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Beatrice Public Schools board approves multiple operations contracts, equipment and technology purchases
Summary
At its Aug. 11 meeting the Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education approved a consent agenda and a series of operational contracts and purchases including HVAC software services, preventive maintenance, laptops and Chromebooks, a utility vehicle and a kitchen booster-heater replacement.
Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education met Aug. 11 and approved a consent agenda and several operational purchases and service agreements to open the 2025–26 school year.
The board unanimously approved a package of routine and operational motions, including a software-controls update with Johnson Controls, a preventive-maintenance agreement with Prairie Mechanical, purchase of teacher laptops and student Chromebooks, authorization to buy a side-by-side utility vehicle and work to replace a booster heater at Beatrice High School.
The motions were described by staff as routine operational items needed to maintain district facilities and support the start of school. Mr. Alexander, staff member, said the Johnson Controls work "is necessary for us to have that," referring to ongoing software updates for the districtwide HVAC Medisys system. The board approved the Johnson Controls software‑controls proposal at a negotiated price of $8,528.
The board also approved a preventive-maintenance agreement with Prairie Mechanical. Mr. Alexander said adding the new elementary to the program raises the districtwide preventive-maintenance total for 2025–26 to $83,125, with the elementary addition costing $15,925; the existing high school and middle-school work accounts for the remainder.
Technology purchases were approved from Sterling: roughly $29,663.63 for 20 teacher laptops and 15 student Chromebooks to meet start‑of‑year needs. The board authorized Mr. Alexander to purchase a side‑by‑side utility vehicle for up to $15,000 to replace an aging vehicle used for grounds, event logistics and maintenance.
The board approved an estimate from Tech Masters to replace a booster heater at the high school used by the kitchen dishwasher for $6,624.83. Staff told the board a separate possible repair to a high‑school walk‑in freezer (a compressor or condensing unit) will be presented at a future meeting once the cost is confirmed.
All motions were approved by voice vote; the meeting minutes record the chair calling for votes and stating each motion "passes," without a roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda — approved (includes minutes, accounts for payment, budget receipts/expenditures, options students; mover not specified; motion passed). - Approve Johnson Controls software controls proposal — approved; price negotiated to $8,528; mover not specified; second by Eric. - Approve Prairie Mechanical preventive-maintenance agreement — approved; total preventive-maintenance for 2025–26 stated as $83,125; mover not specified; second by Eric. - Approve purchase of teacher laptops and student Chromebooks (Sterling) — approved; total $29,663.63; mover not specified; second by Eric. - Authorize purchase of side-by-side utility vehicle — authorized up to $15,000; mover not specified; second by Jason. - Approve Tech Masters estimate to replace booster heater (BHS) — approved; $6,624.83; mover not specified; second by Dr. Merrick Nelson (second recorded in transcript as "Doctor. Merrick? Nelson"). - Motion to enter executive session to discuss legal advice regarding the district and for the protection of the public interest — approved; mover not specified; seconded (recorded as second).
The board did not record individual yes/no votes in the transcript; each item was carried by voice vote after the board chair asked for votes.
The board will address an additional facilities repair (the high‑school freezer) at a future meeting once contractors can confirm which unit requires replacement and provide a cost estimate.
