Central Unified board approves $4 million deferred maintenance increase, architecture contracts and multiple grants
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Summary
On Jan. 13 the Central Unified board approved increasing its deferred maintenance plan to $4 million (with a $2 million current-year increase), awarded architectural services for a 2026 painting project, accepted gifts, and approved a San Joaquin Valley Air District grant to buy five electric utility vehicles.
The Central Unified Board of Trustees approved several administrative and capital items at its Jan. 13 regular meeting, including a major increase to deferred maintenance funding, architect services for painting projects, acceptance of multiple gifts and grant awards, and textbook approvals for dual enrollment courses.
Deferred maintenance and HVAC work: Director Bath presented an updated deferred maintenance plan that raises the three-year plan to $4,000,000 and asks to increase the current year's deferred maintenance by $2,000,000 to begin replacing aging HVAC units. The board approved the recommendation by recorded vote (motion and vote recorded, motion carried 6-0).
Architectural services and facilities contracts: The board approved a $97,290 proposal from Darden Architects for architectural services covering 2026 school painting projects at four campuses, and administration presented a separate Darden proposal to return to the board on Jan. 25 for McKinley Elementary School modernization and DSA review (information item).
Grants and gifts: Administration listed six gifts to district schools (notable: a $20,000 donation from the Joseph Keith Burgess Foundation to an Associated Student Body Fund) and recommended acceptance; the board approved accepting the gifts (motion recorded, vote carried). The board also approved acceptance of a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Public Benefit Grant to purchase five electric utility vehicles for elementary campuses; the total vehicle cost is $94,240.17, with the grant covering $90,534.60 and the remainder funded from the general fund.
Curriculum and contracts: The board approved textbooks for spring dual-enrollment courses to meet start-of-term needs; trustees recorded an abstention from Trustee Kirk on this item. Administration announced a three-year renewal of the Aeries student information system (11/01/2025–10/31/2028) and recommended the renewal be placed on the Jan. 27 agenda for action, citing a 5% per-student licensing increase tied to cloud hosting costs.
Votes at a glance: consent agenda approval (motions carried); acceptance of gifts (approved 5-0 with Trustee Kirk absent), sale/disposal of surplus property (approved 5-0), Darden Architects painting proposal ($97,290) (approved 6-0), deferred maintenance plan ($4,000,000 with $2,000,000 increase this year) (approved 6-0), San Joaquin Valley Air District grant (approved unanimously), textbooks for dual enrollment (approved, with one abstention by Trustee Kirk).
Next steps: Several items presented as information (McKinley modernization; Aeries renewal; Shifting Perspectives contract) are scheduled to return on upcoming agendas for formal action. The board adjourned at 9:01 p.m.