Facilities director requests $1.282 million for deferred maintenance; buses budgeted at $867,851

Facilities staff summarized a prioritized list of facility projects and deferred maintenance needs and told the board the consolidated request totals $1,282,490.

Speaking after the budget overview, the facilities representative (addressed in the meeting as "Mister Kossi") said principals submitted requests that were reviewed and pared down to core maintenance needs. He told the board that while some deferred maintenance can be postponed another year, delaying work increases costs over time. Several items may require formal bidding due to cost thresholds, and the facilities team adjusted many principal-provided cost estimates before finalizing the $1,282,490 figure.

The presenter noted the only equipment budgeted for 2027 at this time is bus replacement, with $867,851 identified from state aid to support fleet renewal. Officials emphasized maintaining the existing fleet and observed that electric buses would have carried a significantly higher price tag.

Board members discussed practical constraints: some building alterations require School Building Authority (SBA) inspection and approval, and recently completed work should not be redone unnecessarily. Facilities staff said the district maintains a certified facility plan and a multi-year renovation ranking; several schools were listed as high priority for repair or replacement projects.

There was no final vote on the facilities funding request; staff were asked to continue refining cost estimates and next steps for projects that require bidding or external approvals.