Board approves jump‑pit contract and consent agenda; finance staff outline QBE allotment timing

The Harris County Board of Education approved multiple consent agenda items on Nov. 13, including a facilities contract, surplus equipment sales and routine reports.

Dr. Finney told the board the RFP for a long‑jump and triple‑jump pit at Harris County High School received one bid from Hellas Construction for $28,721; Hellas previously completed the district's turf and track work. Board members asked whether the price aligned with expectations and noted there were no local bidders; the board approved awarding the contract by voice vote.

The board also approved a CTAE surplus equipment request to advertise for sale two items (a vertical panel saw and a band saw) and to scrap a drill press that the department described as beyond repair.

On the financial report, a board member said, "$510,000 is not where we should be," prompting finance staff to explain the district expects two QBE allotments (for November and December) and that the state will pay the December QBE allotment on Dec. 19. Finance staff said the district has cash in its GF1 account (about $3,000,000) and projects that cash plus the allotments will allow the district to meet payroll through December.

Other consent items approved included the major purchases report, the enrollment report and the school nutrition report (a board member flagged a date typo in the nutrition report that should read Oct. 31). Approvals were recorded by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were provided in the meeting record.