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Board approves Arkansas Teacher Corps MOU, fire-alarm upgrades and scraps eight buses
Summary
The board voted to continue a memorandum of understanding with Arkansas Teacher Corps for existing participants, approved Johnson Controls fire-alarm work (~$75,000 plus tax) with one board member opposed, and authorized removal and scrapping of eight bus units from inventory.
The Pine Bluff School District board approved three administrative actions: continuation of an MOU with Arkansas Teacher Corps for teachers already in the program, purchase and installation of fire-alarm repairs and upgrades by Johnson Controls, and removal of eight nonfunctional school buses from district inventory for scrapping.
On the MOU, the superintendent said the district had teachers already in the Arkansas Teacher Corps pathway and asked the board to continue the existing MOU for those teachers until they complete the program. The board approved the MOU; a formal motion and second were recorded and the board chair called the ayes.
The board then considered fire-alarm repairs and upgrades. The superintendent explained that a recent fire inspection identified alarm systems disconnected after a district phone-system update; Johnson Controls provided the lowest quote. The district presented a revised cost—originally about $73,000—now approximately $75,000 plus tax for work across multiple buildings, including the high-school academy building and the multipurpose athletic building. The motion to approve the Johnson Controls purchase passed after vocal votes; Miss Edwards recorded a verbal "I say no" during the roll call of ayes and noes.
On transportation, the superintendent reported an inventory of the bus fleet: 26 buses in the fleet, including 11 full-size buses, four short buses with wheelchair lifts, two medium buses (one with a lift), and two activity buses. Nine buses are out of service; the superintendent said eight of those are unusable and recommended scrapping them. The board approved removing the eight buses from inventory and scrapping them; staff said proceeds from scrap will be reported later and that the district plans to budget for at least two new full-size buses in future budgets or pursue used-bus options.
Funding notes: the superintendent said the fire-alarm purchase will come from existing operating or capital accounts (M&O or capital outlay), and staff will confirm the specific account. The board recorded the motions and approved all three items during the meeting.
