Board hears stadium lighting plan and demos robot sweeper; no purchases finalized

Facilities and operations staff briefed the Caledonia board on two capital‑scale items: a proposed LED stadium lighting replacement and a potential purchase of an autonomous Cenobot vacuum sweeper for large carpeted areas.

Stadium lighting: Mr. Hess described a plan to replace field lighting with a full LED system from Musco that would reuse existing poles (potentially extending their warranty), reduce power demand and allow tighter light targeting to limit spill into neighboring homes. He said installation will be part of a larger bid package that includes bleachers, concrete and fencing and that electrical upgrades will be required as designs are finalized.

Autonomous sweeper (Cenobot): Mr. Hess described an autonomous Cenobot unit that can operate roughly six to eight hours per run, navigate with lidar and return to dock for charging and emptying; administration projected a three‑year return on investment at the high school and said the Cenobot is sold without an ongoing software subscription. Board members asked about battery longevity, warranties, safety around students and whether the unit would run when the building is occupied; Mr. Hess said administration will provide warranty and longevity details before any purchase and indicated a preference for running the unit overnight in heavily used high‑school spaces.

Why it matters: The lighting replacement would modernize stadium infrastructure, reduce energy use and coordinate with ongoing bond-funded facility upgrades; the Cenobot proposal suggests using automation to free custodial staff for higher‑value tasks but raises questions about lifecycle costs and operational fit.

Next steps: Facilities will return with additional details on electrical upgrade scope, warranty terms and long‑term costs for both projects; no purchase votes were taken on these items during the meeting.