Heights B.O.E. approves tech purchases

Keeping the Jackson Heights school district up to date on technology at a reasonable price was district technology director Vern Andrews’ goal for the 2016-17 school year, and on Monday, Andrews told members of the USD 335 Board of Education that he was able to meet that goal.

Board members approved Andrews’ annual list of proposed technology requisitions for 2016-17, noting that the total cost of $49,897 was less than amounts approved in previous years. Andrews told the board that he had been instructed by District Superintendent and Elementary Principal Adrianne Walsh to keep total the cost below $50,000 due to “shrinking funds.”

Still, the list of technology requisitions for the coming school year allows the district to maintain its one-to-one laptop computer initiative for high school students and also enables the initiative to extend to elementary students. In the latter case, third-grade students are given “netbook” computers and keep them for four years, as is done with high school students who receive the “netbooks” during their freshman year, Andrews said.

This year, $24,205 of the proposed $49,897 was earmarked for middle and high school, with the purchase of 35 “netbooks” for incoming freshmen and 21 laptop computers for teachers making up the bulk of that amount. The middle and high school list also included five licenses of Pinnacle Studio video editing software for the high school video production class and two projectors.

The grade school’s portion of the list, at $12,825, consisted of 35 “netbooks” for third-graders, three projectors and six printers, the latter two items replacing machines “that are failing us,” Andrews said. The “district-wide” portion, at $12,867, includes updated PowerSchool software and replacement of four secretaries’ computers, he added.

The district’s portion also included updated firewalls, switches and wireless access based on what the district would pay through the “E-rate” program, which involves the use of federal funds to help schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunication and internet access.

Andrews said the district was paying only about a third of the acutal costs for firewalls, switches and wireless access as a result. He also noted that the “E-rate” program was “phasing out” what school districts and libraries receive for telephone service, noting that “next year might be the last year” for “E-rate” assistance on telephones.

But the “E-rate” program is still a boon for the district, Andrews said, given that the district is “doubling our bandwidth consumption every year” and needs to upgrade its equipment to handle that growth.

“Our infrastructure needs to be beefed up,” he told board members. “We need to think what’s going to happen four or five years down the road, because we need what we have to last four or five years. We may be looking at going into business-grade equipment, which is going to be more expensive than what you might find in your small business or home.”

Andrews also told board members about content filtering software for students who access the district’s wireless internet connection during the day and how that software’s settings could be changed according to students’ informational needs or time of day.

In other business on Monday, Walsh presented board members a preliminary list of summer maintenance projects in the district and asked board members for ideas on work they would like to see done while students are out for the summer. She told board members that a more definite list of work projects and some estimated costs would be ready for review at the May meeting.

For the district office, Walsh asked board members to consider new windows and roof and siding replacement, particularly on the west side of the office building where siding is “bulging.” At the elementary school level, she proposed cinder block wall repairs by the preschool classroom where a leak has been detected, the front decks of the mobile classrooms, gym refinishing and duct work.

At the high school, suggested projects included gym refinishing, exterior and interior restroom signs, exterior gym doors, new rock by the west gym doors, painting in the ag hall and Cobra Hall, recapping of the dock on the east side of the building, repainting of the front entrance and weight room repairs. Repair of the press box and new hand rails and steps on the home bleachers at the football field were also recommended.

Furthermore, Walsh suggested refinishing the gazebo near the high school, since “parts of that are showing their age,” and she also requested repair of “some pothole areas” noticeable in the parking lot.

Board members also recommended looking into repairing the “stadium shed” near the football field, repairing “brick issues” at the elementary school enrance and placing shrubbery rather than rock at the high school’s west entrance.

Board members also:

* Approved the meeting’s agenda and consent agenda, the latter including minutes of the board’s March 21 meeting and monthly bills and activity account reports.

* Heard a request from high school cheer sponsor Victoria Lamberson for a review and change of cheerleader rules regarding attendance at away games and the creation of a “JV squad.” Allen said he would pass the request along to administration.

* Met in executive session with Walsh, Keli Hoskins and Sarah Hoskins to discuss a student matter. No action resulted from the session when the board returned to open session.

* Heard a presentation from Dan Shupe and Paul Lierz on recent Advisory Council meetings on CTE Pathways in accordance with the council’s guidelines passed earlier this year. 

* Approved a contract with Cotton-O’Neil Orthopedics and Sports of Topeka for athletic trainer services for the 2016-17 school year at a fee of $1,500, including one weekly visit to the school.

* Noted that the district’s annual teacher appreciation day would be held Friday, May 20, with board members to cook a special dinner for teachers.

* Heard an update from Walsh on education-related activity in the Kansas Legislature.

* Heard an update from Walsh on the district’s application to become an Innovative School District.

* Learned from Walsh that the district would undergo a “food service efficiency audit” on Friday.

* Heard a report from Walsh on activities at the elementary school, including classroom activities, student screenings for the 2016-17 school year, upcoming student concerts and field trips and a schedule of upcoming Kansas state assessment tests.

* Heard a report from Darren Shupe, middle and high school principal, on activities at those schools, including Saturday’s prom, music students preparing for state competition, summer driver’s education classes, freshman orientation and student enrollment for 2016-17. Shupe also noted that the last day for high schools seniors would be Friday, May 6, before returning on Monday, May 9 to work on community service projects.

* Met in executive session for 20 minutes with Walsh and Shupe to discuss personnel matters.

* Amended the agenda to allow discussion of an early graduation request for a student who expressed a desire to graduate in December and approved that request.

* Accepted resignations from Laura Holliday, high school band teacher, and from Linda Rieschick and Cam Smith, food service personnel.

* Approved a contract for Todd Hurt as a grounds and maintenance employee.

* Adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m.