The Sampson County Board of Education approved the 2009-10 Capital Outlay plan at Monday’s monthly meeting. While it was about a million dollars short of what had been requested from county commissioners, board members were able to OK a plan that provides something for every district.
Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services for Sampson County Schools, passed out a list of items that are included in the plan to board members before discussion on the subject.
“Our original request to the county was about $1.5 million,” said superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker. “Of course, we only got about $660,000, so, I have had Anthony go through this list and concentrate on items that were safety issues and/or heating and air conditoning issues and some areas where general classroom repairs are needed, some computer lab renovations ... but the bulk of this list is security and heating and air conditioning needs in our schools.”
In addition to the heating and air conditioning upgrades, also included in the Capital Outlay budget purchasing cameras and Global Positioning System) that will be placed in half of the county’s fleet of buses (69 of the total 138 buses) at a cost of about $170,000.
Board member Mary Brown wanted to find out more about the cameras.
“We are going to put cameras on the inside of our buses,” said Lenker. “What we are looking at will have cameras in the front and the back ... It is just the one place where there is not enough supervision,” Lenker said of the buses.
“That is cheaper than adding an extra person on all the buses,” said board member Doris Warren.
“It does make a difference,” said Lenker.
Brown was also curious about the GPS.
“Ms. Brown, that GPS system would tell Mr. (Leslie) Dudley (director of transportation) exactly where that bus is at any time,” said Vann. “So if a bus has an accident, Mr. Dudley can know exactly where that bus has broke down at — he just has to go to his computer and see at any given time. That is another great safety feature.”
In the section entitled “District Wide,” the list included $80,000 for vehicle replacement, something that Warren inquired about.
“What vehicles are we talking about?” Warren asked Vann. “Of what variety?”
“Those are six vehicles,” Vann answered. “One would be a van for technology. Right now, Mr. (Wayne) Satterfield is short one vehicle. The other ones are replacement vans for Plant Operations. We have multiple vans that are from the 1980s. And several that have in excess of 200,000, 250,000 miles on them. We are at the point now where we are replacing transmissions and other large ticket items on them — they are at their worth. There have met their usefulness.”
“Will they be put up for auction?” Warren asked.
“Assuming the board approves the budget plan, then yes, we would take the old ones and turn it over to the person we contact in Raleigh and they would take care of it,” Vann said.
The board, without members Telfair Simpson and Roosevelt Wright, voted unanimously to approve the budget plan.
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.
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Lafe- for someone who hates the SI writers and all the SI stories printed for "Free" on this website, you sure are on here everyday reading every single one of them (as well as commenting on them).
If these stories are beneath your level of intelligence, go read something else, A-hole.
You're right. I wish the SI would start paying me for writing these stupid comments about stupid stories for stupid people like you to read. I feel cheated and betrayed. I want my money. As a nonparent of a Union Middle School student/ baseball player traumatized by the blue tarp, a former disgruntled Sampson County Deputy Sheriff who couldn't make it through the BLET/HEAT/THUG DOG Patrol, a bitter angry little man, a beauty queen denier, a disgraced and punished SI journalist debased to commenting on retarded stories, I can only hope, you Avid-reader, can stand up and rally against the SI so I can collect my paycheck. Thnak you for finding me out. Your intelligence and tanacity are unmatched by others you associate with in these troubled times.
yet? You're doing them a good job on not abiding by their comment guidlines. But,then again,with your inside connections,you are eliminated!!!
The new entrance at the old Midway High School is a blatent waste of our tax dollars. What does that design in front of the school have to do with EDUCATION? Absodamnlutely NOTHING!!
I totally agree this seems like a waste of money when teachers are afraid of losing jobs, however, until all of us "concerned" parents show up to the meetings and get involved ... it will continue.
FYI Lafe if you are that interested call 592-1401.
Will the GPS units incorporate auto notification of 911 in case of an accident and the driver is unable to call?
There are a lot of questions that need to be answered if the school board is going to sink this much money into this type of technology.
Doug Clark, could you call up the minds of the school board and see if they can at least answer one of my questions?