Board ratifies promissory-note parameters as facilities project stays within contingency; opts for newsletters rather than mass postcards on tax information
Summary
Board ratified sale parameters for general obligation promissory notes (not to exceed $9,000,500) after a facilities update that reported the project about $3 million over base budget but within a $6 million contingency; the board agreed to use parent and community newsletters, not a district postcard, for tax/refund information.
Board members ratified parameters for the sale of general obligation promissory notes after a facilities update that showed the district remains within contingency despite projected overrun pressures.
Superintendent Dr. Conrad said the facilities/construction program is "about $3,000,000 over budget at this point," but that a roughly $6,000,000 contingency and a current soft labor market give the district confidence. He told the board the project team is preparing roofs to be "solar ready" and concluded that geothermal systems proved infeasible for the selected sites. The board was shown that phasing and interior finishes are being finalized and that staff expect a video walkthrough and updated interior plans at the next meeting.
Following that update the board considered communication options for public tax information tied to referenda and state funding debates. Multiple districts declined the cost of a mailed postcard; alternatives discussed were a parent newsletter (monthly) and the community newsletter (all-door delivery in January). An estimate cited in the meeting placed the standalone postcard cost at about $6,000. The board reached consensus to distribute information through the parent newsletter and the January community newsletter rather than pursue a paid postcard.
The board then moved to ratify the Committee of the Whole’s Nov. 11 actions and to ratify the Nov. 19, 2025 signatures approving the sale documents for general obligation promissory notes not to exceed $9,000,500; a voice vote carried the motion. The board repeated a similar motion to ratify parameters for 2026 notes (also not to exceed $9,000,500) and the motion carried.
Other routine committee approvals followed, including authorization of a South High School trip to Luxembourg and several grouped first readings of policies; human-resources actions — appointments, a leave and retirements — were approved by voice vote.
The board signaled continuing attention to budget details and phasing as construction moves from design to finish work.
