Bryan ISD board approves $61,959.60 reach truck for Child Nutrition

The Bryan ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the purchase of a new reach truck for the district’s Child Nutrition services for $61,959.60. Kevin Besaw, assistant superintendent for business services, told trustees the purchase is part of an “excess fund balance spend down plan” for Child Nutrition and that the Texas Department of Agriculture had approved eligible purchases from that fund.

The truck is a reach-style forklift designed to operate in narrow aisles and move pallets side-to-side, Besaw said; staff described the unit as brand new. Sandra Baxter, director of school nutrition, supported the recommendation. Trustees asked whether the district would sell or keep the existing forklift; staff said the older unit would remain at the CDC building while the new truck would go to the Ruby Halliburton facility so staff can access pallet storage racks there.

Besaw described the procurement process as a request for proposals that drew two vendor quotes; only one vendor met the district’s specifications, notably that the recommended model will pass through doorways at the new facility while the other quoted unit was too tall. Trustees also noted the age of the existing vehicle and discussed return-on-investment considerations for repairs versus replacement.

Trustee Gonzales moved approval of the purchase and Miss Waller seconded. The chair announced the motion passed unanimously.

The board framed the procurement as a targeted equipment replacement funded from a restricted department balance rather than general operating funds; staff said purchases from the Child Nutrition fund must keep approximately three months of expenditures in reserve and that purchases above that level require a spend-down plan approved by the TDA. The district did not provide sale or salvage details for the older unit in the transcript.

The board proceeded to the next agenda item following the vote.