Board approves construction bids, parking work, facility transfer, audit and new agenda policy

The Norman Public Schools Board of Education on the evening approved a slate of contracts and administrative actions, including construction bid packages for Norman North and Norman High athletics, a combined parking-expansion contract for three elementary schools, acceptance of two city recreational centers at a nominal price, the district's FY 2023-24 audit report and a new board policy for agenda preparation.

The board voted, without recorded opposition, on the consent agenda and on separate motions to accept the low bidders for multiple bid packages, approve the combined paving bid for Jackson, Kennedy and Lincoln elementary schools, accept and authorize a deed for the City of Norman recreational centers at Whittier and Irving, approve the auditor's report for fiscal 2023-24, and adopt proposed new policy 10-11 on agenda preparation and dissemination.

The construction items included separate bid-package approvals for a locker-room addition at Norman North and an athletics/concessions/stadium reskin project at Norman High. Presenters said the district received competitive bids across multiple trade packages (selective demolition, masonry, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and signage) and recommended the apparent low bidders for each trade.

The board also approved a combined parking and site-improvement contract for Jackson, Kennedy and Lincoln elementary schools. The Jackson work includes a 27-stall concrete parking expansion and related ADA and sidewalk work; Kennedy's project is sealcoat and restriping; Lincoln's work will replace a previously removed basketball court.

On property, the board authorized acceptance and signature on deeds transferring two City of Norman recreational center buildings located at Irving and Whittier middle schools to the district for $10 total; the administration said the city will remove its supplies from the buildings before transfer, the district will keep one classroom in each center available to the city for after-school programming at no cost under a forthcoming memorandum of understanding, and that some roof work on the gyms may require future projects.

The board received a presentation of the FY 2023-24 audit from Eide Bailly and voted to accept the audit report. The auditor reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements after the district and auditors agreed on several adjustments. The auditor identified material adjustments relating to the accounting treatment of lease-revenue bonds and noted a material weakness tied to those adjustments; the audit also reported a significant deficiency in student activity funds timing for a small number of transactions. The auditor reported no findings of noncompliance for federal award testing (Title I, Child Nutrition and Special Education were tested).

The board adopted proposed policy 10-11, which adds a process by which at least two board members may submit a written request to place an item on the board agenda for either the next meeting or the following meeting, subject to minimum restrictions stated in the policy.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (items A'L): approved (roll call: Ms. Sasser, Tina Floyd, Dirk O'Hara, Alex Regiers, Annette Price, Dawn Brockman recorded as voting yes). Motion recorded; second not named in the public record. - Norman North baseball locker-room bid package: approved (roll call as above). Presenters: Brent Collins, Justin Milner. - Norman High athletics bid package (concessions/stadium reskin/signage and related work): approved (roll call as above). - 2024 parking expansion bid package 1 (Jackson, Kennedy, Lincoln elementary schools; combination bid accepted from Connolly Paving): approved (roll call as above). - Acceptance and authorization to sign deeds for City of Norman recreational centers at Whittier and Irving: approved (roll call as above). Administration noted a one-classroom use commitment to the city for after-school programming; purchase price stated as $10. - FY 2023-24 audit report (Eide Bailly): approved (roll call as above). Auditor reported unmodified opinion after adjustments; material adjustment on lease-revenue bond accounting; significant deficiency in timing of student activity deposits in a minority of instances. - Proposed new Board Policy 10-11 (School Board meetings agenda preparation and dissemination): approved (roll call as above). - Reemployment motions following an executive session: the board approved reemployment of central office administrators, off-scale employees and site principals as listed on the agenda (roll call as above).

No votes were recorded against any of the motions listed above in the public transcript excerpts. Several items were presented with supporting staff reports and Q&A; where presenters noted follow-up work, the minutes indicated staff will provide necessary documentation (for example, an upcoming memorandum of understanding for the rec-center transfers).