Board approves several contracts: digitization, flooring, secure entry and safety equipment

At its May 27 meeting the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education approved a set of procurement items the administration brought forward, including digitization of older student records, summer flooring projects, a secure entry foyer for a school, school-law-enforcement body armor and a district communications platform.

The board approved a contract with Instructure Inc. to use Parchment for digitizing student records prior to 2006, "to index and archive them within the current credential library," at a nonrecurring cost of $166,200 funded from contingency, a district staff member said during the presentation. Board members asked who would have access to digitized records and were told district staff who fulfill transcript requests and alumni who request their records will receive records after identity verification; the public does not have direct access to the record repository.

The board accepted a $325,505 bid from FTC Contract Flooring for summer 2025 flooring projects. District staff said tile is being prioritized in many locations for sanitation and durability, though carpet remains in select buildings to manage noise in open-concept spaces.

The board approved a $26,951 purchase to install a secure-entry foyer at Alfred Fairfax Academy. Board members asked whether grant funds (e.g., school-safety grants) might be available; staff said no grant was applied for this project and that the district would explore grant eligibility for future projects.

The board approved the purchase of body-worn ballistic vests for school law-enforcement personnel from ABM Supply in the amount of $25,245. District staff said the vests are Level 2A ballistic panels—the standard for handgun protection in law enforcement—and that manufacturers recommend replacement about every five years because wear degrades ballistic materials. Staff explained vests are issued to officers for on-duty use and are generally available in vehicles if not worn.

The board also approved the purchase of an "Insight. Let's Talk" platform for communications at $81,150 to be paid from the communications department budget. The motion carried on roll call. For each item the motions were moved, seconded and passed by recorded roll calls. The board made no changes to those recommendations at the meeting.

No finance figures beyond item costs were changed during the meeting; staff said some department budgets remain draft and they will return with updated consideration documents ahead of final budget adoption.