10.19.26 OWG

The Madison Board of Education Operations Work Group met on October 19, 2026. The board unanimously approved the September 22 meeting minutes. The district reported that its health-insurance RFP for the 2027–28 school year is underway: data collection is in progress, insurers are expected to respond by mid-December, staff expect to review proposals in January, and board discussions are planned for February and March. If the district changes carriers, a decision is needed by April 1. Staff expect substantial premium increases and are asking carriers to model plan-design alternatives; no carrier selection or contract award was made. The district also plans to discuss findings with labor partners on November 2.

The referendum construction update covered active work at multiple schools and upcoming bid activity. Construction documents for the next phase were delivered for bidding, with additional trade bid documents expected in November; the district said it had begun early procurement of earthwork and volatile materials, including steel, and had secured steel contracts for phase-two projects. Current projections place phase-one projects at about $70.7 million and $76.7 million, below initial estimates of $85 million and $94 million, respectively. The Toki project is projected at $109 million, reflecting added square footage, while Cherokee was reported about $3 million under budget. For phase three, the district described using about $13.5 million of approximately $24 million in referendum interest earnings toward new Crestwood and Anana schools, with roughly $11 million remaining; sustainability credits are also expected to offset project costs. The 2026–27 budget was presented as balanced, with adoption scheduled for later in October. No new procurement award or spending vote was identified in the transcript.