Board approves bond sale, HVAC and lighting contracts; elects officers and confirms personnel actions

The Livonia Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 27 unanimously approved a slate of business items including a bond sale authorization of up to $38 million, contracts for HVAC and stadium lighting, a change order for field-house equipment, several personnel actions, and the board's officer elections.

Why it matters: The bond authorization enables the district's next series of voter-approved construction projects and gives staff authority to pursue refunding opportunities to reduce long-term interest costs. The facilities contracts and change order move multiple capital projects forward. Personnel actions and officer elections set governance and staffing for the coming year.

Key votes and outcomes

- Bonds: The board approved a resolution authorizing sale of the third series of 2021 voter-approved bonds for an amount not to exceed $38,000,000 and authorized district staff to offer to buy back (tender) outstanding bonds and issue refunding bonds if that will produce taxpayer savings. Motion by Mark Johnson, supported by Colleen Burton; roll call vote was unanimous (7'0yes, 0'no). Allison Smith, chief financial officer, summarized that tendering…