Board approves $1.42 million change order as operations and finance give construction and revenue updates

The Clover School District board approved a construction change order to replenish contingency funds and heard reports from operations and finance staff on capital projects and current-year revenues.

Operations director Mark C updated the board on Lake Wally High School, saying interior finishes are progressing, elevators and AV systems are being installed, and athletics work is underway but awaiting consistent warmer weather for asphalt and surfacing. He said the softball infield is complete and the baseball field and track remain on the near-term schedule. Drone and 360-degree photos were shown to illustrate progress. "We're still in really good shape and we're still expecting a July one," he said, referring to project schedule milestones.

Mark C explained earlier-identified overages and value-engineered items in the building project and requested a change order to replenish contingency funds. The board approved a change order in the amount of $1,415,415 by unanimous consent; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. Recorded motion language (by unanimous consent) was: "Without objection, the board will approve the change order in the amount of 1,415,415..." and the chair declared it approved.

Finance director Mr. Love gave the monthly finance update, reporting revenue details through Jan. 31 and noting a January tax collections bump that moved reported local revenues well above prior snapshots. "I think we are in real good shape in terms of the current year's revenues," he told the board. He also flagged House Bill 3858, which would reduce boat tax collections statewide; Mr. Love estimated the district could lose roughly $227,000 annually if the bill passes, a roughly 42% reduction to that revenue stream for the district.

Mr. Love identified likely budget pressures for the current year: higher-than-budgeted salaries (driven by hiring more experienced staff), substitute expenditures (exacerbated by paid parental leave and other absences), and maintenance costs. Board members asked about substitute budget planning and the fiscal impact of paid parental leave; Mr. Love said the district has provided fiscal-impact data to the state and will continue monitoring local expenditures.

No other formal funding or budget resolutions were enacted at the meeting beyond the change-order approval. Operations and finance staff said they will return with further updates as construction milestones and legislative developments evolve.