Deptford board approves $376,892 phone-system upgrade, transportation contract and payments totaling $9.34 million

The Deptford Township Board of Education on Dec. 16 approved a $376,891.84 Alcatel‑Lucent phone‑system replacement under state contract and a five‑year lease financing plan that will carry annual payments of $88,017.30.

The phone upgrade will be paid through Fund 12: Capital Projects and the district said it expects at least $200,000 in district savings over five years compared with its current contract. The board also approved a Telesystem phone‑service proposal at $2,481.06 per month, which the district described as a roughly $9,000 monthly savings compared with its prior provider.

In the same meeting the board awarded Bid #25‑02 for student transportation services to Holcomb Transportation for the 2025‑26 school year, confirming that all bid documents were received and reviewed. The board approved payments across its funds totaling $9,341,045.51, covering general current expense, capital outlay, special revenue, ROTC, Spartan Care and food services.

Board members framed the phone upgrade as a capital investment to modernize district telecommunications and reduce ongoing operating costs. The appointment of Garrison Architects as the district’s Architect of Record, approved elsewhere on the agenda, was listed as effective Jan. 1, 2026.

No dissenting votes were recorded on the finance items. The motions to approve the phone replacement, the Telesystem service, the transportation award and the payments each passed on roll call votes recorded in the minutes as unanimous where noted.

The board moved into closed session later in the meeting for legal matters and reconvened before adjourning.