Richland 1 Middle College board reviews finances, opens RFP after engagement exceeds $25,000 threshold

Richland 1 Middle College’s board of directors met by Teams on March 11 and reviewed fiscal-year-to-date financials, unanimously adopted the published meeting agenda and approved the previous meeting’s minutes, and opened a request for proposals (RFP) for financial services after an engagement letter exceeded the district procurement threshold.

Britney, a representative of Prestige, presented the financial report for fiscal year 2026 through February. She reported ‘‘days cash on hand’ at 3.99 and a 12‑month average of 3.31, which she characterized as ‘‘far exceeds that 60 day benchmark.’’ Britney also said salaries and benefits were about 64% of total revenue (12‑month average 66%), net income was ‘‘right over 235,000,’’ undocumented transactions were zero, operating cash was just under $250,000 and designated cash in a Merrill Lynch account had increased slightly. She noted several budgeted items — furniture, fixtures and ordered computers — had not yet been paid, and two budgeted positions remain open.

Dr. Brabham summarized the engagement letter from Prestige and said its cost exceeded the district’s $25,000 procurement threshold, requiring a formal RFP. She told the board the RFP was posted March 6, the question period is open and the administration will issue an addendum to all interested parties. Proposals are due March 20; the board intends to evaluate proposals using a rubric, announce an intent to award on March 25 and anticipates a contract start date of July 1, 2026.

Board members discussed logistics for evaluating proposals. Several members favored electronic review using the rubric (the presenter said evaluations would likely be collected via a Microsoft form). The board agreed staff, faculty and interested board members could serve on the review panel; members noted they might need to convene briefly if aggregated scores produced an exact tie. Dr. Brabham said staff would send received proposals and the rubric by close of business Friday to the evaluators.

Routine business: Dr. Tracy Dunn moved to adopt the agenda as published; Ms. Ferguson seconded and the chair called the motion carried. Later, Ms. Ferguson moved to approve the minutes and Dr. Dunn seconded; the board approved the minutes.

Announcements included student college tours (35 students toured Benedict College Feb. 27), a leaders luncheon, a Women’s History Month event called ‘‘Herstory in the Making’’ slated for the 27th, and graduation set for May 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the Columbia Convention Center. The board’s next meeting is April 15.

The board took no public comments and no committee reports were presented. The meeting concluded after routine announcements and farewells.