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Grand Island Public Schools approves $2.13 million phase‑one security camera and vape‑detection upgrade
Summary
The board awarded Kidwell Incorporated a $2,131,828 contract for phase one of a districtwide security camera and vape‑detection project covering a dozen buildings; funding was described as coming from "QC Buff."
The Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved a $2,131,828 contract with Kidwell Incorporated for phase one of a districtwide security camera and vape‑detection project covering a dozen school buildings.
District grounds director Dan Petch told the board the project is the largest on the district's current facilities list and that the district will use the Vigilon camera system as its standard. "Kidwell was lower. And we have worked with Kidwell before, not on cameras, but this camera system we're using, the Vigilon system is a district standard," Petch said. "So, we're pretty confident that they have everything included. Because they were $305,000 lower than CEI who has done a lot of our work in the past."
The board motion, presented during the business portion of the meeting, authorized Kidwell to complete phase one work; the motion passed on a board vote. Board discussion was brief. Commissioner Holly asked for the list of specific buildings to be included. "You said this is for 12 buildings. Which buildings are we starting with?" Holly asked; Petch replied that the work will start with the senior high, the stadium, the middle schools and then selected elementary schools and that he would provide a full list.
The superintendent's office and facilities staffsaid the work is phase one of a two‑phase plan to update cameras across the district. The motion as read at the meeting specified payment "to be paid from QC Buff." The transcript also referenced other district funds in earlier agenda items but provided no further budget detail during the camera discussion.
The board did not provide a roll‑call tally in the meeting minutes for the motion; the chair announced only that the motion passed. The project team will return with implementation details, a schedule and the list of buildings to be upgraded.
Petch said the district received two bidder proposals and selected Kidwell because it was substantially lower while using the Vigilon system the district designates as standard. No amendments to the motion were introduced at the meeting.
The contract covers camera and vape‑detection equipment and installation services for the identified phase one buildings; officials said they expect to bring a similar request for the remaining buildings in the next fiscal cycle.
