Board approves 2025 bond projects and professional team; governance procedures sent back for committee review

The Novi Community School District Board of Education approved several motions related to the district's 2025 bond program and then referred governance procedures back to committee for additional language on change-order thresholds.

Staff asked the board to authorize final negotiations under AIA contracts and recommended King Scott as the architect and Christman as construction manager for the bond program. The board voted to approve the professional-team contract authority as presented.

The board also approved the series 1 and 2 projects (elementary playground improvements, early childhood center work, middle-school technology and flooring updates, high-school academic-hub construction and performing-arts interior upgrades, start of the Novi Activity Center, turf and track replacements and districtwide deferred maintenance). The motion to approve the list carried on voice vote.

During discussion of the proposed governance and procedures document—intended to set approval thresholds and change-order protocols—Trustee Jason Cook argued the policy, as written, treats original contract values and later change orders separately. "Im not gonna vote for this based on that. Id like to see it come back at the entire threshold," Cook said, urging that total project cost (original contract plus change orders) should determine escalation to higher approval levels. Staff and other trustees discussed contingency treatment and monitoring; the board referred the governance procedures to the Capital Projects Committee to draft clarifying language and return to the board for action. The referral motion carried 7 to 0.

Board members said the bond program remains a high priority and praised community support and the project team for outreach and planning. Trustees emphasized transparency, monthly reporting options and guardrails to prevent incremental spending that exceeds board-approved project budgets.