Brandon Valley board reviews midyear finances, construction updates and approves consent items

At its regular meeting, the Brandon Valley School District 49-2 board heard a midyear financial report and construction updates and approved routine consent and personnel items by voice vote.

Finance staff reported on December cash and fund balances and highlighted key payments and project totals. "Cash on hand at the December [report] was just over $28,000,000," the presenter reported, and he summarized fund balances across the general fund, capital projects and special education. He noted an investment report balance of $25,054,000 and said the food service fund showed an accrued net loss of $230,774. The board reviewed bills and claims that included a half-year payment for the school resource officer of $45,474, a Pesca Construction invoice of $677,000 (with cumulative payments on that project reported as about $17,500,000), US Bank bond and capital certificates payments noted at $1,200,000, and total bills and claims presented of $2,944,740. The board moved and the items were approved by voice vote.

Superintendent Larson updated the board on building projects: the new Berkman Valley Elementary is progressing toward being sealed and dried in with finishes to follow, and the middle-school addition is nearly dried in with a few windows remaining. Larson said crews used favorable weather and winter break periods to make progress and that both projects remain on track to open for the 2026 school year. He also reported the district is communicating with families affected by boundary changes and collecting transfer requests through the Jan. 31 deadline.

The board approved consent agenda items (2–9) and personnel items (1–19) by voice vote. The meeting closed after a brief listing of building permit applications for review and a thank-you sent by Paula Gordon.