Technology upgrades completed; facilities projects and roofing needs estimated at $8 million, Hawkins County Schools says
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Summary
District technology staff reported camera, phone and Apple-device management upgrades completed over the summer. Facilities staff outlined ongoing secured‑entrance work, stadium repairs and an estimated $8 million roofing project for two high schools.
Hawkins County Schools staff detailed technology upgrades and numerous facilities projects during the Sept. 4 board meeting, and officials warned of major roofing needs that the district expects to address with approximately $8 million in non‑bonded funds.
Wayne Absher, the district technology supervisor, told the board his team upgraded the security camera system to a new Unity platform, replacing roughly 50 aging analog cameras and bringing the county’s total to about 900 cameras with additional units ready for installation. Absher said the district reconfigured nearly 1,999 iPads into a new mobile device management system (Jamf) and completed a phone system migration that required reprogramming 975 phones and fax lines. “Technology touches every aspect of education in Hawkins County,” Absher said, noting the small team’s scope of work.
John Walton, who leads maintenance, reported two open positions (a mower and a refrigeration technician) and said the district has offered the refrigeration job to multiple applicants who declined because private employers pay more. Walton said work orders are high: since July 1 the district logged more than 700 work orders and is on pace for roughly 4,000 this year. He also reported roofing leaks remain a persistent issue with 155 leak reports since July and dozens of new leak reports after recent storms.
Facilities director Shannon Glass described progress on secured‑entrance projects and stadium structural repairs. She said five schools require contracted work for main‑entrance upgrades; two projects (Volunteer and Cherokee high schools) are larger and pending. Glass gave a rough estimate of $8,000,000 to replace ballasted EPDM roofs at Cherokee and Volunteer high schools, explaining the age and construction of the roofs create difficult repair conditions and that the district plans to fund the project from education debt services without issuing new bonds.
A student representative raised classroom concerns about active leaks at a middle school art room and water intrusion around cafeteria doors, describing damaged tiles and artworks. Glass and Walton acknowledged the immediate problems and said many issues will be addressed as roofing and door projects proceed.
District officials asked the board to anticipate capital spending to address roofing and secure‑entry projects and noted several facility upgrades will be done while schools are in session to minimize disruption.