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Dowagiac Union School District board approves food-service contract, performing-arts audio system and district bottle-fillers
Summary
At its regular meeting, the Dowagiac Union School District Board approved a one-year food-service contract with Sodexo, authorized purchase of an audio system for the performing-arts center and voted to install district-wide bottle-filling stations; the board also reviewed grant contributions and funding sources for the purchases.
The Dowagiac Union School District Board of Education on May 12 approved a set of contracts and equipment purchases the administration said will be funded in part by state grants, local foundation contributions and the district’s capital projects account.
Christina Carpenter moved to approve the 2026–27 food-service contract with Sodexo (the transcript spells the vendor “Sedexo”); the motion was supported and approved by the board by voice vote. Deb Cahill, the district’s director of food service, introduced the district finalist in the Future Chef program and spoke in support of continuing the contracted food-service arrangement.
The board also approved a district purchase of an audio system for the performing arts center. Board members said approximately $33,000 of that purchase is already covered by state grant funds and foundation contributions; the remaining balance will be paid from the capital projects account. The transcript lists the system cost as "$55,32166" (formatting in the record); the superintendent’s office confirmed the intended figure is $55,321.66.
In a separate action, the board authorized spending up to $136,500 to install bottle-filling stations across district schools to comply with a state filter-and-fill program. The superintendent said the district received about $24,000 in state grant funding toward the project and will use the remaining funds to buy replacement filters and cover installation; work must be completed by June 30 to qualify for reimbursement, the board was told.
Each item carried on a voice roll call. The board discussed funding sources for the projects and emphasized the combination of grant, foundation and district capital funds would limit the local budget impact.
What happens next: the administration will finalize contracts and begin scheduling the installations and equipment delivery; grants will be accepted and reimbursements pursued where applicable.
