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Board approves facilities and personnel actions, including Lofton Stadium change order and extension of superintendent contract
Summary
Trustees unanimously approved a set of routine and project-specific items: a $3,479.26 change order for Lofton Stadium, purchase of shade structures, a $145,000 bid award for a walk-in freezer, notice of completion for the stadium project, a restructured IT job description, an agreement with the Geil Group and a one-year extension to the superintendent's contract through 2028; expulsions were also reported from closed session.
At the November meeting the Los Banos Unified board approved multiple facilities contracts, personnel items and administrative agreements and reported action taken in closed session on student discipline.
Key approvals included change order No. 5 with BM Construction Group Inc. for work on Lofton Stadium ($3,479.26) needed to adjust manhole covers and drainage access; the purchase of shade structure units for the new Early Education Center (district expects to save approximately $200,000 by shifting installation labor to the site contractor); and award of the bid for a new walk-in freezer at Los Manis Junior High to Lenat Refrigeration for $145,000 (to be paid from Fund 133, School Nutrition Services).
The board also authorized filing a Notice of Completion for the Lofton Stadium field and track improvements after confirming outstanding field-line/goal-post storage plans for different sports seasons.
Personnel and contracts: trustees approved a restructured job description for a Network Application Systems Administrator (a currently funded position being revised after a retirement), approved a time-limited agreement with the Geil Group to help launch a community plan and extended the superintendent’s contract by one year through 2028 following a positive evaluation.
Consent calendar and procedure concerns: the consent calendar passed on a roll-call vote; the board discussed and then approved a pulled consent item (an anti-bullying assembly agreement) but one trustee flagged the practice of approving contracts retroactively and asked the administration to reinforce procurement timelines with site principals and report back on potential contingency thresholds.
Closed session report: the board reported several expulsions by number and said expelled students may contact Student Services for readmission review; the expulsions were reported as approved by a 5–0 vote with two members absent.
Quotations: A trustee objecting to retroactive approvals said, “I feel uncomfortable approving contracts retroactively ... please if you would take care of that.”
What’s next: Staff will research whether facility-subcommittee thresholds or contingency language exist and return with recommendations to the board; administrators will continue implementing approved projects and complete contracting close-out steps.
