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Shawnee Mission board approves $8.55M HVAC controls contract, tech-switch purchases and policy clarifications; policies pass 5–1
Summary
The board approved a multi‑year, phased contract to replace HVAC control systems across district buildings, purchased network switches, and adopted clarifying language for transfer and open‑enrollment policies following board discussion; policy revisions passed on 5–1 votes.
The Shawnee Mission Board of Education on Jan. 22 approved several capital and policy items, including a phased, districtwide HVAC controls replacement, equipment purchases for the data center and security systems, and clarified board policies governing district transfers and open enrollment.
HVAC controls contract: The board authorized a multi‑year contract with Elite Automation LLC for a cloud‑based HVAC control system for all district buildings, with an estimated implementation cost of $8,546,105 plus a 5% contingency to address unforeseen scope items. The administration said the work will be paid from capital funds and executed in a three‑year phased rollout to replace decades‑old control servers and unify multiple current platforms.
Board discussion focused on scope, contingency and operational benefits. Facilities staff said the new platform will allow district technicians to make global schedule or set‑point changes remotely rather than updating individual controllers building by building. The motion to approve the HVAC contract passed by voice vote, recorded as 6–0.
Technology switch purchase: The board approved a planned capital purchase of network switches from CDW to replace soon‑unsupported data‑center WAN distribution, data‑storage and security system switches. The total purchase price was stated as $272,163.78 under state pricing; the motion carried 6–0.
Policy updates — transfers and open enrollment: The board voted to adopt clarifying revisions to policy JBCB (district transfers) and JBCD (open enrollment). The revisions incorporate the district’s reasonable‑accommodation language for students whose absences relate to physical or mental impairment and clarify the policy’s treatment of attendance events and transfer eligibility. The board took the policy votes as first and final reads; both measures passed 5–1. Board member Owsley cast the lone recorded ‘‘nay’’ on both policies during the votes and asked that the board’s policy committee review attendance‑count implications and consider additional parent‑facing clarification.
Consent and other business: The board approved routine consent items and minutes by voice vote (recorded as 6–0). The board also approved a recommended purchase under the district’s technology refresh plan and accepted administration’s recommendation on capital funding sources as part of the agenda. No further action on the policies or capital items was requested at the meeting.
Ending: Board members asked administration to prepare clearer, parent‑facing guidance about how partial‑day appointments, tardies and absence events are recorded and to refer additional questions about attendance accounting to the policy review committee for later consideration.
