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Atlantic Comm School District board approves low bid for grant-funded radios
Summary
The board approved the lowest of three bids to equip district buildings with grant-funded wireless radios intended to improve in-building communication and incident response. The equipment is part of a Homeland Security award providing roughly $50,000 per building.
The Atlantic Comm School District board voted to approve the lowest bid for wireless radios to be used across district buildings, the board decided during a special meeting.
Dr Johnson, the district’s interim superintendent, told the board the grant program provides about $50,000 per building and that staff recommended higher-quality, professionally programmed radios rather than consumer devices. “Every school district…is receiving $50,000…50,000 per building,” Dr Johnson said, explaining the grant and why the district requested radios rather than other equipment.
Board discussion reviewed operational details: radios would be programmed to building-specific channels with an all-call channel for administrators and police, vendors would provide training and programming, and radios could be taken on athletic events or recess. The presenter said the devices are not simple consumer walkie-talkies, describing “six to eight channels” and vendor programming required so each building hears only its own channel while districtwide channels remain available.
Roger Warren reviewed bids and recommended the lowest-priced proposal. A board member moved to approve the low bid to Electronic Engineeering as presented; the motion passed on the recorded voice vote.
The board noted that the Homeland Security award is a reimbursable federal grant and that the district will need to purchase and install equipment before reimbursement is received. The presenter cautioned federal reimbursements can be delayed and said the district may not receive grant funds until later in the year.
Next steps include finalizing the contract award paperwork, scheduling vendor training, and confirming the district’s plan for storing and deploying radios for off-site events.
