Board approves LearnWell tutoring agreement, athletic apparel contract and bus purchases with financing plan

At its Nov. 20 meeting the Lincoln Way CHSD 210 board approved several procurement items affecting student services, athletics and transportation.

Agreement with LearnWell: The board approved a contract with LearnWell to provide tutoring to hospitalized students. District staff said vendor specifics vary by hospital; LearnWell would typically provide two to three hours of instruction per day with 30 percent additional time billed for tutor prep, adjusted case-by-case.

Athletic apparel: The board authorized administration to execute a 3.5‑year contract with BSN and Under Armour for athletic clothing and team shops. Administration said the deal offers year‑round team shops and discounts on shoes (reported as 35 percent off catalog price for student athletes), while some activities (cheer and dance) will remain with activity‑specific suppliers because Under Armour does not offer certain specialized uniforms.

Buses and financing: The board approved purchasing 28 yellow school buses and three white activity buses under a mixed-vendor recommendation (lowest bids from Central States and Midwest Transit). Administration recommended financing-to-own via a debt certificate rather than leasing, citing lease costs that exceeded purchase financing. The recommended financing would use $310,000 cash up front and roughly $4.5 million in proceeds; a separate resolution authorizing up to $4,850,000 in debt certificates passed unanimously to cover the purchase and structure payments to smooth fiscal-year impacts.

All procurement motions passed by unanimous vote during the meeting; staff emphasized the purchases and contracts were within budget and aimed at improving services and long-term efficiency.