Cedar Springs board approves camera, fitness and cafeteria purchases; relinquishes small Title III grant, selects capital improvement fund

The Cedar Springs Public Schools Board of Education on March 10 approved several capital and security expenditures, voted to relinquish a small federal Title III, Part A allocation for English learners and endorsed creating a capital improvement fund rather than a public improvement fund.

Board members voted to accept vendor recommendations for a second phase of districtwide security camera upgrades, high school weight-room equipment, a new serving line for Beach Elementary and badge-access hardware for the new high school fitness center. The board also approved a staff recommendation to relinquish the district’s $3,615 Title III, Part A allocation for English learners and moved funds into a capital improvement fund that offers the district more future flexibility than a public improvement fund.

The camera project, presented by district technology staff Colin (last name not specified) and Austin (last name not specified), is funded primarily through a fiscal-year 2024 Section 31a security grant. Staff recommended selecting the People Driven Technologies proposal to add interior coverage at elementary schools (Cedar View and Cedar Trails), exterior coverage at the high school, and cameras for the new FFA barn and other district assets. The People Driven bid cited in the meeting was $266,085.30; the board approved the recommendation “including owner contingency,” bringing the approved authorization to spend up to $291,085.30. Board members cited desire for single-system (Avigilon/Visionon-brand) compatibility with last year’s work and…