23 business meeting. Staff noted the county filing deadline is December 12 and the ballot would be available in the February 6, 2026 election if the board adopts the resolutions.

A few items included short staff explanations: the PSESD reLife program was described as meeting specific special education needs when the district lacks the resources to serve a student; BN Builders’ GMP and the Dactic equipment purchase are tied to the Maritime Skills Center project schedule and capital planning.

All consent and business items reported in this article passed the board vote during the meeting, generally by voice vote with no recorded opposition unless a roll call was explicitly taken in another item.