Split board hires the construction manager for the 2026 bond projects

What happened

On June 1, 2026 the board voted 3-2 to make Stout Construction the construction manager for the projects funded by the $3.03 million 2026 bond. A motion to table the item indefinitely failed first. Vice President Courtney Gagan, who moved to table it, said the superintendent had assured outside contractors that Stout was pre-selected before any public discussion or vote, and argued no multi-million-dollar bond contract should be approved until the budget problem was resolved and the auditor reported. The architect for the same projects, Tri-Arch Architecture, was approved a month later on July 6 by 4-1.

Why it matters to families

The construction manager decides how the bond money is actually spent on district buildings. A contested 3-2 award, with a board member alleging the choice was settled before the public vote, goes to whether the district's largest current spending decision was made in the open.

The evidence

The June 1, 2026 minutes record the failed motion to table and quote Gagan: 'We must table this item because the Superintendent has reportedly bypassed the authority of this Board by assuring outside contractors that Stout Construction was pre-selected for this contract prior to any public discussion or legal vote.' The following motion approving Stout Construction carried 3-2, with Webb, Virden and Pruitt in favour and Gagan and Huffaker against.

The source