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District installs new cameras, rebuilds booster pump; outsources some transportation and plans vehicle replacements
Summary
School officials reported completion of security camera upgrades at Freetown, a rebuilt water booster pump expected to run more efficiently, ongoing camera work at satellite schools, surplus and replacement of district vehicles and increased use of an outsourced vendor for special-education transportation.
District facilities staff reported several completed and ongoing projects intended to improve school security, energy efficiency and transportation operations.
At the Freetown campus a new digital video recorder and 10 additional cameras were installed by East Coast Telecom Solutions; the system is operational and the Freetown Police Department will be able to access the cameras remotely. Officials said the upgrade replaced an older six-camera system and that the new configuration should improve image clarity and remote monitoring.
The booster pump at one campus was rebuilt, upgraded and reinstalled; facilities staff said the unit should run on demand rather than continuously, which they expect will reduce energy use. Officials advised the committee that the repaired unit is expected to last several years but will need review within the next five years for potential full replacement because of high replacement costs.
Satellite-school security upgrades are underway: staff performed walk-throughs and expect to install a similar 16-camera setup at another campus in the next one to two weeks. Committee members noted a potential business donation toward Freetown security upgrades and said the district will seek grants and town funding where appropriate but is proceeding with installations rather than waiting for external funds.
On transportation, the committee reported that special-education routes were partly outsourced last year to an external vendor (Vanpool). The district has surplus vehicles, including special-education vans and an older dump truck; the committee authorized surplus and has ordered a replacement F-450 dump/plow truck expected to arrive this fall. The outsourcing arrangement moved roughly half of certain routes to the vendor; the vendor assumes responsibility for maintenance on outsourced vehicles. Administration said drivers who were district employees were given the option to join the vendor; some did and others retired or made different choices.
Committee members also discussed energy-efficiency grant funding for the Assawomson campus and a reported $300,000 (figure to be confirmed) in energy grants that would be applied to efficiency upgrades already under way. Members asked staff to provide a clearer list of capital needs and multi-year priorities for the committee and for the towns as part of fall capital planning.
