February 14, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

• Updating the paging system in Valparaiso and Jr/Sr High to be consistent with Ceresco system.  The updates will allow for all phones to access the paging system on their respective campuses and/or across all campuses.  Diode Technologies, who manages our phones, is the entity he is working with as they manage our phone system and the two would tie together.  The quote to upgrade both buildings is $8,509.56. 
• Consider adding a bell system and video feed on the PK3 classroom door to screen persons requesting entry.  Currently, they need to look through the door window to grant entry.
• Basketball Straps/Backboards/Mast. Tony had a vendor out to evaluate safety straps and our two main backboard systems in the competition gym. Our current backboards are not consistent with the current standards for backboards.  Our mast system (the pole system that the backboard is attached to) and motor are very old and outdated.  He indicated to us that it would cost around $7000 to replace the mast system, replace the battery, replace the backboards and obtain the safety straps.  This is on the premise that we can attach to the ceiling joists as they are. 

• Door Access and Cameras - Most of the cabling is done at both elementary buildings.  They will start on the cameras on Wednesday of this week and then start on installing the door hardware within two weeks.  It takes about a day for a door so a week to a week and a half at each building for installing door hardware.
• Field Sound System - Waiting on the speakers to arrive with installation to be complete prior to track season.
• Technology eRate - We do have some eRate funds that we have to the end of this year to expend.  The goal will be to purchase about $45,000 in switches for the Jr/Sr building. eRate covers 50% of that cost.  We would update the Jr/Sr building to ruckus switches which matches those that we replaced in the two elementary buildings last year.  Switches and access points are typically a 5-7 year cycle item.  Ruckus provides a more cost effective solution to switches as compared to the current Meraki switches ($600 vs. $4500). 
• Annual student and staff computer purchase is later in this agenda for approval. 
• The District hopes to purchase 2 interaction whiteboards per building per year to slowly replace projection systems in classrooms (where interactive boards are needed). This is later in the agenda for approval. 

The board is being asked to approve the purchase of heat pumps from Mechanical Sales in the amount not to exceed $71,500 in place of the previous approval not to exceed $59,315. 
Jared indicates that there are 29 total heat pumps to replace.  Three of those are gym units and will be bigger and more expensive. Jared and I have reevaluated and are presenting you with a three-year plan.  When we considered the cost of the larger units for the gym we realized that we may need to adjust our plans so that the three-year schedule is better balanced. Jared will bid the control system separately and manage it himself and he will RFP the installation, electrical, fire, hydronics together under one contract.  

• Has 1/2 day less in student days because of the noon release at the end of both semesters. 
• An early dismissal was added on January 31 to facilitate our home girls/JV boys wrestling meet (this year it ended at 11:00 p.m.)
• The PD day in September was moved to the preservice time frame to introduce the instructional model to all staff.
• An additional 'no school day' after PTC to facilitate a long weekend for parents/staff.