Board approves chiller bid, moves forward on Microsoft renewal and restart application

The Cleveland County Board of Education on Jan. 7 approved a low bid and contingency for a chiller replacement at Bowling Springs Elementary and cleared staff to pursue two separate administrative actions: a recommended renewal of a Microsoft Enterprise (EES) licensing agreement and submission of a restart application for Elizabeth Elementary.

Board members voted to accept the lowest bid for the Bowling Springs chiller project — $294,000 — plus a 5% contingency, bringing the project total to $309,000; the project is to be paid from state R&R funds. Staff told the board the chiller is a summer project and that equipment lead times will be about 20 weeks. A motion to approve the recommended contractor passed on a vote the chair announced as 8 to 0.

Staff presented a three-year Microsoft EES renewal quote of $95,227.40 for districtwide licensing. The board discussed the renewal in committee and at the meeting as an informational item; the EES renewal was considered alongside other instructional contracts presented as informational because the amounts were below the board approval threshold of $75,000 for regular action.

Superintendent Dr. Fisher and other staff also asked the board for permission to submit a restart-school application for Elizabeth Elementary, a decision they framed as an opportunity to gain charter-like flexibilities in budgeting, staffing and programming. Dr. Fisher said the school is not low-performing and that the district is considering restart status as a tool to "better utilize" funds and provide performance incentives where appropriate. "This recommendation for potential restart has nothing really to do with low performing at all," he said.

Board members asked clarifying questions about what restart status does and does not permit — including whether it equates to state takeover or automatic hiring authority — and staff repeatedly distinguished restart flexibilities from a charter school or state takeover. Staff emphasized the application deadline and asked that the board allow staff to submit the application so options remain available; the transcript records the vote call for the Microsoft EES renewal and the restart application but does not include a clear roll-call tally in the record.

The board also received the capital-project timeline and was told that mechanical engineering drawings supported vendor vetting for the chiller project. Staff said they had verified vendor credentials and used a mechanical engineer to prepare drawings and recommendations.

The board’s action clears procurement for the chiller and permits staff to pursue the EES renewal and the restart application as described by district leadership.