Board approves network easements and McCance parking safety work; camera plan referred for study

The Anderson School District Five board approved several infrastructure actions on Feb. 3: trustees granted five property easements needed for a federally funded network resilience project, approved lighting and a vehicle‑barrier fix at McCance Middle School, and referred a proposed district‑wide parking‑lot camera upgrade to district security staff for further study.

District IT contractors and staff described the resilience project as a roughly $6.2 million effort funded by the federal schools and libraries program (E‑rate/E‑rate‑like support) that would pay about 80% of the work, leaving the district with roughly a 20% share (staff cited a district contribution of about $1.6 million). Board members authorized granting five easements to permit placement of small fenced equipment pads and generators at selected school sites; the presentation emphasized siting the equipment at rear‑of‑property locations to minimize visibility.

On a separate facilities request the board discussed longstanding safety concerns at McCance Middle School’s gym parking lot and approved two projects staff recommended: installing parking‑lot lighting (staff estimated about $100,000) and adding a vehicle barrier/driveway protection to prevent cars from running over a drop‑off area. Trustees debated whether a short fence would suffice; the motion approved the barrier and lights after discussion of leasing LED lighting as an operating expense (some trustees favored a lease arrangement to push costs into the operating budget and transfer maintenance to the vendor).

District staff also presented cost estimates for comprehensive school‑parking camera coverage: a high‑end estimate of approximately $11 million for full district coverage and a smaller estimate of about $3.5 million to cover only high‑school parking lots. Rather than approve capital funding that night, trustees voted to refer the camera proposal to security staff for more investigation, including lower‑cost options such as trailer/satellite units and solutions that reduce trenching and fiber‑run costs. The board asked staff to return with phased cost options and procurements that could reduce the price.

Board members said the decisions aimed to improve instructional resilience, campus safety and visibility for after‑hours events. The approved easements, McCance lighting and vehicle‑barrier work will be advanced by district staff and contractors under the usual procurement and permitting process.