Provo School Board approves Wasatch Elementary wall repairs, sets 2025 certified tax rate and adopts multiple policy updates

The Provo City School Board on Oct. 28 unanimously approved a set of business and maintenance actions, including a reconstruction of the Wasatch Elementary retaining wall, adoption of the district's 2025 certified tax rate, AV equipment upgrades at Provo High School and a package of updated policies.

Large purchase: Wasatch Elementary wall Devin Daley, the district business administrator, summarized a not-to-exceed total rebuilding cost of $702,248 for the Wasatch Elementary retaining wall; Hadco and Hogan committed to cover half of the total. Board member Meg Van Wagonen moved to approve the purchase with a district maximum liability of $351,124; Melanie Hall seconded the motion, which passed by unanimous voice vote. The board heard that external contractors estimated additional "soft costs" that are currently being absorbed by Hogan and IGS, and the district's share may end up lower than the one-third figure on the motion once all costs are final.

Certified tax rate Trustees approved the district's corrected certified tax rate for 2025 at 0.006922 after county valuation corrections and a state-certification issue were resolved. Board member Lisa Boyce moved the motion; Terry McCabe seconded. The board approved the rate by unanimous voice vote.

AV upgrades: Provo High School auditorium The board approved a large purchase request for audiovisual upgrades in the Provo High School auditorium in the amount of $105,143.43. Vice President Gina Hales moved the purchase; Meg Van Wagonen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Policy updates The board also approved a package of updated policies with unanimous votes. The adopted policies included: - Policy 15-20 (business administrator appointment), which outlines appointment procedures and interim guidance; - Policy 15-23 (business administrator qualifications and responsibilities), including the requirement to take and file the constitutional oath of office; - Policy 15-40 (administrative appointments), which clarifies candidate-pool procedures; and - Policy 15-43 (duties of principals), amended to omit the word "plant" on line 44 as discussed in the meeting; - Policy 16-20 (district reports), which clarifies annual reporting requirements and why a separate "financial" label was not added.

All motions described above passed without recorded roll-call votes; board members approved by voice and the chair announced each motion as passing unanimously.