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District staff seeks to expand Valcom mass‑notification system to administration and additional sites
Summary
Technology staff proposed adding administration, Fenmore and Knabusch to the district's Valcom mass‑notification system, citing recent bid results and prior installations at Monroe Middle School. The system would automate alerts across buildings and integrate radios, phones, doors and alarms; a bid returned at $132,685.61.
At the work session, district technology staff reviewed the Valcom mass‑notification system installed in earlier bond bid packs and proposed expanding that system to additional district buildings including the administration building, Fenmore and the Knabusch math and science center.
Kevin Piauser explained the difference between a single‑site PA system and a mass‑notification system that can "push" messages, emails and automated actions across buildings. "I push a button. It sends a text alert out to a team," Piauser said, describing how a mass‑notification trigger can simultaneously ring speakers, send text messages and notify response teams.
Staff recounted the district's phased installs and costs and said the board previously approved earlier bid packs; Monroe Middle School installation was noted at about $375,380 in earlier work. An RFP to extend coverage produced a competitive bid from Moscow Communications at $132,685.61; staff said the current proposal covers building installations but not larger grounds coverage (which would require additional construction or technology).
Board members discussed the scope and the likely extra costs to cover distant grounds or athletic fields, and asked for clarity on what the current bid includes and what additional integrator or programming work would cost. Staff said the current proposal would establish the foundation for further district‑wide integrations and that final programming and integration steps would require additional planning and possible future funding requests.
Next steps: staff will present the Valcom expansion bid to the full board for approval and provide detail on what grounds coverage and integrator work would cost if the district wants alarms and notification beyond building perimeters.
