Members of the White Hall School Board met Feb. 14 for their regular monthly meeting during which sealed bids for a new football field scoreboard and stadium seats for Bulldog Stadium were opened for review.
For the scoreboard, Rainey Electronics had the low bid of $117,904 before options which could add up to an additional $1,350. A bid of $174,262 was read from Daktronics before the board tentatively approved Rainey's low bid under the contingency that administration will be allowed time to evaluate all of the specifications.
Arkansas Printing was the low bid for the stadium seats. The board, again, gave approval on the contingency that specifications are met.
Dorothy Welch presented a revised technology plan to the board, which is a periodic requirement for the district. She reported that connectivity was the main concern. Board President Scott Pittillo stated he was familiar with the concern and acknowledge that he had read a needs assessment that followed a recent survey of a sample of parents, students and staff in the district and there was some concern expressed on the lack of working technology, and the lack of access to district websites and distance learning.
The district recently had more bandwith added along with other changes which caused connectivity problems district-wide.
"I know we are in a transitional period but I didn’t know, and this might not be the time or within the budget, if at some point we need to look back and say we may need a consultant, lets spend some educated dollars on it to make sure we are obviously working with bandwith to meet this new product design said Pittillo. Since the needs assessment tells us that our access and delivery of the product isn’t good, then maybe we need to look into some independent review."
Welch added that a concerned school librarian had reported that computers went down during testing. After hours of phone conversations between the tech and the testing software company, It was determined that there was a problem with bandwith and IP numbers that had to be changed. Welch also expressed concerns of email going down every time there is bad weather as well as the need for more techs for the district. Larry Smith assured her that they were already attempting to take care of everything she had brought to the board's attention. Concerned board member, Dean Dancer addressed Welch and requested that she let him know if there is anything she felt she needed to correct any of the problems.
Following Heath Bennett's monthly financial report for the district, the board met in executive session for the approval of personnel items including the retirements of WHHS Choir Director, Charlotte Wilson and WHJH Choir Director Annette Rushing. Also meeting approval was a contract extension for Superintendent of Schools, Larry Smith as well as the new hire of Mark Leonard as a District Technology Assistant.
The next board meeting for the WHSD will be held at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, March 13, at the Julius Brown Administration Building.
Members of the White Hall School Board met Feb. 14 for their regular monthly meeting during which sealed bids for a new football field scoreboard and stadium seats for Bulldog Stadium were opened for review.
For the scoreboard, Rainey Electronics had the low bid of $117,904 before options which could add up to an additional $1,350. A bid of $174,262 was read from Daktronics before the board tentatively approved Rainey's low bid under the contingency that administration will be allowed time to evaluate all of the specifications.
Arkansas Printing was the low bid for the stadium seats. The board, again, gave approval on the contingency that specifications are met.
Dorothy Welch presented a revised technology plan to the board, which is a periodic requirement for the district. She reported that connectivity was the main concern. Board President Scott Pittillo stated he was familiar with the concern and acknowledge that he had read a needs assessment that followed a recent survey of a sample of parents, students and staff in the district and there was some concern expressed on the lack of working technology, and the lack of access to district websites and distance learning.
The district recently had more bandwith added along with other changes which caused connectivity problems district-wide.
"I know we are in a transitional period but I didn’t know, and this might not be the time or within the budget, if at some point we need to look back and say we may need a consultant, lets spend some educated dollars on it to make sure we are obviously working with bandwith to meet this new product design said Pittillo. Since the needs assessment tells us that our access and delivery of the product isn’t good, then maybe we need to look into some independent review."
Welch added that a concerned school librarian had reported that computers went down during testing. After hours of phone conversations between the tech and the testing software company, It was determined that there was a problem with bandwith and IP numbers that had to be changed. Welch also expressed concerns of email going down every time there is bad weather as well as the need for more techs for the district. Larry Smith assured her that they were already attempting to take care of everything she had brought to the board's attention. Concerned board member, Dean Dancer addressed Welch and requested that she let him know if there is anything she felt she needed to correct any of the problems.
Following Heath Bennett's monthly financial report for the district, the board met in executive session for the approval of personnel items including the retirements of WHHS Choir Director, Charlotte Wilson and WHJH Choir Director Annette Rushing. Also meeting approval was a contract extension for Superintendent of Schools, Larry Smith as well as the new hire of Mark Leonard as a District Technology Assistant.
The next board meeting for the WHSD will be held at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, March 13, at the Julius Brown Administration Building.
