Galt High School District approves paired down consultant contract

The Galt High School District board of trustees has decided to move ahead with hiring an outside firm to temporarily handle its financial books. The unanimous decision was made Tuesday to free up Chief Business Official Audrey Kilpatrick, who recently took on the duties of the interim superintendent.

At last week's meeting, trustees opted against paying the consultants $150 an hour to assist Kilpatrick in closing out last fiscal year's books until wording in the proposed contract could be altered.

Among other things, they felt the contract appeared open-ended and included permission for Total Schools Solutions, of Fairfield, to add employees to assist with Galt's work then pass the cost onto the district.

Kilpatrick said she would cap the contract at 80 hours and eliminate the company's request for an additional 15 percent on top of incurred expenses.

The board unanimously voted for the new contract Tuesday after it was capped at $6,000 and a maximum of $600 in mileage as the only other expense.

Last week, two district employees spoke out against the proposal and one pointed toward a published report regarding a Waterford school board that reportedly ratified a $33,000 agreement with the same company. In the end, the contract to polish that district's master plan turned out to be open-ended and cost that district $124,000 before it was canceled with the work unfinished in 2008, according to a Modesto Bee article.

Earlier in the meeting, Kilpatrick provided the board an update on the yet-to-be-constructed agriculture building at Liberty Ranch High School. A special board meeting will be held Sept. 21 to discuss options on financing.

The district had hoped to qualify for a no-interest loan from the federal government, but through a random lottery earlier this month, it fell near the bottom of the list of districts to receive the construction money.

However, if districts across the state cannot commit by year's end, more money could be freed up.

The project was among those to be paid for with state 1D modernization grants, but have been stuck in the funding process since December. The district took one of the biggest immediate hits and stood to lose $9 million in construction loans at the time.

The news left officials trying to determine what effect the decision would have on its projects. Those include the new agricultural careers academy and health careers academy at Liberty Ranch, as well as modernization of Galt High buildings that house the mechanics and pre-engineering and manufacturing programs.

If and when the money becomes available, it is unclear if the district will be able to come up with the required matching funds.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.

In other action Tuesday, the board:

— Received an update from Interim Superintendent Audrey Kilpatrick on a number of ongoing district-related issues including the central Galt interchange project, westside Marengo Road pathway, superintendent search and funding for an athletic trainer.
— Came to a compromise regarding changing district policy regarding class sizes after an hour-long discussion. Both freshman English and math will remain at 20 students, while freshman honors classes can be extended to 26.
News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

Galtguy wrote on Sep 13, 2009 5:41 AM:

" Hmmm.. didn't ol GG suggest this way back when?

Hey if you can't self promote... "

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