Superintendent presents proposed capital budget, outlines $2.1M West Oaks CTE project

Superintendent Dr. Rice presented the superintendent’s proposed capital budget (dated 03/23/2026) for the board’s review and said the board would discuss the details at a budget work session Saturday at 9 a.m.

Dr. Rice said the district receives roughly $2.7 million annually from county tax funds for capital needs and outlined a West Oaks Career and Technical Education building with an estimated cost of $2,100,000. He said the district has been accumulating lottery repair-and-renovation funds and that using those funds for the West Oaks project would leave approximately $127,004.54 in the account. The project and any use of those pass-through funds require county-commissioner approval.

"This is my proposed budget to you," Dr. Rice said, noting the materials had been placed at board members’ desks and the board would have a week to review them before the work session. He invited board members to submit questions by email and said staff would prepare further detail and rough cost estimates (for example, parking-lot repairs) for Saturday’s session.

Board members asked for clarification on timing, fund balances and which projects will require commissioner approval; Dr. Rice said other capital items will be discussed at the Saturday work session and that some projects would be funded from the district’s capital reserves rather than pass-through county funds.

The board did not vote on any capital approvals at the meeting; it accepted the superintendent’s proposed budget for review and scheduled follow-up work.