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Edwardsburg board approves boiler replacement bid, moves millage renewal to four-year cycle and conditionally reinstates student
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Summary
At its April 28 meeting the Edwardsburg Public Schools board awarded a boiler replacement bid for the intermediate school, adopted a non-homestead millage renewal resolution to align future elections, approved a one-year athletic trainer contract extension, adopted a policy-transition package and conditionally reinstated a student expelled earlier this year.
The Edwardsburg Public Schools Board of Education on April 28 approved a package of district actions, including awarding a contract for an intermediate school boiler replacement, adopting a non-homestead millage renewal resolution to move the levy to a four-year cycle, extending athletic trainer services for one year and conditionally granting a student's petition for reinstatement.
The board voted to accept the lowest responsive bid for the intermediate school boiler replacement as presented. Dr. Sanchez, an administrative official, told the board the district received 10 bids and that "the lowest bid is with iBid and came in at 300,070 or 371,650" for the intermediate bond work. The board approved the award in a roll-call vote; the motion passed.
The board also adopted a resolution to submit a non-homestead millage proposition in a special election on Aug. 4, 2026, moving the district's non-homestead levy to a four-year cycle to avoid holding additional special elections. Dr. Sanchez said the change "prevents extra cost" to taxpayers by aligning the levy with regular election cycles. Tammy, a board member who read the resolution aloud, recited the schedule and certification deadlines included in the motion; the board approved the resolution by roll call.
On personnel and contracts, the board approved a one-year continuation of the district's agreement with Beacon for athletic trainer services. Dr. Sanchez said Beacon had identified a clinician who can maintain the district's expected level of service after staff turnover. Board members requested a correction to the contract term language to reflect a one-year agreement before final signature; the board approved the item following that clarification.
The board approved the district's policy-transition package as presented with no substantive changes.
In a separate, sensitive action, the board conditionally granted a student’s petition for reinstatement effective April 28, 2026. Tammy read the reinstatement resolution calling out the committee review and the statutory factors considered, and listing conditions: continuation of a substance-abuse program including drug testing through the prior expulsion term, weekly reports from a counseling agency (or a signed release allowing the district to obtain compliance information), maintaining passing grades, no new disciplinary incidents, reasonable searches if there is cause to suspect a violation, restrictions on bags (the board clarified the intent is to prohibit backpacks or to require clear backpacks), monitored bathroom breaks, and visible seating on school transportation when applicable. Dr. Sanchez noted a parent asked whether no bag at all could be required; board members on the reinstatement committee indicated the intent included no backpack or, if a backpack is brought, that it be clear. The board approved the conditional reinstatement by roll call.
Board Chair announced each motion and the votes; no opposing votes were recorded for the major actions listed above. The board moved through the remaining consent and policy items and adjourned after brief reports.
What happens next: the millage proposition language will be finalized and certified to the appropriate election coordinator by the deadlines contained in the adopted resolution, and the administration will implement the terms of the student reinstatement resolution and execute corrected contract documents for the athletic trainer agreement.
