The Vidor Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Monday to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Vidor to install solar-powered flashing lights in several school zones.

District staff told trustees the lights will replace hard-to-read static signs in front of the junior high, elementary and high school campuses, and "will be powered via solar energy," with batteries charging the system. The district's share of the cost is $8,316; the city has passed a resolution approving its share.

"I believe it's a big safety issue," a trustee said during discussion, adding that the lights will provide a definitive marker for drivers. Staff said the signs should arrive this summer and be in place for the start of the next school year. The board also discussed that when the junior high campus closes in two years, a pole can be removed and relocated to another campus.

Trustees approved the interlocal agreement by a 7-0 vote after Miss Vincent moved and Mr. Harrington seconded. The board noted that responsibility for installation will be coordinated between the district and the city and that future battery-replacement costs will be negotiated as needed.

Background: Other district campuses (Pine Forest and Oaky Middle School) already have flashing lights. Staff said certain residential streets behind the high school are designated school zones and will be timed differently than the front-of-school zones. The board did not set a long-term maintenance schedule; staff will return to the board if recurring battery failures require renegotiation.