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Board approves food-service renewal, Capturing Kids' Hearts agreement and E-Rate network contracts
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Summary
The Pine Bluff School District board approved a one-year food-service management renewal, a $72,850 Capturing Kids' Hearts service agreement funded by school-improvement federal dollars, and two E-Rate network contracts (wide-area leasing and equipment) with the district sharing the non-E-Rate portions.
During its April 27 meeting the Pine Bluff School District board approved several action items affecting operations and technology.
The board approved a renewal of the district’s food-service management contract for 2026–27 (motion carried). Superintendent Barbara Reed explained that the food-service arrangement is a five-year management contract with annual state-required renewals; Miss Key, the local director for the current provider (K12/Elior), attended the meeting to answer questions and address prior concerns about meal quality and student feedback.
The board also approved a one-year service agreement with Capturing Kids' Hearts for the 2026–27 school year at $72,850; Reed said the district will pay from federal school improvement funds (not operating funds) and the contract includes eight on-site support days and virtual components.
On technology, the board approved a wide-area network leasing and service agreement (E-Rate Category 1) with Unite Bridal Networks and a separate Category 2 contract for network equipment with IK Network Solutions. Staff presented total project costs and the district’s share of costs after E-Rate discounts (examples discussed: an $85,287.47 district share and a lease payment described as approximately $9,000 per month over five years). Presenters said E-Rate will reimburse a majority of costs (examples cited in the presentation), and the agreements were described as five-year arrangements.
All motions on these items were moved, seconded and carried during the meeting; specific roll-call tallies were recorded as voice votes with no named member-by-member counts provided in the transcript.
