Board approves budget amendment, accepts $20M bond proceeds and awards facilities contracts

District finance staff told the board the district received $20 million in bond proceeds in April and that the new funds will increase reported revenues on the current budget amendment. The board approved Budget Amendment No. 2, which shows about $77 million in revenue and $52 million in expenses; staff said much of the apparent $25 million surplus is bond money and that operational budgets are projecting roughly a $300,000 deficit before accounting for unfilled positions and bond interest.

The board approved a motion to add a School Resource Officer (SRO) for summer school; city officials agreed to pay half the SRO cost and the officer will be permanently stationed on campus during summer programming. Trustees also approved a surveying contract with Lewis Beatty to assess drainage and grading issues around the baseball/track area. During the vote on the surveying contract, board member Frank Kishwartz declared a relationship and abstained; the roll call recorded Rich Barton, Carolyn Spraggs, Keith Harvison and Stephanie Tibbetts voting aye and Frankie abstaining; the motion carried.

The board awarded a concrete and asphalt repair contract to Mid Rivers Asphalt to complete district‑wide repairs and also approved an SRO arrangement and other operational contracts presented in the consent and new business sections. Staff reported higher purchase‑service expenses this year driven in part by increased special education costs and the addition of SROs in all buildings; supplies and salaries/benefits are also up after recent raises. The board approved the budget amendment and the listed contracts on voice and roll‑call votes where noted.