The Hudson School District Board on Tuesday authorized its chief financial officer to pay $3,732,768.27 in contractor invoices related to the district's construction program, the board approved by motion and voice vote after a brief presentation on contractor billing and contingency levels.

District financial staff and administrators told the board the construction program — which they said totals roughly $44,000,000 — is winding down and in punch-list and commissioning work. “The total total work being done is $44,000,000, of which 29 is paid for with bonds, 15,000,000 is paid for, designated fund balance,” said a staff member identified in the meeting as Nick (administration). He said the program began with about $1,200,000 in contingency; the district now shows roughly $300,000 remaining in contingency plus several allowances. Bonnie (chief financial and operations officer) introduced the consent agenda that included the payment authorization.

Why it matters: the payments clear invoices for a multi-year capital program voters approved in a 2023 referendum and move the district closer to final closeout. Administrators said they expect some remaining work — balancing building automation, HVAC commissioning and exterior finishes — but still expect the overall program to come in close to or under budget.

Details and debate

Nick described progress on the remaining work, saying contractors are completing punch lists and that some rooms are still experiencing temperature swings as the automation and commissioning are finalized. He also noted the district negotiated a two-year warranty on the construction contracts (with 11-month and 22-month walk-throughs), an extension beyond the more typical one-year warranty.

At the meeting several board members and members of the public pressed administrators about decorative features at EP Rock, in particular large letters installed inside that building. “The letters were always part of the designs that we had put out from the very beginning,” Nick said, adding the letters were part of the architectural bid packages and therefore not broken out as a specific line item the administration could isolate. He said the letters are included in larger finishing carpentry and building-work bid packages and no separate cost for the letters is available from the contracts as awarded.

Board members and community speakers questioned reports circulating that the letters cost $75,000. “I have no idea where that number is,” Nick said. Board member Megan cautioned that the letters are an aesthetic element the architects included in the plans and urged focus on broader program results. Other trustees said they were sympathetic to community concerns about perceived excess while emphasizing that many referendum-funded improvements — for example upgraded studio and special education spaces — were intended to benefit students and staff.

UU property annexation and district landholdings

Administrators also updated the board on a separate real-estate matter: a long-delayed annexation petition for the so-called UU property has reached the City of Hudson. Nick said the district had retained about 16 acres that some community members speculated were being held for a future elementary site; he said the district’s stated plan instead is to retain that parcel temporarily and, once utilities are available through annexation, consider selling the acreage at a higher market price to generate one-time revenue for the district. “We’re not holding on to the 16 acres for another elementary school down the road,” Nick said. The named developer working the site, he said, expects a plan of roughly 175 to 200 homes in a mix of multifamily and single-family housing, though he cautioned the developer’s final plan and city approvals will determine density.

Formal action

The board handled a motion from board member Megan to “approve the consent items and that the chief financial and operations officer be authorized to pay bills in the amount of $3,732,768.27.” Board member Molly seconded the motion. The board approved the payment by voice vote; the minutes reflected the motion passed.

What’s next

Administrators said they expect closeout conversations and final warranty walkthroughs within 30 to 60 days and that exterior landscaping work will continue through fall seeding and into next spring as needed. They also said they will continue to post project updates and answer community questions, adding that because many finishes were part of bundled bid packages staff cannot always provide line-item cost breakdowns for individual features.

Ending note

Board members repeatedly asked administrators to provide clearer footnoting in future budget and construction summary documents to avoid community confusion about one-time capital spending versus ongoing operating costs.