Board approves safety app rollout, sprinkler‑repair contract and vehicle bids; discusses greenhouse ribbon and community service program

Sheridan County School District #3 trustees received demonstrations and approved several operational contracts and purchases at the April 14 meeting, including approving implementation of a school safety app, awarding a sprinkler‑repair contract and accepting bids for two multipurpose passenger vehicles.

Safety app demo and coordination with law enforcement

Staff demonstrated the e3 safety application, an emergency alert and location/communication system the district is piloting. Presenters showed how staff can mark themselves safe or unsafe in a room, open a limited chat when an alert is active, and mark areas of the building as unsafe during drills. Presenters said the app has an admin alert level for internal issues (for example, a medical emergency or student misbehavior) and a law‑enforcement level that would notify first responders; the company is working with the county sheriff’s office to route alerts to deputies’ phones and in‑car displays for real‑time situational awareness.

During the demonstration teachers and substitutes who had downloaded the app were shown marking themselves safe during a tornado drill; staff described improved communication and quieter, more orderly drills. School staff said some teachers have also installed the app on phones to use off‑site if needed. The board discussed deployment, integration with sheriff’s office systems and drill protocols; one staff presenter said subs had been trained and that the app improved communication during the drills.

Sprinkler repair contract and pumps

Trustees approved a contract with Seasonal Services LLC for sprinkler repairs and pumps. During discussion staff said the bid included two pumps at roughly $5,000 each (total about $10,000); a river screen was quoted in the budget conversation at an additional amount. Staff and trustees discussed longer‑term options: a three‑phase pump installation would provide greater reliability but would require extending three‑phase power to the ditch site, which staff estimated could cost “somewhere in the neighborhood of $75,000 to $100,000.” Trustees authorized the contract as bid and instructed maintenance staff to manage expenditures within the limits of the competitive bid and existing board approvals, returning to the board if costs exceed standard thresholds.

Vehicles, propane and procurement

The board accepted bids for two MPVs from Salt Lake Valley Automotive Services and voted (voice vote) to move forward with the shorter wheelbase vehicles after trustees weighed stability and route requirements. Trustees discussed wheelbase differences and stability for county‑road routes; the transportation director advised assignment of longer wheelbase vehicles to routes that require added stability.

Trustees also approved advertisement for propane bids for FY2025–26 and discussed options used in prior years (including allowing staff or rental occupants to fill tanks at bid price in some circumstances). Board members approved advertising for bids and noted the district’s rentals use propane paid for by occupants.

Greenhouse, community support and service projects

Trustees set a greenhouse ribbon‑cutting and a gym renovation community listening session on the calendar and discussed a new “community support” packet staff drafted to encourage local businesses, farmers and community members to support student programming. Presenters said the packet will describe nonfinancial opportunities (classroom visits, job shadows, work‑based learning), as well as sponsorship opportunities for house teams at modest price points. Trustees discussed emphasizing student community service first (projects without direct fundraising) and agreed the administration should include ideas for service projects and ways to highlight student service via the district’s social media channels.

All procurement motions (sprinkler repairs contract, accepting vehicle bids, advertising for propane bids) passed on voice vote; trustees asked staff to monitor contracts and return to the board for any expenditures above typical administrative approval thresholds.