Board approves underwriting, legal and service contracts; delegation of signing authority set at $75,000

The Lemon Grove School District Board of Education on Aug. 8 approved a series of contracts and administrative actions tied to the district's bond program and operating needs, including hiring Stifel as bond underwriter and Jones Hall as bond counsel, adding an inspector to the district's pool, renewing service contracts and delegating signature authority for contracts under $75,000.

The board heard that the district plans to sell about $26,000,000 in general obligation bonds in 2025. "In 2025, the district plans to sell about $26,000,000 in bonds," said Miss Barton, a district staff member who presented the bond-related items. The board voted to recommend Stifel as underwriter; the district staff said Stifel was selected because it offered both retail (individual investor) and nonretail (institutional) sales options, which staff said could broaden the investor base and improve pricing.

The board also approved hiring Jones Hall as bond counsel and disclosure counsel after the RFP review. Miss Barton told the board that four firms had submitted proposals for bond counsel and disclosure counsel services; Jones Hall was recommended after evaluation on legal expertise, disclosure compliance and local experience.

Other procurement and contracting actions approved:

- Addition to DSA inspector pool: The board approved adding CIS (San Marcos) to the district's pool of Division of the State Architect (DSA) inspection firms for construction projects. The pool was originally approved in August 2024; the board voted to add the firm to the five-member pool.

- Piggyback purchase authorization: The board authorized the district to piggyback San Bernardino City Unified School District bid number 22-17 for classroom furniture from Lakeshore Learning, enabling the district to place future purchase orders under that contract framework.

- Delegation of signature authority: By adopting Resolution 2025-26-01, the board delegated authority to a district signatory (chief business official) and the superintendent to sign contracts under $75,000, with such contracts later brought to the board for ratification. "That $75,000 is alignment with public contract code thresholds as well," Miss Barton said when explaining the proposal.

- Staffing and service contracts: The board approved renewing a contract with Swing Education for substitute and classified staffing solutions (noted as the second year of the contract, with similar dollar value to prior year); approved continued contracting with Sea Change Therapy to provide nonpublic agency services for speech/language and part-time occupational therapy for special education; and approved a renewal with the Institute for Effective Education for a nonpublic school placement, currently projected to serve three students.

Each of the action items was moved and seconded as the agenda proceeded and was approved by voice vote. Trustees present who voted in favor included Trustee Chelsea Smith, Trustee Preciado and Trustee Ayala; Trustee Dorinda Miller participated remotely after the board approved her remote participation for caregiving reasons earlier in the meeting.

The board also approved the consent agenda, which included routine ratifications and other items referenced during the meeting. No public comment was recorded for these items during the open session.

The contracts approved and the delegation resolution will be implemented according to district procurement procedures and brought back for ratification or purchase orders as needed. The district staff indicated that bond sale timing and final terms will be structured with input from the municipal advisor and the selected underwriter and counsel.

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Approve trustee Dorinda Miller remote participation for caregiving (mover: Trustee Preciado; second: Trustee Smith) — outcome: approved (motion carries).

- Award underwriting services for 2025 GO bond issuance (approx. $26,000,000) to Stifel (mover: Trustee Preciado; second: Trustee Smith) — outcome: approved.

- Award bond counsel/disclosure counsel contract to Jones Hall (mover: not specified; second: Trustee Smith) — outcome: approved.

- Add CIS (San Marcos) to DSA inspector pool (mover: Trustee Smith; second: Trustee Miller) — outcome: approved.

- Authorize piggyback of San Bernardino USD bid #22-17 for furniture (mover: not specified; second: not specified) — outcome: approved.

- Adopt Resolution 2025-26-01 delegating authority to sign contracts under $75,000 (mover: Trustee Preciado; second: Trustee Smith) — outcome: approved.

- Approve contract renewal with Swing Education for staffing services (mover: not specified; second: Trustee Smith) — outcome: approved.

- Approve Sea Change Therapy services for special education (mover: Trustee Preciado; second: Trustee Ayala) — outcome: approved.

- Approve nonpublic school contract with the Institute for Effective Education (projected placement for 3 students) (mover: Trustee Smith; second: Trustee Preciado) — outcome: approved.

Several items were described by staff as subject to future purchase orders or ratification on consent packets; the board's approvals created authority to proceed with procurement steps under district policy.