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Livonia board approves ASD playground, bond contingency, HVAC repairs, bus funding and budget amendment; unanimous votes
Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the Livonia Public Schools Board approved a $209,700 playground for the Roosevelt ASD program, $150,000 in additional bond contingency, HVAC repairs at Stevenson ($61,617), $5,352 extra for bus purchases and a multi‑fund budget amendment including a $1 million transfer to capital projects; all motions passed unanimously.
The Livonia Public Schools Board of Education on Dec. 16 approved a set of operational and capital items the board said had been discussed previously at study sessions and Committee of the Whole meetings. Key approvals included a fenced playground for Roosevelt Elementary’s ASD program funded from special education Act 18 dollars, an additional $150,000 in bond contingency for renovation projects, repairs to Stevenson High School HVAC chillers, a small increase in bus purchase funding and an amended set of district budgets and transfers.
Votes at a glance
- Roosevelt Elementary ASD playground: Approved 7-0. Motion by Crystal Frank, supported by Mrs. Jarvis. Purchase from Kid Stuff Play Systems via Kennedy Recreation for $209,700 (includes contingency). Funding: Act 18 special education allocation. Phil Francis said the fenced structure is for students as young as 3, to reduce overstimulation and to prevent elopement; he added a 3% contingency to cover possible site drainage issues.
- Bond contingency: Approved 7-0. Motion by Mrs. Jarvis, supported by Mrs. Bonifield. Board approved $150,000 in additional project contingency recommended by the owner’s representative to cover unforeseen renovation items billed late in 2024. Phil Francis and board members said the request reallocates bond dollars within the 2024 bond program and does not add new outside funding.
- HVAC repairs at Stevenson High School: Approved 7-0. Motion by Mrs. Burton, supported by Madeline Acosta. The board authorized $61,617 (including 3% contingency) to SysTemp Corporation for chiller repairs to ensure cooling capability until a future replacement project.
- Additional funding for bus purchase (Holland Bus Company): Approved 7-0. Motion by Mister Johnson, supported by Mrs. Jarvis. The board increased the purchase order by $5,352 to cover an error in the vendor quote so the purchase order total will be $631,027 for six buses; funds are from the 2021 bond program. Trustees clarified that the vendor had mistakenly quoted no seats (buses were configured to accommodate wheelchairs), and this action “trues up” the amount to what was owed.
- Budget amendment (multiple funds): Approved 7-0. Motion by Mrs. Bonifield, supported by Mister Johnson. The board approved amended budgets across 11 funds. Finance director Allison Smith told the board the amendment mainly updates retirement funding flows and other adjustments: she increased projected general‑fund revenue by $750,000 and projected expenditures by $850,000, producing an ending general‑fund balance projected at $3,090,000 (16.7% of expenditures). The board also authorized a $1,000,000 transfer from the general fund into the capital projects fund and updated grant and beginning‑balance figures across funds.
Other votes and personnel actions
The board approved new teacher hires, granted tenure to one teacher effective Dec. 5, 2024, adopted two retirement resolutions and completed the second reading of board policy IFE (field trips). All motions were carried by recorded roll call votes with unanimous support.
Board members and staff repeatedly noted that many of these items had been discussed in detail at prior Committee of the Whole and study sessions; trustees said those sessions contained more detailed deliberations. Several trustees asked clarifying questions about funding sources and the mechanics of reallocating bond contingency dollars. Phil Francis and Allison Smith provided the budget, funding and program context the board requested.
