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MSD Warren Township board approves construction GMP, CMC award and fund transfers; bond public hearing continues
Summary
The board approved a $3.98 million guaranteed maximum price for Warren Central east interior renovations, awarded a construction-manager contract for elementary expansions, and approved one‑time transfers to the Early Childhood Center and high‑school concessions funds; the preliminary public hearing on a proposed three‑year $18 million GO bond package closed with no action and a second hearing planned for August.
At its July meeting the MSD Warren Township school board approved several construction and finance items and heard the first public hearing in a multi-step bond issuance process.
Bond hearing and timing: Bond counsel Hannah Clendening of Barnes & Thornburg and district finance staff led a preliminary determination public hearing on proposed general obligation (GO) bonds. They said the district plans to advertise up to $18,000,000 in GO borrowing spread as $6,000,000 per year for 2026–2028, with a maximum repayment term of 15 years per series, a maximum aggregate interest expense of $10,900,000 and a not‑to‑exceed interest rate of 7%. Staff estimated an illustrative tax-rate increase of 0.0286 (2.86 cents on the assessed-value tax rate) under the maximum assumptions. The hearing is the first of two public hearings; no action was taken tonight and the board will consider final resolutions at the August meeting.
Construction and procurement approvals: The board approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $3,980,722 for East interior renovations at Warren Central High School, covering FACS, art and science classrooms, mechanical replacements and corridor alternates. The board also approved awarding construction-manager‑at‑risk (CMC) services for elementary expansion to Powers and Sons Construction following a competitive process; staff noted further guaranteed‑maximum‑price requests will come back to the board for each project.
Fund transfers and audit compliance: The board approved a one‑time transfer of $144,560.04 from Medicaid funds to the Early Childhood Center (ECC) fund to address a roughly $700,000 revenue shortfall tied to state pre‑K and CCDF voucher cuts, allowing the ECC fund to close the reporting period in compliance. Separately, the board approved a transfer from the Rainy Day Fund into the high‑school concessions fund to clear a negative cash balance identified in a compliance audit, a step staff described as finalizing separation of previously commingled concession funds.
Other contracts and resolutions: The board approved continuation of a service agreement with the Achievement Network (instructional coaching and math support) and adopted Resolution 65926 to repurpose the Renaissance/30th Street building for technology offices, distribution and storage after transitioning program students to their home schools.
Votes and next steps: Most action items in the July meeting passed on voice votes recorded as 'yes' for members present; several items were noted as part of multi-step legal processes that will return for formal adoption at future meetings (notably the GO bond issuance). Staff said legal and insurance language on some construction contracts would be finalized before signing but that the GMP total would not change.
