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Vigo County School Corp approves $2.1M camera system, buys nine buses and OKs easement; schedules GO-bond hearing
Summary
The board voted to award a $2.1 million Verkada hardware and license contract and an $88,680 installation contract for a district-wide security camera system, approved a $1.32 million purchase of nine buses, granted a Duke Energy easement for electric-bus charging and authorized a July 27 public hearing on potential 2026 GO bonds.
The Vigo County School Corp board on Monday approved a set of capital purchases and property actions aimed at modernizing school safety and transportation and authorized a public hearing on a potential 2026 general-obligation bond issue.
Doug Miller, the administration spokesperson for the security-camera project, told trustees the district sought proposals to replace aging cameras and to move video hosting to the cloud. Miller said the recommended awards are for 687 Verkada cameras with licenses and cloud storage; the installation contract was recommended to SiteWise for $88,680 and the hardware and license contract to LGL Enterprises for $2,109,163.45. "So it is a 10 year warranty," Miller said. "The system will be covered for 10 years with the licenses and the hardware."
Miller and IT staff said the system will provide longer retention (365 days) and higher-resolution imaging (moving toward 4K) than the current system, which keeps roughly 14 days of footage on aging servers. Miller added the cameras include local storage so recording continues during temporary internet outages, and that cloud hosting would allow secure sharing with other agencies when needed.
On transportation, staff recommended purchasing nine buses through the statewide cooperative. The package includes five 78-passenger buses at $171,067 each, one 14-passenger yellow bus at $118,596 and three 14-passenger activity buses at $115,147 each, for a total purchase price of $1,319,372. Transportation staff said the purchases follow the district's fleet-replacement plan and that the district currently operates about 139 routes and has increased driver staffing compared with last year.
Trustees also approved a 15-foot easement allowing Duke Energy access to install underground infrastructure for electric-bus charging on district property; one trustee abstained, citing employment with Duke Energy. Administration said the easement is needed to support planned electric-bus charging stations.
The board granted administration permission to advertise and hold a public hearing on July 27 about a possible 2026 GO bond issue that would fund roofing, mechanical and paving projects and other capital needs. Donna Wilson said administrators continue to work with Ice Miller bond counsel and Baker Tilly financial advisers to plan debt issuance that preserves rate neutrality and limits interest expense.
Votes at a glance: all items below were approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted. - Consent agenda: approved (motion/second recorded in meeting minutes). - Personnel report/professional leave: approved. - Cafeteria transfers (small rollover and negative-balance reconciliation for FY 2023–2025): approved. - Security camera awards: installation to SiteWise ($88,680); hardware/licenses to LGL Enterprises ($2,109,163.45); approved. - Permission to advertise public hearing for 2026 GO bonds (hearing on July 27): approved. - Duke Energy easement for electric-bus charging: approved; one abstention recorded (committee member who works at Duke Energy). - Bus purchases (nine buses; total $1,319,372): approved. - Grants (Carl D. Perkins $337,973; adult education $306,000): approved.
Administration said legal counsel will review contract language and procurement files before execution. The board set its next regular meeting for July 27 at 6 p.m. at the Admin Conference Center.
