The board approved several technology- and curriculum-related items intended for the upcoming school year: the purchase of 12 large touchscreen monitors (Clever touch screens), a districtwide copier lease and service agreement to replace and upgrade existing machines, and a professional-development contract with McGraw Hill for an Open Court specialist connected to the district's new reading materials.
Superintendent Buskirk said eight touchscreens will go to the new wing and four will complete fourth-grade classrooms. On the copier lease, staff said the district's copier contract was up for renewal; the vendor is replacing machines and the competitive process included input from a committee led by Mister Thornton. Board members were told the lease details were included in executive-session materials because the bid contained banking information.
On curriculum, a board member asked whether the McGraw Hill contract was for the new state reading program; staff confirmed it covers training tied to recently purchased reading materials.
The meeting also included a brief discussion of the E-rate program: staff said a separate contract with SWOKA is tied to E-rate applications and that the district expects roughly a 50% discount through E-rate for eligible services, though federal funding had been "trickling in very, very slowly." Board members approved the items on roll calls.
Why it matters: these purchases and contracts affect classroom instruction and operations, and the copier contract contains procurement and financial terms that staff handled through the bidding process.