Board weighs using leftover bond proceeds for middle‑school bleachers and dividing curtain; members ask for clearer priority ranking

Finance staff told the committee the district has roughly $188,000 remaining from a prior bond issuance that must be expended in compliance with timing and allowed uses.

"With every bond, any proceeds that are left over after the project is done must be fully expended within five years of the bond," a finance presenter said, explaining timing constraints and arbitrage considerations.

Administration recommended using some proceeds to pay recent qualifying invoices (e.g., high‑school steps) and also proposed purchasing middle‑school bleachers and a dividing curtain; a vendor price for the combined bleachers/curtain package was discussed at roughly $105,000, leaving approximately $58,000 (plus interest) for other qualifying projects. Staff clarified that bond proceeds are limited to improvements to buildings and grounds with a useful life of at least 10 years and cannot be used for vehicles.

Board members debated priorities: some supported addressing the gym stairs and bleachers on safety and use grounds; others questioned whether the curtain wall (not listed as a top master-plan priority) should take precedence over other capital items such as new elementary flooring or surge protection. Members recommended a shorter, clearer presentation that lays out the top three candidate projects, pros and cons, and relative costs so the board can choose a prioritized set to spend the remaining proceeds.

What’s next: The administration proposed adding formal approval of the bleachers and curtain to the next general meeting agenda and returning next month with a prioritized short list of 2–3 projects for spending both the remaining bond proceeds and land-sale proceeds.