New computer equipment, including cameras for local elementary schools, is just one topic of discussion for tonight’s regular school board meeting.
KMXT’s Maggie Wall has more.
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The school cameras are part of an effort to improve safety. and the money comes unanticipated revenues that the Kodiak Island Borough School District has received.
School Superintendent Larry LeDoux a sizable chunk of extra budget money is being used to fund projects that neither the state or the borough could afford given these lean times.
In all LeDoux said much of the unexpected $2.6 million will be spent upgrading safety issues.
“The majority are safety projects designed to make the schools more safe. Now we’re really studying how we can create a positive environment. Schools is the first line of defense against violence. But we’re also having to do building maintenance and building projects designed to make our schools safer.”
LeDoux was a guest on a recent “Talk of the Rock” program.
Nearly $1 million is expected to go toward cameras and associated computer gear for local grade schools.
“One of the big expenses is rewiring the school so that we can have adequate cameras and that we can lock the doors on electronically, a new telephone system that will operate over the internet, if you will, which will certainly save us money and monthly bills. So that’s about $800,000 for the four elementary schools. And that alone is a major project that was on our list to have the state actually to help them give us money, but they’re not funding projects right now because of the budget crisis in state.”
The Kodiak Island Board of Education meets this evening to consider contracts for the internet phone and cameras, among other items.
The meeting begins at 6:30 in the District Services Conference Room, in the old high school wing.
There is a period near the beginning and near the end of the meeting set aside for public comments so that residents can share their thoughts directly with school board members.
KMXT will broadcast the meeting live.