Board approves temporary procurement‑card increase and accepts donation; debates fees, Cardigan and facility rentals
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Summary
Board temporarily increased high‑school procurement card limits for activity purchases (Dec. 1–May 30), accepted a $6,115 donation from Bedford Friends of Recreation for a robotics trailer, and held an extended discussion about parking, senior dues, Cardigan costs and facility rental rates.
The board approved several operational items and discussed a broader review of district fees and facility rental policy.
Procurement cards: Staff asked to temporarily raise limits on two procurement cards housed at the high school — one to $40,000 and the other to $20,000 — to enable efficient ticketing and trip purchases during the winter/spring activity season. Finance clerk Karen Blood, who manages the cards centrally, recommended the temporary increase and the board approved a motion that set a date range from Dec. 1 through May 30 (board members noted staff can adjust limits administratively as needed).
Fees and facilities: Superintendent Mike Tornier presented a preliminary fee schedule review covering parking, senior dues, Cardigan trip fees, before/after school programs, summer school and facility rental rates. Board members noted parking revenue no longer covers snow removal and custodial costs, that facility‑use fees have not been updated in several years (custodian minimums and Sunday/double‑time differentials were raised), and that theater staff are working on packaged rental options to attract outside groups. The board discussed whether to raise senior dues vs. creating a separate graduation fee to cover BCTV streaming/production costs; students in attendance warned of fee fatigue and urged clarity on what senior dues cover. The Cardigan outdoor program was discussed at length: staff said the general fund currently pays roughly 60% of Cardigan cost and that student fundraising, scholarships and potential sponsorships could be explored.
Donation: The board accepted a memo reporting Bedford Friends of Recreation would donate $6,115 toward a new trailer for the high‑school robotics team (donors had approved up to $8,000 and trade‑in value reduces the out‑of‑pocket cost). A board motion to accept the donation was moved and approved by voice vote.
Consent and closing: The board approved the consent agenda manifest by voice vote and then shared short subjects and community updates before adjourning.
Votes recorded at the meeting were voice votes; the transcript records 'Aye' calls but does not provide roll‑call tallies for individual members.