Board approves range of software, safety and construction contracts totaling several million dollars

The Newton County Board of Education approved a series of purchases and contract renewals at its April meeting covering instructional software, security systems, construction and technology services.

The superintendent recommended and the board approved contracts including a Homeroom Plus dashboard solution ($79,615.50), the iReady universal screening suite ($534,151.25), Magic School AI ($108,300), leadership development services from the University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education ($236,000), and safe-alert duress badges and hardware ($138,037.49). The purchases also included an Epic View Path system for East Newton Elementary ($283,275.22) and multiple annual renewals for software and services such as ClassLink, Nearpod, ParentSquare and others.

Many technology purchases were presented as cooperative or state-contract buys and several items were E-rate eligible. The technology department noted an E-rate reimbursement of $254,302.12 on one package of internal connections and a remaining district cost of $44,876.84. The board approved an incident IQ asset-management purchase ($53,375.30) and a virtual storage system purchase through a cooperative contract ($40,159.30), among other items.

Most motions were made and seconded by board members (motions were generally moved by Miss Henderson Baker and seconded by Mister Anderson Bailey) and approved by voice vote. Contract documents and funding sources were presented with each item.

Board members also approved the renewal of annual special-education services contracts and a notable integrated business-solution renewal for Genuine Parts Company with an estimated contract value of $1,100,000. The board approved contracts for painting and construction-related work at several schools and declared selected district items surplus for disposal under board policy.

Votes at a glance (items approved)

- 13B: Homeroom Plus dashboard solution — $79,615.50 — approved - 13C: iReady universal screening suite — $534,151.25 — approved - 13D: Magic School AI — $108,300 — approved - 13E: UVA Partnership for Leaders in Education (leadership development) — $236,000 — approved - 13G: Annual renewals (Tools for Schools; Dell; ClassLink; Howard Technology Solutions; Structure LMS; Nearpod; ParentSquare; ByteWorks; Borderland Security; PowerSchool Group; Sherlock) — combined totals listed in packet — approved - 13H: Virtual storage systems (PC Solutions & Integration Inc.) — $40,159.30 — approved - 13I: Equipment and internal connections (E-rate) — total $299,178.96; district share after E-rate $44,876.84 — approved - 13J: Asset management software (Incident IQ) — $53,375.30 — approved - 13K: Equipment and internal connections (PC Solutions) — $137,170.67 — approved - 13L: SafeAlert duress badges & hardware (Audio Enhancement) — $138,037.49 — approved - 13M: Epic View Path for East Newton Elementary (Electrical Contractors Inc.) — $283,275.22 — approved - 13N: Special education annual renewals (multiple vendors) — total contract listings reviewed — approved - 13O: Integrated business solution renewal (Genuine Parts Company) — estimated $1,100,000 — approved - 13P: Fire inspection services renewal (Acom Fire Solutions) — $39,427 — approved - 13Q/R: Painting and paint purchases for multiple schools — combined approvals — approved - 13S: Declared surplus items for disposal — approved

Board members expressed repeated encouragement for local vendors to continue bidding even when outbid. The technology and business services teams said documentation and funding sources for each purchase were provided in board materials.

The approvals allow district technology upgrades, screening tools for K-10 and dyslexia screening for K-3, instructional AI tools and safety hardware to move forward with implementation timelines set by the relevant departments.