Fountain Hills board approves McDowell Mountain Elementary roof repair after School Facilities Board backing

The Fountain Hills Unified School District governing board voted to approve a contractor bid to repair the roof at McDowell Mountain Elementary School, clearing the final step for the work to be scheduled this summer.

Board members spent the preceding discussion asking whether the School Facilities Board (SFB) would cover a roughly $344,000 award and an additional contractor price increase of about $5,000 because of materials-cost changes. Superintendent Dr. Sweeney said he was “under the impression that the full cost was going to be covered” but that staff would obtain written clarification from SFB if the district must pay any portion. After that exchange a board member moved to approve the attached bid; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote, allowing the district to get the project into the contractor’s schedule.

Board members emphasized that the board (not district staff) must approve purchases and that approving the bid tonight was necessary to meet timing windows set by the SFB. Dr. Sweeney told the board the project’s materials had already been purchased and staged, and that approving the bid would let the contractor slot the work to meet the SFB’s completion window. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript; the clerk announced the motion “carries.”

The board discussed, but did not resolve on the record, whether the SFB would absorb the small increase; Dr. Sweeney said he would seek confirmation. The board’s approval authorizes the project to move forward subject to any further documentation or invoicing procedures required by the School Facilities Board.