Carmel Clay board approves $1.4M transfer to clear textbook rental fund, signs four construction change orders

The Carmel Clay Schools Board of Trustees approved a resolution authorizing a transfer of $1,400,000 from the education fund to the textbook rental fund so the district can close that account and purchase textbooks from the education fund going forward, a staff member said.

Mr. McMichael explained the transfer is necessary because state policy eliminated the parent-paid textbook rental fee; the state will provide textbook funding to the education fund and the district must zero out the textbook rental fund (which is currently in a negative balance) before closing it. He told members the transfer will lower the education fund's cash reserve in the short term but that adoption cycles generally even out over a six-year cycle.

The board also approved grouped change orders (items 4.2–4.5): West Clay Elementary interior renovations, Cherry Tree Elementary renovations (one net add largely to be charged back to another contractor), Carmel High School Greyhound activity center, and Carmel Middle School IBSP phase 2. Administration said three of the four change orders are deducts (closeout reductions) and explained the process for administrative authority on contracts (administration can approve change orders under certain state thresholds; board approval is required when contract changes exceed the board's signature role). Board members asked about the value of approving change orders after work is done; the administration said the vote modifies the underlying board contract and is required to finalize the change.

Both the textbook transfer and the grouped change orders were moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote with the president announcing "motion carries." No recorded roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript.

The board did not add further conditions to the approvals but requested continued monitoring of fund balances and contract closeouts.