Board presses facilities staff on contracting after project updates
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Summary
Board members questioned why multiple maintenance and capital tasks — sidewalks, painting, conduit and gym projects — were contracted rather than done in-house and asked for a detailed list of contracted work and costs; facilities staff cited rebids, staffing limits and timing as reasons.
Board members raised questions about the district's use of outside contractors after facilities staff reviewed several ongoing projects.
Facilities manager Philip (on the record as speaking during the update) gave a progress report: "Seward High School gym roof, the dome is covered, and the flat roof is about 30% completed." He also reported Ruleville's roof project is finished pending punch-list items and central office roof work is complete.
Multiple board members pressed why tasks such as a playground sidewalk and exterior painting were contracted rather than completed in-house. One board member summarized the concern bluntly: "We're contracting out everything." Facilities staff responded that timing and staffing constraints, rebidding history and contractor availability drove the decisions. The manager offered to "provide you a list of what's contracted and what's not and see and you can ... see the monies" to clarify which projects were outside contracts.
On the Von Orr projects, the facilities manager said the Boys and Girls Club wall had been budgeted at $50,000 and a related backside item at $30,000 but reported he completed the backside work for less than budgeted and that the dining room wall will be done in-house to save money.
The exchange recorded disagreements about the stage repairs at Bon Orr Elementary, where a board member characterized the condition bluntly and the facilities manager replied that previous statements and facts did not indicate mold was present. Facilities staff repeatedly invited board members to meet for detailed project-level documentation and promised to bring a contracted-work list to the next meeting.
The transcript records that the facilities manager stated he has "never been over budget" in 10 years and that current projects were inside the approved budget. The meeting record does not show any formal board action to change procurement practice; the facilities manager's offer to provide a contracts list was the primary next step documented in the meeting.