The Piper School District Board of Education on Oct. 13 approved the purchase of furniture and technology wiring to complete a mock courtroom at Piper High School, authorizing payment from a rural learning grant.

A motion asked the board to permit the district to "purchase the corporate furniture for a public services academy with the cost not to exceed $42,000 be paid from the Rural World Learning Kaufman Foundation grant." The motion was seconded and brought to a roll-call vote; the boards announcement at the end of the vote was "Motion passes 5 1." The motion's text stated the purchase and funding source; the transcript did not clearly identify the maker and seconder by name on the record.

District staff said the classroom-to-courtroom conversion would include wiring improvements and fixtures needed to host mock trial competitions; the program has placed at state competitions in recent years. The superintendent and staff emphasized the purchase will be paid from Secure the Shift funding and not from the district general fund.

The board did not record amendments to the motion. The meeting minutes captured the vote result as passing with five yes votes and one no vote. Staff will complete procurement and installation under the terms of the specified grant.