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Board approves FY27 capital and long-term facilities program including security upgrades and predictive maintenance pilot
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Summary
Directors approved a FY27 capital and long-term facilities maintenance program totaling roughly $3.64 million for 32 projects, including sports-center roof/dehumidification work, security vestibule upgrades with ballistic glass, a fault-detection-and-diagnostics pilot, pavement and playground repairs.
The Moorhead Area Public Schools board on April 27 approved the district's fiscal year 2027 capital and long-term facility maintenance (LTFM) program after a presentation by Director Steve Moore.
Moore said the district is managing a roughly $40 million long-term maintenance backlog and proposed 32 projects for FY27 totaling about $3.637 million (LTFM and capital combined). Key items included major work at the sports center (roofing, dehumidification and HVAC units), three roof projects, targeted pavement repairs and striping, replacement of failing gym bleachers, enclosure of an elementary playground, fire-alarm-panel replacements for older buildings, and several security upgrades.
On security, Moore told the board the district plans to add ballistic glazing at high-school main-entrance vestibules and at Career Academy service desks and to apply shatter-resistant film elsewhere. "This will provide time of entry if there was an intruder," he said, noting a targeted, cost-effective approach rather than glazing all campus glass.
Moore also proposed a fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) pilot using AI analysis of HVAC and energy data for the sports center, high school and Allen Hopkins; he said a nearby district recouped costs within months and that predictive maintenance can reduce reactive repairs.
Cassidy moved to approve the FY27 capital LTFM program and Scott seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: the package addresses immediate safety and reliability needs, invests in energy-focused predictive systems, and aims to reduce risk of large, sudden capital failures. Several items (e.g., fencing, track resurfacing) were noted as either scoped or phased depending on quotes and additional design work.
What's next: administration will proceed with contracts and project scheduling; Moore said some work (North Rink sandblasting and related repairs) will mobilize in early May and that the district will continue to refine levy and funding assumptions as state guidance becomes available.
