School receives technology commitment of $831,000

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
 
Superintendent Sandra Quarles excitedly reported to the Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District board of trustees the award of $831,000 in E-rate funds. She informed the board members at their March 18 meeting.
“This is a funding commitment from Universal Service Administration Company and will allow us to completely upgrade our technology infrastructure,” Mrs. Quarles said. “With this money we will be able to do some major renovations in our infrastructure. This will enable us to take technology to a whole new level. We are really excited about what this will mean for the district.
“This will include data and voice switches, a network phone system, wireless access points, a district firewall, and much more.  Upgrading the infrastructure will allow us to expand the use of digital textbooks and implement the use of handheld devices for educational purposes.  Plans are to begin the work on this project immediately, and it is anticipated that the project will be completed during the summer of 2013.”
In her report, Mrs. Quarles reported enrollment was down 49 from a year ago, and staff was down by 16, with teachers down by 7½.
Ted Estep, architect for the school bond, told the board members they are at the fifth and final step of the construction, covering everything but the auditorium.
“Since we met, we have added a few things,” Mr. Estep said. “We have taken the horizontal units for air conditioning out of the ceiling. We have taken them out in those two places in the science labs. We are putting in a system that is called ductless cassettes. You have one in the lobby that serves that area. They are independent and are much more efficient than the previous ones. It should make a difference in your energy costs for that part of the building. We no longer have duct work above the ceiling or in the hallways. We are raising the ceilings and will put skylights in those hallways to get some of the natural light.
“There are two computer rooms, and we plan to go in them and give them a fresh coat of paint as if we did nothing to them it would make them look even worse after redoing the hallway. We are looking at an alternative for the junior high gym floor. They weren’t in our original estimate, and if we have the money, you can choose to do them. I felt we needed to know what the cost will be to replace those.”
Transportation and Maintenance Director James Long reported on the fire alarm system.
“Occasionally there is some angst in the system,” he said. ‘In the early morning hours it goes off and it isn’t loud, but the lights come on and we get a call from the dispatchers at the sheriff’s office.
“Hefner Roofing started the roofing projects, and it is going smoothly.”
In other business, the board approved purchase of metal doors.
“We brought bids last month and Dr. Larry Miears had a question about how many doors there were. We went around and counted every door and accounted for each one of them.”
The board also approved an eight-period schedule for the high school.
“We had talked about it last year and this year again,” Mrs. Quarles said. “We agreed to let the teachers know as early as we could. We feel we need to go back to the eight-period day because it is possible for a student not to have math for four days in a row.”
Board President Maurice Tigert put himself on the agenda under public forum.
“I am sure all of you read The Bee about the administration and you don’t know how that made me feel,” Mr. Tigert said. “It really excited my heart. I want to say what a privilege it is to be on the board and serve you all. Each of you is doing a special job and don’t get thanked enough. I would personally like to thank you for everything you do.”

After a 45-minute executive session, the board approved the teachers, diagnosticians, librarians and nurse contracts as approved by Mrs. Quarles and accepted letters of retirement from Debra Gilmore and Avis Wilson.