Beaufort 01 staff present $43.6 million capital list; board votes to send package to full board and research ACE funding

Beaufort 01 staff presented a $43,572,000 capital-improvement list and the governing members voted unanimously to forward that package to the full board for approval.

The board also approved a motion to research inclusion of ACE (a partner school/board) for critical capital needs, directing operations, finance and other staff to return with recommendations on whether and how ACE projects could be placed into the 8% capital program.

"We were asked to bring back a longer list," a staff presenter (Speaker 2) told members, noting the packet breaks projects into categories and includes a five-year plan. Staff said the expanded list totals $43,572,000 and that added items total about $13.8 million of that increase.

Speaker 5, a staff presenter and data specialist on the call, singled out two large items added to the list: a $9,000,000 land purchase for a future school site and classroom renovations at Shanklin and MC Riley elementaries that include removal of metal "magnetic" walls and replacement of casework and interactive whiteboards. "If you're going to renovate that room and take that wall out, why not do everything for that classroom and replace it all?" Speaker 2 summarized the rationale for bundling work to gain economies of scale.

The packet lists $8,800,000 for technology as part of the five-year rotation; staff explained the district phases interactive whiteboards, network electronics and student/staff device refreshes across multiple years. Staff also said FY27 technology was adjusted to about $11,000,000 in the present schedule.

A group of members pushed staff to clarify whether ACE or ASO projects should be included and how funding splits would work. Speaker 6 described past joint-board discussions with ACE and said a formal request from the ACE board and a motion on that board’s part would be required before a committed match could be included. Speaker 4 urged the board to consider an initial $2,000,000 contribution as a good-faith match to prompt ACE to act.

Staff and members discussed the five-year total for planned projects and the uncertainty in forecasting large HVAC replacements; staff noted that some years show spikes because of anticipated major HVAC work and that the facility-condition assessment and contractor histories inform timing.

The board approved two motions: one directing staff to research inclusion of ACE critical needs funding in the 8% capital projects and the other to forward the $43,572,000 capital list to the full board. The items will be considered at the next full-board meeting (staff noted a June 11 date for the next step).