The USD 443 Board of Education unanimously approved three business items Tuesday evening: the purchase of a vehicle for Bright Beginnings, a district buy of elementary music instruments, and an increase in sick‑leave payout for retiring administrative and classified employees.

Board members voted to buy a 2026 Hyundai Sonata SEL from US Fleet Source for $29,400 to be paid from a grant that supports Bright Beginnings early‑childhood services. A district staff member said US Fleet Source submitted the lowest bid and that state statute 72‑11‑51 required accepting the low bid where it exceeded the local bidder by more than 1 percent; the presenter said the difference was about 6.9 percent.

Separately, the board approved a purchase of 24 sets of three‑note xylophones from West Music for $45,580.32 to update general music instrument supplies and to acquire newer, more portable models that staff said are more accessible for students with mobility needs. The motion packet said the instruments will be paid from the district music curriculum instrument funds.

On a personnel policy item, the board voted to increase the district’s sick‑leave payout at employee retirement for administrative and classified staff from $75 per day to $125 per day. A human‑resources presenter explained the change aligns administrative and classified staff with an increase already negotiated for certified staff. The presentation included a sample calculation showing the maximum payout for an employee with 105 accumulated days would rise from $7,875 to $13,125.

All three motions passed on voice votes reported as 6–0. The vehicle purchase motion was moved and seconded by board members Tammy and Ryan; the xylophone purchase was moved by Tracy and seconded by Jeff; the sick‑leave payout change was moved by Jamie and seconded by Ryan.

The vehicle purchase packet noted that the grant covering Bright Beginnings had budgeted $31,000 for the vehicle and that the low bid was under that amount. The music purchase was presented as a teacher‑driven request coordinated through the elementary music team and the curriculum office. The sick‑leave payout item included a district financial estimate of the change’s maximum liability and was presented as a parity measure following certified staff negotiations.

The board took no additional amendments or conditions on these approvals and directed staff to complete contract paperwork subject to review by board counsel.