Edmond school board authorizes $63 million bond sale, awards site-work contract and approves insurance renewals and hiring bonus

The Edmond Public Schools Board of Education on Monday approved a resolution to begin the sale process for the final $63,000,000 authorized by voters in the Feb. 13, 2024 bond election, awarded a site-work contract for Edmond Santa Fe’s Freshman Academy, approved multiple insurance policies for 2025–26, and authorized a special-education hiring bonus for the 2025–26 school year.

The board voted to begin the formal bond sale process. Zach Robinson of BOK, the district’s bond adviser, told the board this action starts the required sale steps for the remaining $63 million and that the bonds will be structured with principal maturing in four installments of $15,750,000 in years two through five (no principal in year one because of the state levy law). Robinson said bids will be due at 9:30 a.m. on July 10, with bond sale results presented at the board’s July meeting.

The board also approved awarding a subcontract package for site work at Edmond Santa Fe’s Freshman Academy. The approved amount for the site subcontractors under the construction manager was $1,552,958 to be paid from bond funds. District staff said the package covers demolition and underground utilities; they reported the project must relocate a previously unknown 60-inch pipe that carries neighborhood water feeds and that the district will be responsible for that relocation. Staff said the district shifted some bond dollars to cover the unexpected work and aims to complete that phase by September to minimize neighborhood impacts.

On staffing, the board approved a memorandum of understanding to provide a one-time special-education hiring bonus for the 2025–26 school year, an initiative the district used last year after a large shortage. Superintendent Delich and staff told the board the district currently faces about an 18-position shortage in special education. Staff said the one-time bonus helped recruit about 10–12 teachers last year and that retention from last year was high; the board approved moving forward with the same bonus structure.

The board approved a package of insurance renewals for the 2025–26 year. Aaron Reinhart (Bank First Insurance), the district’s insurance consultant, summarized drivers of premium changes: elevated liability claims and a more litigious environment are increasing tort/liability costs, while pooled property coverage produced a notable premium decrease. The board approved the district’s liability coverage through Oklahoma School Insurance Group in the amount of $313,720 and property coverage through the Oklahoma Property Insurance Program in the amount of $3,965,706, along with business auto ($310,902), workers’ compensation ($797,648), crime ($9,216), cyber liability ($31,860), and other smaller coverages noted by staff. Reinhart and other staff said the property decrease (about 7% overall on property premium) reflects participation in pooled programs among large Oklahoma districts and recent stabilization in the property market; liability and auto increases were linked to claims activity and repair cost inflation.

The board approved purchase of the Renaissance Freckle and Lalilo K–5 intervention platform for math and ELA for $91,476 to be paid from instructional bond funds. John Ascoli, the district’s MTSS elementary specialist, said the platform integrates with the district’s STAR assessment to recommend targeted practice, automatically adjusts assignments on a biweekly basis, and provides teacher resources.

The board approved a lot split for the district’s 80-acre development parcel at Air Depot and Covell, creating a 67-acre and a 13-acre parcel. Staff said the split is primarily administrative and will not change traffic flow for the initial elementary school access; the district may retain or sell the smaller parcel in the future. Board members asked about traffic and access; staff said the primary entrance for the first elementary will be on Air Depot and that a second entrance off Covell will be built when the campus is fully developed.

The board approved a contract with OSSBA for the Assembly meeting-service platform to manage board packets and enable an online board-book workflow. Staff described a phased rollout and said printed packets will still be available; the board asked about training, note-taking features and public access. The contract is a recurring (annual) service; staff said the district will phase in public-facing functionality after internal onboarding.

During consent and administrative business, the board approved corrected typographical amounts on several consent items, approved 2026 board meeting dates, and approved personnel actions listed on Schedules A, B and C after an executive session; officials said no votes were taken or additional topics discussed in executive session beyond the published agenda.

Votes at a glance - Begin bond sale process for remaining $63,000,000 from the Feb. 13, 2024 bond election — outcome: approved (motion to begin sale; presentation by Zach Robinson of BOK). - Award site-work subcontract package for Edmond Santa Fe Freshman Academy — approved; amount: $1,552,958 (paid from bond funds); staff noted relocation of a 60-inch water pipe and responsibility lies with the district. - Approve special-education hiring bonus MOU for 2025–26 — approved; district cited a current shortage of about 18 positions and retention gains from last year’s bonus. - Approve insurance renewals (liability, property, auto, workers’ comp, crime, cyber, etc.) — approved; amounts discussed included liability $313,720 and property $3,965,706; other coverages approved as presented. - Approve purchase of Renaissance Freckle and Lalilo K–5 intervention platform — approved; amount: $91,476 (instructional bond funds). - Approve lot split at Air Depot and Covell site — approved; created 67-acre and 13-acre parcels; staff said no immediate traffic changes. - Approve OSSBA Assembly meeting service contract (board packet platform) — approved; recurring annual service; phased rollout and training planned. - Approve corrected consent items, personnel schedules A–C, and 2026 board meeting dates — approved.

What board members asked and staff clarified - Bond structure and timeline: Zach Robinson explained the planned five-year structure with principal beginning in year two, the bid deadline (July 10) and the planned rating review. He said market conditions were currently favorable compared with earlier in the year. - Site work and utilities: Facilities staff explained the need to relocate an existing 60-inch pipe that serves neighborhood water lines and said the district would fund and schedule the relocation early to reduce disruption. - Special-education staffing: Staff reported about an 18-position shortage and said a one-time hiring bonus last year recruited roughly 10–12 teachers and that most were retained. - Insurance changes: The district’s insurance consultant said liability and auto premiums rose because of higher claims and repair costs; property premiums fell due to pooled coverage among large districts and recent market stabilization.

No votes were reported from executive session and the board returned to take votes on personnel schedules and to adjourn.

Ending Board members said the district’s summer facilities work and onboarding of new employees continue, and staff said remaining bond-sale and site-work scheduling will be presented at upcoming meetings.