Board approves purchases and agreements including emergency alert system; monthly financials, utilities contract and facility work cleared

The Montgomery Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 15 approved a package of contracts and purchases on recommendations from district staff, including a districtwide silent panic alert system to meet state requirements, a wastewater services agreement for Creekside Elementary, and a set of facility and technology purchases.

The board voted to authorize the superintendent to finalize an agreement with Mid South (water/wastewater) to connect Creekside Elementary to the Mid South wastewater plant. District staff told trustees the revised agreement will save the district “over a hundred thousand dollars a year” in fees compared with the original 40‑year proposal the utility presented. The motion to approve that agreement passed on voice vote.

Trustees approved procurement of two 14‑passenger passenger trip buses from the recommended vendor (Longhorn), each priced at about $99,000, for use on smaller trips that do not require a CDL driver. The board also approved purchase of replacement chillers for Montgomery High School and Keenan Elementary, citing age and freeze damage to existing equipment; staff recommended a 200‑ton chiller for MHS and a 180‑ton unit for Keenan. Board members approved purchase orders for multiple CTE needs: replacement computer labs (about $133,200 from CTE funds), a one‑year site license renewal for the iCEV CTE curriculum platform (sole‑source, about $56,000), and a set of classroom charging carts and infrastructure replacements funded outside the bond program.

The board approved a districtwide silent panic alert solution (CrisisGo as presented in the RFP/proof‑of‑concept), a multi‑year contract intended to provide discreet one‑button alerts from wearable devices, integration with cameras and door locks, and reunification/parent notification features needed to comply with House Bill 3 (Elisa’s Law) by the 2025 implementation deadline. Trustees heard a proof‑of‑concept demonstration and a summary of committee scoring on interoperability, scalability and training before voting. The motion to approve the CrisisGo purchase carried on voice vote.

Other routine items passed: the board carried the consent agenda (monthly financial report pulled for separate approval), approved the March monthly financial report after brief discussion, and approved a nomination to endorse Elizabeth Ivy for the TASB Region 6 board of directors (position A).

Several motions were seconded and passed by voice vote; where trustees cast an abstention during roll calls, the board recorded those in the official minutes. District staff said all purchases will follow standard vendor contract and buy‑board procedures and noted warranties, temporary chiller contingencies, and equipment storage details during presentations.

No new policy changes were made during the approvals; the board asked staff to provide follow‑up details on warranties and maintenance schedules for equipment purchases where requested.

Votes at a glance (summary of motions on April 15): • Consent agenda (items A, C, D) — approved (voice). Monthly financials (item B) pulled and approved separately (voice). • Mid South water/wastewater agreement for Creekside Elementary — approved (motion; second; voice). • Purchase of two 14‑passenger trip buses (Longhorn recommended) — approved (motion; second; voice). • Replacement chillers at Montgomery HS and Keenan Elementary (two chillers) — approved (motion; second; voice). • CTE technology replacement (three computer labs, $133,200 from CTE funds) — approved (motion; second; voice). • CTE curriculum platform iCEV (site license, 1 year, ~$56,000, sole source) — approved (motion; second; voice). • Classroom charging carts / classroom infrastructure purchases across multiple elementaries — approved (motion; second; voice). • CrisisGo silent panic alert technology (SPAT) purchase and implementation plan — approved (motion; second; voice). • Nomination/endorsement of Elizabeth Ivy for TASB Region 6 Director position A — approved (motion; second; voice).

The board’s official minutes will include individual roll‑call tallies and any abstentions. District staff said installations and rollouts will be scheduled to minimize classroom disruption and to align equipment procurement and summer construction schedules.

Ending: Several agenda items remain in implementation and staff will return to the board with procurement specifics, warranty terms and rollout timelines; the district emphasized the purchases are intended to address safety, asset replacement and operational efficiency.