Tacoma board approves furniture purchases and authorizes design‑build contract for professional development center

The Tacoma School District board voted to approve three procurement items during its meeting.

The chief operating officer recommended and the board authorized up to $450,000 for furniture and equipment at Lowell Elementary from McDowell Craig under KCDA agreement terms. The board then approved up to $250,000 for furniture and equipment at the Maritime Skills Center, also from McDowell Craig in agreement with KCDA. Both items were moved, seconded and passed with no recorded opposition.

The board also approved a motion to negotiate and award a design‑build alternative method contract to Washington Patriot for partial demolition and improvements to the TPS Professional Development Center. The chief operating officer described the contract as a design‑build alternative method for partial demolition and improvement of the Professional Development Center building; the motion was moved, seconded and approved with no recorded opposition.

Additionally, the board approved continuous achievement process (CAP) plans for the 2025–26 school year upon an assistant superintendent's recommendation; that motion passed as presented.

Votes and procedure: For each item the board chair called for questions, heard none, and recorded 'ayes' with no oppositions stated on the record. The meeting record does not show individual named votes for each motion; the chair's call and lack of recorded opposition indicate unanimous passage as presented.

Next steps: Each approved procurement and contract will proceed to the superintendent or designee to negotiate and finalize agreements per the motions; the board did not provide additional conditions in the meeting record.