District staff recommend $722,316 contract for intercom and classroom audio upgrades at two middle schools

Oconee County Schools technology staff presented two action items April 14 recommending Audio Enhancement intercom and classroom audio systems for Malcolm Bridge Middle School and Oconee County Middle School, with combined bids of $360,305.42 and $362,010.61 respectively.

Technology staff said both schools’ existing intercom systems are at the end of their service life and that the proposed systems would standardize intercoms across middle schools and expand classroom audio into all K–8 classrooms in the district. Staff highlighted features including hands-free teacher microphones, handheld student microphones, and new transcription and translation capabilities intended to support English learners and students with hearing needs.

The presenter said the classroom transcription feature would connect the teacher microphone to student Chromebooks so students could view a real-time transcript in English or another language; staff also said headsets could be paired to Chromebooks to assist students with hearing deficits. Audio Enhancement pricing was presented as part of an approved statewide contract (number 024-H).

Both projects were described as funded from the general fund and “ELOS dollars” (as stated by staff). The superintendent’s recommendation is that the board approve the two bids at the April 21 Board of Education meeting. No formal vote on these contracts took place during the April 14 work session.

Board members asked clarifying questions about transcription, real-time translation, headset pairing, and whether the add-ons were hardware or software; staff replied that the feature is both hardware and software and that implementation could assist students with identified audio needs.

The two items will appear on the April 21 agenda for formal action.