|
HUNTINGDON -- During its regular monthly
meeting, Huntingdon Special School District
school board members approved a $99,370 bid
from Broadway Electric Company for purchase
and installation of HVAC to the middle
school gymnasium.
Broadway Electric’s bid was chosen over
second-bidder Ellis Heating and Air
Conditioning who submitted a bid of
$145,000.
Prior to the vote, Huntingdon Superintendent
of Schools Lynn Twyman informed the board
that he had spoken to administrators at
Scotts Hill High School regarding Broadway
Electric’s installation of HVAC at their
school and was told that they were satisfied
with the company’s work.
Twyman noted that he had been informed by an
engineer that the school could no longer use
the existing hanging heater units in the
middle school gym.
Board member Paul Ward Jr. addressed the
board, “I am concerned with the expense. The
cost is more than I thought. I feel the
money would be better used in providing for
teacher benefits.”
He added, “We only use the gym a little each
year.”
Board chairman Dr. Lee Butler stated,
“Purchasing this system now will save us
money. It is a non-recurring cost that will
benefit our school. If we pass on doing this
now, it will cost a lot more when we come
back around to this.”
Twyman added, “It obviously won’t be cheaper
in the future. Based on funds available,
this installation is an affordable project,
but I will abide by whatever the board
decides.
Board member Mark Bush said, “Half of this
project is based on changing and upgrading
the heating of the gym. The heating
equipment will have to be replaced in the
gym in the future, so it makes sense to act
on this now.”
Board member David Gibson queried, “Who came
up with the 30,000 tonnage for the HVAC?
Carter responded, “The architect. The rate
of duct work and volume of space involved to
heat and cool was the deciding factor in
determining the unit tonnage.”
At the motion of Vice-Chairman Dr. Tony
Tucker, the board approved the HVAC bid of
Broadway Electric.
Board member Ward cast the lone opposing
vote. Steve Peery, director of technology
for the school, informed board members
regarding the school system’s eligibility
for E-Rate bid funding for needed internal
cabling, telephone / paging / voice mail and
video distribution upgrades at Huntingdon
Primary School.
Addressing the board, Peery began, “As you
may recall, we met four years ago and
discussed E-Rate funds. At that time, none
of us knew much about it. Since then I have
attended numerous meetings regarding E-Rate
and now I know what it is and how to apply
for it.”
He continued, “To do this the way we need
to, it will be best if we run our own show
in seeking E-Rate funding.”
Peery noted, “Based on free or reduced
lunches offered to students at primary,
middle and high school, the primary school
yielded the highest percentages and
qualified for E-Rate funds.”
He added, “The primary school is the oldest
and is most in need for upgrades to internal
cabling, telephone / paging / voice mail and
video distribution systems.”
Peery noted, “Even if you (board) do decide
to apply for funding and are approved, that
does not obligate you to do the upgrades at
the primary school. Voting for application
just gets the ball rolling. It is a long
process, and could take a year or two from
application to acquisition of funds. This is
a starting point.”
Peery noted that he had received by bids
from Edu Tech of Dyersburg and Data Link
Communications of Murray for providing
installation for three separate items
including internal cabling, telephone /
paging / voice mail and video distribution.
Noting that Edu Tech’s interior cabling bid
of $108,000 was far less than the $220,220
bid submitted by Data Link, Peery adding,
“E-Rate would pay for 83-percent, or $89,640
of Edu Tech’s $108,000 bid cost, leaving the
district to pay $18,360 for interior
cabling.”
He added that despite the large price
difference between Edu Tech and Data Link
for interior cabling, the quality of
components and system usability should not
be noticeably different.
Peery said, “The difference between Edu
Tech’s bid and Data Link’s is best summed up
like this-you can buy a Cadillac or you can
buy a Chevrolet. Edu Tech’s bid will cost
the school system less and they will provide
a good product. Edu Tech has installed
systems for the Lexington School System and
the TBI. They do a good job.”
He continued, “In regard to bids for
installation of a telephone / paging / voice
mail system, Edu Tech submitted a bid price
of $24,130 which is far less expensive than
Data Links bid of $69,737. Our school is
eligible for $12, 161.52 in E-Rate funds,
leaving the district to pay $14,968.48 for
the Edu Tech-installed system, far less than
the remaining amount of $40,469.42 the
district would pay should you choose Data
Link’s bid proposal.”
Peery noted that Data Link had provided a
bid of $122,901.48 for installation of a
video distribution system. After E-Rate
eligibility reduction of $74, 804.48 the
district would pay the remaining
$60,813.76.”
He added, “They will only be providing 12
DVD systems and software. That’s not much
for $60,813.76. I don’t feel that it would
be cost-effective to video the primary
school based on that price.”
He concluded by informing that although Edu
Tech does install video distribution
systems, they chose not to submit a bid
price based on inherent contractual
stipulations.
Tucker queried, “Will Edu Tech
(installation) properly prepare the primary
school for the future? What type of warranty
does the company provide”?
Peery responded, “Edu Tech’s warranty is
one-year, which is standard of all
installers. They use category six wiring,
which is top-of-the-line. Their price is
less, but there won’t be a noticeable
difference in usability.”
Twyman stated, “I suggest that the board
pass on the video system.”
Tucker motioned that the board accept Edu
Tech’s internal cabling and telephone /
paging / voice mail system bid price and
pass on Data Link’s video distribution bid.
The board unanimously approved the bid.
Following the vote, Peery said, “I will keep
you abreast of progress regarding our E-Rate
application.
In other business, Twyman stated that the
school’s system report card revealed no
deficiencies.
He said, “Our school has great attendance
and graduation rates, and I am proud to
inform that K-8 Reading and Language Arts
grades improved from B to A. Academic growth
for K-8 received all A’s.”
He continued, “Math grades have improved,
but our three-year average needs to improve.
We have hired a new math teacher at the high
school and hope to see improvement in
Gateway and Algebra scores.”
Twyman thanked the schools teachers,
counselors and board for their continued
commitment to the schools educational
achievement.
The board approved the following Food
Service changes: Offer vs. Serve policy;
charge policy providing teachers pay their
charge costs at the end of each month and
competitive Food policy.
Carter informed that the board would perform
the annual review of the superintendent’s
contract at the January meeting. |
The McKenzie Banner
