Board finds facilities monitoring report in compliance; plans for boilers, deferred maintenance advanced

The Williston Basin 7 board voted to accept the superintendent's interpretation of Operational Expectation 12 and found the district in compliance after a facilities update from district staff. Facilities staff described work completed this year (boiler replacement at Hagen, a new air-handling unit and roof work) and ongoing projects, including installation of a new boiler plant and air handlers at Lewis and Clark. The district described a fluid long-range facilities plan tied to finances and prioritization of deferred maintenance projects.

Facilities staff said they are working with JLG on a long-range plan and noted that once boilers and heating systems are secure the district will address steps for further improvements. "We've done the foyers with our schools. This last year, we over at Hagen replaced the boilers, and we put an air handle unit up there and put a new roof on it," a facilities representative said.

Board members praised the transparency of long-range planning and the team's progress moving from planning to action. The board moved that the superintendent's interpretation was reasonable and that evidence supported compliance; the motion passed on roll call. Members noted a forthcoming board workshop to discuss facilities planning in more detail.

The facilities update also referenced plans to start at least one major renovation next year and noted that priorities will shift with funding availability. The board requested continued reporting and scheduled a workshop to dive deeper into the long-range facilities plan.