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MSD Southwest Allen County board approves new payroll system and several construction contracts
Summary
The board approved selection of Lao Associates as the district financial and payroll system and ratified contracts for a Summit Middle School track, multiple playground installs, a campus sidewalk and an extension of a library ground-lease MOU; it also accepted a $139,624 donation for Homestead's Environmental Club.
The MSD Southwest Allen County Schools Board of Trustees approved a slate of contracts, policy updates and a major software purchase at its May meeting, the board said.
Administrators recommended Lao Associates as the district’s new financial and payroll software; presenters said the first-year implementation cost is $235,000 with approximately $81,000 in annual maintenance thereafter and that the vendor would front-load data conversion and training to reduce staff burden. The board approved the recommendation by voice vote.
On facilities, the board approved a $2,177,355 contract with Sprint Turf for the Summit Middle School track and field project, with substantial completion scheduled for Sept. 15; the motion passed with one member recorded as opposed. Trustees also approved a phase‑1 playground installation contract (total just over $1.4 million) and a sidewalk contract to connect the administration building to central maintenance for just over $288,000 (the sidewalk bid included an optional lighting alternate), both of which the board authorized by voice vote.
The board approved an extension to the memorandum of understanding with the Allen County Public Library to move a surveying and agreement deadline from May 15 to June 30 so staff can finalize property surveys and return a fully drafted ground lease for later approval.
The board also accepted a $139,624 donation to Homestead High School’s Environmental Club generated through a Midwest America affinity-card fundraising program covering October 2025 through March 2026.
Most of the contractual approvals were presented by Mrs. Libby, who told trustees the construction contracts had been reviewed by the district’s counsel and included scheduled completion windows. The financial system recommendation was presented as part of a vendor review process emphasizing Indiana-specific reporting and EDFI/IDOE alignment.
The board took voice votes on the items; where recorded, the Summit track contract had a single recorded opposition. The board did not specify vote tallies for other items beyond the standard voice confirmation that motions passed.
Next steps include finalizing the Allen County Public Library ground lease after surveys are complete and moving ahead with vendor implementation and construction timelines as stated by staff.
