Board reviews plan to buy dedicated food-service truck and kitchen equipment funded from food-service excess balance

Huron Valley Schools administrators presented a first read July 14 on a plan to purchase a dedicated service truck for food-and-nutrition deliveries and a list of kitchen equipment for high-school cafeterias using the district's excess food-service fund balance.

The district said the truck purchase would cost $120,000 and would be paid from the food-and-nutrition services excess fund balance; administrators said vendors reported a vehicle ready for delivery and, if the board approves the purchase at the next meeting, the district could take delivery Sept. 1. Officials told the board the staffing for daily deliveries currently handled by maintenance and operations would shift to food services, producing a general-fund savings.

Administrators also presented a multi-item equipment list for Lakeland and Milford high schools. Estimates discussed in the meeting put the combined purchases in the $550,000–$600,000 range; administrators said the purchases would be routed through co-op procurement channels (Wayne RESA/CoPro Plus) and that the state must approve some purchases before final board action. Questions from board members covered refrigeration needs (the proposed truck is not refrigerated), certification/driver staffing, installation and gas hookups, disposal or auction of replaced equipment, and how potential tariffs or surcharges would be handled. Administrators said contingency and state approvals would be used as needed and outlined a goal to reduce the food-service excess balance toward board-set targets.

Board members did not vote on the truck or equipment at the meeting; both items were presented as first reads to allow time for review prior to formal approval.