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Board approves bids and purchases for aviation program and commodity risk management lab
Summary
The school board approved authority to bid for a Cessna 172, direct purchase of airplane engines budgeted at $160,000, purchase of trauma mannequins using grant funds, and awarded construction, furniture and technology contracts for a commodity risk management lab totaling about $413,000.
The Watertown School District board approved a series of procurement and contract actions that will affect Lake Area Tech’s aviation and instructional programs.
Authority to go to bid was granted to add a Cessna 172 to the fixed‑wing pilot program fleet; funds for the FY27 purchase will come from the sale of surplus planes. After bids failed for airplane engines, the board approved a direct purchase of needed engines budgeted at $160,000 for FY27. Board discussion noted aviation purchases rely on specialty vendors and program connections for sourcing.
The board also approved using grant funds to procure two trauma mannequins for the surgical technology program; members noted a combination of local grant and state equipment funds will pay for the mannequins. For a CHS Foundation‑supported commodity risk management lab, the board approved a low construction bid from Great Construction with Alternate 1 for flooring at $232,000, furniture from Office Peeps at $66,000 and instructional technology from Bloom Technology at $114,989, with the construction funded from maintenance and repair budgets and furniture/tech funded via the CHS Foundation grant.
Other operational contracts approved included custodial cleaning services for Educare Daycare and aviation sites (ATS Facility Services, low bid $64,716) and service agreements to maintain special‑education operations (discussed separately). Board members expressed interest in a future demonstration/open house when the lab is complete and requested a future briefing on pilot licensing and drone certifications for program students.
No purchases required adjustment to the district’s tax rate; the board approved the actions during the meeting.
