Subcommittee refers Watson School food pantry lease to full committee with positive recommendation

Facilities staff presented a proposed lease permitting a community food pantry to operate from a remodeled basement room at Watson School on Tuesdays. The pantry organizers previously used space at a local church and sought a new home; staff said the site can serve roughly 100 Watson families and up to about 150 families district‑wide, and that a state inspector recently approved the site.

Administration said the district would not incur material additional utility costs because the building is already heated and lit for other activities; the primary ongoing district expense would be security overtime during the pantry’s operating window. Deliveries will be handled by the pantry group during designated hours and the group will manage sorting and distribution.

After questions about liability coverage and modest overtime costs (staff estimated a small weekly security overtime charge), a committee member moved to refer the lease to the full committee with a positive recommendation; the motion carried on roll call.

The referral sends the draft lease to the full committee for final approval; staff committed to include the lease, proof of insurance and any state inspection documentation in the full-committee backup materials.