Clark County board approves draft 2026–27 budget, construction work and 12 new buses in unanimous votes

The Clark County Board of Education unanimously approved a slate of routine and planning items Wednesday, including the district's first-draft 2026'27 budget, construction documents for several school projects, an $82,520.48 invoice to Ross Tarrant Architects and the purchase of 12 new school buses.

During a series of voice votes, members recorded five-to-zero outcomes on motions to adopt the meeting agenda, approve prior minutes, accept project closeouts and authorize purchases. Miss Ellis, presenting the draft budget, described the document as a "worst-case" roll-over that includes step raises and planned positions while removing assumed capital transfers tied to upcoming bond decisions. "We rolled over our current budget, gave step raises, [and] added the positions," Ellis said. The draft removes about $1.3 million in fund transfers the district previously relied on, she said, pending final bond decisions.

Votes at a glance - Adopt agenda: motion by Mister Kaiser; second by Miss Ritchie. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - Approve minutes (special meeting 01/20/2026): motion by Mister Dorsey; second by Mister Kaiser. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - Closeout / BG-4 approval for Shear HVAC renovation: motion by Miss Thomas; second by Miss Roland. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. Presenter reported retainage held for controls issues has been resolved and commissioning is complete. - Invoice #25019 to Ross Tarrant Architects — $82,520.48 (RDC/Banker renovation design documents): motion by Mister Kaiser; second by Mister Dorsey. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - BG-4 approval for New Clark County Preschool Project (closeout): motion moved and seconded. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - Approval of construction documents for R.D. Campbell Junior High (BG #26108): motion moved and seconded. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. Presenter detailed HVAC replacement, window and ceiling alternates, and door hardware replacements in H Wing. - Purchase of 12 replacement school buses: motion moved and seconded. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. Transportation staff recommended financing through bonding capacity and the Build Plus program; staff said larger orders can improve interest rates. - Authorize payment of salaries and accounts payable: motion by Mister Dorsey; second by Mr. Pizer. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - Accept SFCC offer of assistance for annual debt service (bonding capacity): motion made and seconded. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - Seek bids for purchase of the district's educational broadband spectrum: motion by Mister Kaiser; second; Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00. - Approve draft budget for 2026'27: motion moved and seconded. Outcome: approved, 5'0to'00.

Several of the items were routine approvals intended to keep projects on schedule. For construction work at RDC and Baker, presenters said roofing, HVAC and interior work will be bid in separate packages by Odell/Codell, with bids expected roughly a month after postings and work potentially starting in April. The invoice to Ross Tarrant Architects covers design and construction document preparation to ready those projects for bid.

The bus purchase drew discussion about fleet condition and salvage value for older units; transportation staff noted age and mileage details and recommended the purchase to preserve service and reliability. Funding for the purchase is expected to come from the district's bonding capacity and financing programs that the board has used previously.

The meeting closed with routine consent-agenda approvals and adjournment at 6:58 p.m.

Next steps: the draft budget will remain a working document while state legislative developments and final bond decisions are resolved; construction bid awards and bus procurement will proceed per staff timelines and procurement rules.