Board approves routine bills, audit engagement, food-service contracts and summer facilities work

At its April 16 meeting the Westchester SD 92-5 Board of Education approved a series of routine fiscal and operational items: authorization of presented bills and payroll, a multi-year engagement with district auditors Baker Tilly, new food-service contracts and the district's summer construction and maintenance plan.

Finance staff presented bills and claims in the transcript as $315,600.75 and payrolls in a garbled figure recorded in the minutes (the transcript printed $1,14,915.88; final payroll totals will be reflected in official minutes and warrants). Dennis noted that categorical payments from the state can run late and that some payments may lag into the next fiscal year.

The board approved an engagement letter with Baker Tilly for the 2025'26 audit period; administration said the fee increase was modest and that Baker Tilly has audited the district for over 25 years.

On procurement the board approved the lunch program and milk contracts (administration described the procurement documents as year-two use of the bid; price increases are tied to a PPI food-away-from-home index). Administration said the fee-calculation for student fees will be informed by the combined contract outcomes and that further fee decisions are pending.

Facilities staff presented a summer construction plan that includes door replacements and hardware standardization at WIS and WMS, roof repairs, window work and projector/whiteboard replacements. Janice explained the plan is largely funded through a maintenance grant with a roughly $50,000 district match and that the overall set of maintenance projects is near an estimated $100,000.

All items were approved by roll-call votes as presented.

Actions recorded: authorization of bills and payrolls, approval of Baker Tilly audit engagement, approval of lunch and milk contracts and approval of summer construction plan.