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School board approves construction amendments, generator lease and food‑service contract; votes to expel several students
Summary
The Marian County School Board unanimously approved multiple construction change orders and contracts (including a 14‑day extension for a middle‑school project, design and amendment work for school HVAC and a high‑school build‑out), extended a SECO generator lease enabling Westport High School to serve as a special‑needs shelter, approved a $1.5M food‑service product contract, and approved several expulsions for the 2026–27 year.
At its June 9 meeting the Marian County School Board approved a series of construction and procurement actions and recorded several disciplinary expulsions.
The board heard a report on the district’s construction management delivery (GMP) practice and reviewed a set of change orders and owner‑direct purchases. The board approved a 14‑calendar‑day time extension for the construction of the new Lakeware Middle School (substantial completion moved into mid‑August 2027) after staff explained delays tied to a sand‑skink permitting issue and gopher tortoise relocation. Board discussion emphasized phase sequencing and the need for staff to describe which building components would remain to be finished once students return.
The board approved an architectural design contract for Belleview Middle School HVAC upgrades (design contract approx. $798,000) and Amendment No. 3 for the South Marian High School third‑floor build‑out (project 24‑105) to add roughly 700 seats (amendment amount cited $536,650). Board members said finishing the third floor will avoid placing students in portables when the school opens with approximately 2,000 stations.
An amendment with Sumpter Electric Cooperative (SECO) was approved extending the district’s lease and service agreement through May 31, 2036, and including replacement of the current generator with a 2‑megawatt unit. District lease payments will total $181,620 for the coming year and will increase in year three; staff said leasing is more cost‑effective than purchasing a comparable generator and that the upgrade will allow Westport High School to operate as a special‑needs hurricane shelter.
The board also approved a competitive food‑service and juice product term contract (MMB Products of Florida) with a contract value the deputy superintendent described as roughly $1.5 million, paid from the district’s food‑service special revenue fund.
On discipline, the board voted to expel multiple students (listed by district IDs in the meeting record) through the remainder of the 2025–26 school year and the entirety of the 2026–27 school year, with services provided. All motions reported on the consent and regular agenda passed on voice votes with an announced tally of 5–0.
Board members said they will continue oversight of construction schedules and asked for additional contingency information from staff for affected projects. Several members also noted a minor correction to previously published change‑order figures and thanked staff for graduation and community engagement work.
