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Region 15 approves $390,000 May transfer and discusses capital priorities, reserves
Summary
The Regional School District 15 board approved a $390,000 transfer for district projects and debated using reserves for HVAC, tennis courts, playground repairs and other work; staff warned some bids must be acted on before summer.
Regional School District 15 on May 27 approved a May 2025 transfer entry of $390,000 to fund a range of district capital projects, while board members pressed staff for clarity on which projects are encumbered, how transfers affect reserve levels and the district's approach to larger HVAC work.
Business office staff said the $390,000 comes from debt-service surplus and other budget areas and will fund projects across the district, including HVAC controls, tennis-court repaving, playground repairs and lighting upgrades. Officials described some items as already encumbered, while others were pending bids or further design.
Board members questioned whether the district should use the funds to tackle larger, higher-cost HVAC replacements or instead clear a list of smaller projects. Staff said engineering studies (including an HVAC study by Petrocelli referenced for auditorium units) are underway and that some rooftop HVAC systems will require refrigerant conversions and additional design work before major replacements can be scheduled.
Finance staff noted the district has reserves built during COVID and advised a staged approach: using some surplus to complete time-sensitive work this summer while maintaining a baseline reserve. Board members acknowledged concerns that district reserves are low compared with peer districts and asked staff to prioritize a balance between necessary repairs and reserve replenishment.
Specific projects noted during the discussion: the tennis courts at Memorial (bids to close June 5), repairs to Longmeadow Elementary playground equipment (age and safety code changes requiring larger upgrades rather than piecemeal fixes), thermostat control work and potential auditorium HVAC design and replacement. Staff said some projects must move forward quickly to meet summer construction windows.
The board approved the $390,000 transfer unanimously. Members also discussed an earlier related vote to transfer the 2023'24 year-end balance of $232,725 into a newly created educational expense account; that transfer was approved later in the meeting, increasing the district's available capital and program reserves.
