Laurel board approves routine items, hears auction update and new‑member onboarding after bond defeat

At its regularly scheduled meeting, the Laurel Public Schools Board of Trustees moved through a full agenda, approving routine business and hearing several informational updates.

The board approved the consent agenda (with an amendment to April 13 minutes to include an action g vote). Donnie moved the amendment and approval; Jenny seconded and the motion carried. Jenny also moved to ratify recommended Laurel students to attend Canyon Creek as listed; Kayla seconded and the board approved the placement for fiscal year 2026, with staff clarifying annual approvals are required.

On personnel, the board approved hiring four teachers for the 2026 Summer Jump Start program but accepted staff's amendment that the secretary listed is unavailable. Jenny moved the amended hiring recommendation and Donnie seconded; the motion carried. Donnie moved and Kayla seconded approval of an early‑entry kindergarten request; the board approved.

Under information items, administrators presented routine reports — books for approval, department activity reports, facilities, transportation and financials. A board member raised concerns that several district funds carried negative balances, with particular focus on the food‑service account. Staff said the deficit stems in part from the loss of a prior subsidy and that the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) advised the district to raise meal prices; staff said the district is considering options and that state approval remains part of the contract process for a new food‑service vendor.

Administration updated the board on plans to auction the old Administration Building through Crexi and a commercial broker (transcript references 'Coldwell Veil Commercial'). Staff described a typical marketing window of about 45 days and recommended the board consider convening briefly near the auction close so trustees could decide whether to accept late bids that might come in under reserve. The board discussed timing risks related to auction end times and coordination with trustees' availability.

Chair announced that the district bond did not pass. The board identified three newly elected trustees — Vanessa Lawrence Long, Raylyn Meisner and Noel Hoff — who will be sworn in at the May 26 reorganization meeting; staff described onboarding and etiquette training provided to the incoming members. Staff also reported planning for July 4 activities at Thompson Park is advancing and that graduation is scheduled for May 31.

The meeting concluded with no further action recorded and the Chair adjourning the session.

Where the transcript records only verbal voting ("Aye" and "motion carries"), the meeting record in the transcript does not include roll‑call tallies for each vote; motions and seconds are recorded in the public minutes.