Board reviews $97,000 grant and three bids to replace middle‑school gym floor; asks for itemized breakdowns and returns item Feb. 7

Administration told the board the district was awarded a grant worth $97,000 to replace the small gym floor in the middle‑school/high‑school complex; staff said the existing floor dated to about 2002 and showed wear. A committee led by staff and the athletic director collected three bids and presented them to the board.

Staff said one bid came in notably lower than the others and that the committee preferred a specific vendor and product style if that vendor were selected. The presenter also disclosed in the meeting packet that an employee is connected to one of the bidding companies and that the district had consulted legal counsel, the finance department and auditors; the presenter said the board would need to make a conflict‑of‑interest determination if that board member were the decision maker but that, as presented, the connection did not violate procurement rules.

Board members asked for an itemized breakdown similar to what the lowest bidder provided so the board could compare "apples to apples." The board asked staff to explore whether the other vendors would lower their prices and asked for the procurement paperwork and funding code; members requested the item be returned at the Feb. 7 meeting with vendor breakdowns and comparative materials.

Why it matters: The purchase uses grant and capital funds, involves selection among competitive bids and requires board oversight on procurement transparency and conflict‑of‑interest handling. The board sought clearer cost breakdowns before selecting a vendor.