Board approves procurement actions including authority to bid airplane engines and purchase of commercial truck

At its May meeting, the Watertown School District 14-4 board approved a bundle of procurement and contracting items needed for operations and instructional programs.

The board authorized administration to seek bids for two airplane engines to support the professional pilot program; the administration estimated the engines at about $160,000 and said purchases would occur after July 1 if bids align with budget projections. The board also approved authority to bid custodial cleaning services for the Educare facility and two aviation buildings, noting the current contracted custodial arrangement is ending.

Separately, the board approved a surplus resolution to recycle 95 computer monitors dating from 2014.

In property procurements, the board authorized acceptance of a bid from Lynch Truck Center to purchase a commercial truck for Nutrition Services at a total cost of $63,432; the vehicle will be used for meal delivery and does not require a commercial driver’s license. The board approved continuation of the tennis-court shared-use agreement with the city and renewed the Project Success coordinator contract with the Human Service Agency at a district cost of $16,867 for FY27 (funded from Title IV).

The board also approved recommended vendor renewals for next school year: Performance Foods (food distribution), Contract Paper Group (paper products), Prairie Farms (dairy), and Bimbo Bakeries (bakery products).

All motions on procurement and vendor renewals were carried by voice vote.