District to advertise bid to refresh nearly 600 security cameras; pre-bid and bid dates set
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Summary
District staff described a plan to replace roughly 495 existing cameras and add about 101 new cameras across schools; pre-bid is scheduled for 03/06/2026 and bids open 03/18/2026; district aims to complete installation by 07/15/2026 and will return for board approval to advertise.
Southwest Allen County Schools staff presented a recommendation to publish a bid request to refresh the district’s security camera system, describing replacement of nearly all cameras in district buildings and the addition of about 101 cameras.
District staff said nearly 495 existing cameras (all but Homestead High) would be replaced and roughly 101 cameras would be added at principals’ or SROs’ requests, including two license-plate-capable cameras for each K–8 building and six such cameras at Homestead High School. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for March 6, 2026, at 9 a.m.; bids will be opened on March 18, 2026, at 1 p.m., both in the Saks Transportation Conference Room at district offices.
Mr. Madsen, who presented the specification summary, said the scope includes removing and replacing cameras, installing front-door video-phone cameras, cabling and jacks, management software, aiming and relocating existing cameras, on-site testing and staff training, and maintaining about a 5% spare stock (approximately 30 cameras). He said daily interior work would be scheduled after student dismissal to limit disruption.
On budget context, district staff said the project is part of the 2025 bond issuance. A staff speaker said, “We budgeted 1.5 for both cameras and radio systems” (the transcript did not specify units) and added that they now “feel like $7,750,000 is more than enough to complete this project.” Staff said the district will return at the next board meeting with a request to approve advertising the bid.
Staff listed vendor requirements including compatibility with the district’s Vicon Velaris platform (or an equivalent), ability to record to existing NVRs, a certificate of insurance, at least three Indiana school district references from similar projects in the last five years, and a non-collusion affidavit.
Board members asked questions about specification preparation and thanked staff for detailed documents. The district will seek board permission to publish the bid at a subsequent meeting.