F&O committee forwards grants, contracts and purchase orders to full board

The Finance & Operations Committee voted unanimously to forward a package of grants, contracts and procurement items to the full Board of Education. Committee leadership moved that ‘‘we send to the full board these 4 abstracts, 1 agreement, 2 amendments, 3 purchase orders, and 1 change order,’’ a motion that was seconded and carried in voice votes by Doctor Yarbrough, Miss Downer and the committee chair.

Items reviewed on the consent list included: federal magnet grant Year 2 funding for three theme schools; a $100,000 Nellie Mae Foundation district-responsive support grant to certify Data Wise coaches and fund onboarding and leadership academies; school-improvement grants for Hill House and Lincoln Bassett; a lease of first-floor space at 54 Meadow for the choice-enrollment office; an amendment to a CREC agreement to place participant salaries on the district payroll; a funding-source correction to a purchase order with Utility Communications; multi‑year security licensing with Total Communications; HVAC control-system upgrades with CT Controls; and a change order for fence repairs with Guilford Fence to improve campus safety.

Committee members asked a handful of clarifying questions on location alternatives for the enrollment office and vendor comparisons for the security licensing; staff said alternatives had been explored but none were ready for presentation and that vendor comparisons were included in the packet. The chair moved the consent package after the discussion and the committee recorded a voice vote approving the motion.

The committee’s action sends the listed items to the full board for final approval at a later meeting.