Davenport school board adopts $504.9 million FY27 budget, approves a bundle of construction and service contracts

The Davenport Community School District board on a unanimous roll-call vote adopted and certified its fiscal 2026–27 budget and tax levy, setting a proposed property tax levy rate of 12.97771 per $1,000 taxable valuation and estimating resources and requirements at $504,909,130.

The board also approved a slate of contracts and purchases related to school facilities and student services. Highlights approved included: awarding North High School’s Career and Technical Education project to TrainUSA Inc. for $2,445,950; approving Bray Architects for North High additions and renovations for $155,000; authorizing food-service equipment purchases across three new construction projects with Wilson Restaurant Supply Inc. totaling $1,203,898; awarding a rooftop-unit replacement at the Davenport Learning Center to Trane Technologies for $148,308 (PEBL funds); and approving commercial pizza vendor contracts naming Hut American Group (dba Pizza Hut) as the primary vendor (estimated $141,669) and Papa John’s as secondary (estimated $45,594).

Board members also approved two property purchases — 1618 North Main Street for $300,000 and 1324 Locust Street for $225,000 — and several smaller facilities projects including tuck pointing at Garfield Elementary ($63,110) and replacement of the West High auditorium stage floor ($155,150). The board approved a contract for school-based restorative mediation services with the Scott County Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center for the 2026–27 year and renewed the IJAG MOU for $175,000 for 2026–27.

Why it matters: The budget adoption sets the district’s legal levy and spending authority for FY27, and the contracts and capital purchases commit bond and project funds that will move forward construction, safety, and program improvements across district sites.

Board discussion and key details: Directors asked questions on several items before votes. On the North High CTE award, Director Yanke questioned whether the investment duplicated programming at West High; staff responded that capstone facilities and ventilation/safety needs at North necessitated the investment and that capstone programs remain concentrated at West while foundational CT opportunities exist across schools. On food-service equipment purchases directors asked about price differentials; staff explained that reuse of existing equipment and differing servery designs account for the variance and clarified that items used strictly for food service will be paid from food-nutrition funds while mixed-use items come from bond funds. On the West High stage replacement, directors asked about termite risks; staff said there was no evidence of active infestation and they will verify when the work exposes framing.

Officials and votes: The FY27 budget adoption was a roll-call vote with all present directors recorded as voting yes. Multiple project and contract motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote unless otherwise recorded.

Next steps: Staff said a budget amendment will be prepared and presented later in the cycle to reflect instruction-category variances identified in the March report; board approval of implementation details and project schedules will proceed through staff reports and future board items.