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Resident questions CUSD 300 playground procurement, urges cheaper wood‑chip option
Summary
A Sleepy Hollow resident told the CUSD 300 board that three planned playground replacements using cooperative purchasing could cost taxpayers roughly $1.73 million and urged competitive bidding or opting for less expensive wood‑chip surfacing unless safety gains justify the higher cost.
Mike Tennis, a resident of Sleepy Hollow, told the CUSD 300 Board of Education during public comment that the district should reconsider its procurement approach for three summer playground replacements. "Unless there are quantifiable advantages, opt for a wood chip surface like Big Timber," he said, arguing that poured‑in‑place rubber surfacing for Westfield, Park View and the transcript‑varied Newert/Newber sites would add about $122,000 more per playground compared with wood chips.
Administration recommended proceeding with standardized rubber surfacing and a single manufacturer to improve safety, ADA accessibility and long‑term maintenance. The administration presented renderings and a procurement package using the Sourcewell cooperative and Landscape Structures, with a total installation cost for the three playgrounds of $1,732,381 to be funded from the capital improvement fund (Fund 60). Mr. Mikkel (presenter) said the district selected a cooperative to maintain consistent equipment and simplify future maintenance across many sites.
Board members asked questions about contract length, cooperative contract use, and vendor selection. Staff described the difference among sealed bids, RFPs and cooperative contracts and noted that cooperatives are routinely vetted (advertisement, scoring, and documentation) and can be appropriate when a district wants a standardized product quickly or during emergency procurement needs.
No formal vote on the playground contract appears in the transcript; administrators recommended contracting with Landscape Structures through Sourcewell and noted all three installations are planned for completion over the summer so they will be ready for the 2026‑27 school year.
The board is expected to consider contract approval in a subsequent action item; the transcript records the presentation and recommendation but not a final board decision.
