Warsaw School Board Reviews Contracts And Quotes At Public Work Session
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
In his report to the board at Tuesday afternoon’s public work session, Scott told the board that historically, the school corporation’s funding adjusted in January. Now that the state requires two enrollment counts – one in September, one in February – funding adjusts several times in the year.
Thankfully, he reported, Warsaw’s student enrollment has increased by about 30 students since September. Statewide on average, enrollment drops 1.2 percent in February. Warsaw’s also has gone down in February over the years, until this year, he said.
“So that’s good,” he said.
School funding from the state is based on enrollment figures. Warsaw receives approximately $5,300 per student.
During Scott’s report, Board Vice President Matt Dick asked how much snow removal has cost WCS to date this winter. Scott said that figure probably was in the $300,000 range, which may mean less repair projects this year.
Director of Maintenance Greg Schroeder and Scott then discussed quotes for athletic field maintenance and contracts for preventive maintenance.
“We have a lot of athletic fields we take care of. To take care of them, we’re constantly evaluating them and how we respond,” Schroeder told the board. His department works with a consultant on the response. Every year, he said, his department lays out what will happen the next year.
For athletic field maintenance this year, Schroeder said once again they got quotes for all materials from multiple vendors. He said at Monday’s upcoming school board meeting, he will be recommending maintenance materials from four different vendors.
According to provided documents, those quotes for athletic field maintenance materials for the district include: $4,428.80, vendor Agrium; $12,382.04, vendor Harrell’s; $18,541.24, vendor Helena; and $28,890, vendor The Hill Company/Turf Ventures.
Schroeder said the total cost is $64,332.08, or about $2,500 more than last year, and is just for material.
“This is for the football, baseball, softball, soccer fields,” Scott said. “Greg and I scrutinized the numbers and we feel comfortable with them.”
Discussion then shifted to preventive maintenance service for cooling towers at Warsaw Community High School and Lakeview Middle School, for general HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) at all sites and for chillers and building automation.
“We have millions of dollars of HVAC equipment we’re responsible to maintain,” Schroeder stated.
Increasing WCS’s expense at WCHS is that the control panels are no longer supported by the manufacturer. The high school is about 25 years old and the technology has changed, Schroeder indicated.
Schroeder said as they worked through the quotes and prices, they looked at seeing if they could save money by getting a multi-year contract and they were able to do that. A five-year commitment is a long time, he said, but was a good deal.
Scott said the five-year commitment with Trane will allow them to spread the $79,984 cost out over the five-year period. This year that will allow WCS to save $61,000, which is good because a big chunk of money is going toward snow removal.
Schroeder said he will ask the board Monday to approve the contracts, which include: cooling towers, vendor BTS, $5,228; general HVAC at all sites, vendor Havel Brothers, $51,800; chillers and building automation, vendor Trane, $79,984.
Chief Technology Officer Brad Hagg then took Schroeder’s seat to discuss technology-related quotes and contracts.
A quote for $25,185 from ClassLink will allow WCS to replace its software for its current remote access software, Stoneware, with LaunchPad. Hagg said it will allow students and staff to link in to their school files from home.
“I know our students use Stoneware a ton from home ... so I would say this (LaunchPad) will be used a ton,” Hagg said.
The cost figures out at $1.15 per student per year, and it’s for a three-year term. Hagg said they figured it was best to lock in for three years to get the promotional pricing.
The PowerSchool license from Pearson is for $32,926.50. Hagg said that is an annual renewal WCS has to pay. Scott informed the board they have to have the agreement to support the software.
A contract for $8,311 with Wagner Equipment Co. also will be up for the board’s approval Monday. Hagg said Wagner does all the support for Warsaw School’s data center.
“It’s kind of above us technology wise so we’re happy to have someone else manage it,” Hagg said.
The last technology contract the board reviewed was with Mambo for website hosting and support for $1,902.04. Hagg said Mambo is a company in Lafayette, Ind., that does web hosting and development for schools in Indiana. Mambo hosts all of WCS’s website and Warsaw’s new Intranet. They provide WCS with unlimited storage and 24-hour support, Hagg said.
“It’s a great resourcing opportunity for us,” he noted, and the lowest vendor price by far. Mambo also provided a five-year rate and contract.
“This company has proven to be a remarkable partner,” Hagg said. “We have a good relationship with them.”[[In-content Ad]]
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In his report to the board at Tuesday afternoon’s public work session, Scott told the board that historically, the school corporation’s funding adjusted in January. Now that the state requires two enrollment counts – one in September, one in February – funding adjusts several times in the year.
Thankfully, he reported, Warsaw’s student enrollment has increased by about 30 students since September. Statewide on average, enrollment drops 1.2 percent in February. Warsaw’s also has gone down in February over the years, until this year, he said.
“So that’s good,” he said.
School funding from the state is based on enrollment figures. Warsaw receives approximately $5,300 per student.
During Scott’s report, Board Vice President Matt Dick asked how much snow removal has cost WCS to date this winter. Scott said that figure probably was in the $300,000 range, which may mean less repair projects this year.
Director of Maintenance Greg Schroeder and Scott then discussed quotes for athletic field maintenance and contracts for preventive maintenance.
“We have a lot of athletic fields we take care of. To take care of them, we’re constantly evaluating them and how we respond,” Schroeder told the board. His department works with a consultant on the response. Every year, he said, his department lays out what will happen the next year.
For athletic field maintenance this year, Schroeder said once again they got quotes for all materials from multiple vendors. He said at Monday’s upcoming school board meeting, he will be recommending maintenance materials from four different vendors.
According to provided documents, those quotes for athletic field maintenance materials for the district include: $4,428.80, vendor Agrium; $12,382.04, vendor Harrell’s; $18,541.24, vendor Helena; and $28,890, vendor The Hill Company/Turf Ventures.
Schroeder said the total cost is $64,332.08, or about $2,500 more than last year, and is just for material.
“This is for the football, baseball, softball, soccer fields,” Scott said. “Greg and I scrutinized the numbers and we feel comfortable with them.”
Discussion then shifted to preventive maintenance service for cooling towers at Warsaw Community High School and Lakeview Middle School, for general HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) at all sites and for chillers and building automation.
“We have millions of dollars of HVAC equipment we’re responsible to maintain,” Schroeder stated.
Increasing WCS’s expense at WCHS is that the control panels are no longer supported by the manufacturer. The high school is about 25 years old and the technology has changed, Schroeder indicated.
Schroeder said as they worked through the quotes and prices, they looked at seeing if they could save money by getting a multi-year contract and they were able to do that. A five-year commitment is a long time, he said, but was a good deal.
Scott said the five-year commitment with Trane will allow them to spread the $79,984 cost out over the five-year period. This year that will allow WCS to save $61,000, which is good because a big chunk of money is going toward snow removal.
Schroeder said he will ask the board Monday to approve the contracts, which include: cooling towers, vendor BTS, $5,228; general HVAC at all sites, vendor Havel Brothers, $51,800; chillers and building automation, vendor Trane, $79,984.
Chief Technology Officer Brad Hagg then took Schroeder’s seat to discuss technology-related quotes and contracts.
A quote for $25,185 from ClassLink will allow WCS to replace its software for its current remote access software, Stoneware, with LaunchPad. Hagg said it will allow students and staff to link in to their school files from home.
“I know our students use Stoneware a ton from home ... so I would say this (LaunchPad) will be used a ton,” Hagg said.
The cost figures out at $1.15 per student per year, and it’s for a three-year term. Hagg said they figured it was best to lock in for three years to get the promotional pricing.
The PowerSchool license from Pearson is for $32,926.50. Hagg said that is an annual renewal WCS has to pay. Scott informed the board they have to have the agreement to support the software.
A contract for $8,311 with Wagner Equipment Co. also will be up for the board’s approval Monday. Hagg said Wagner does all the support for Warsaw School’s data center.
“It’s kind of above us technology wise so we’re happy to have someone else manage it,” Hagg said.
The last technology contract the board reviewed was with Mambo for website hosting and support for $1,902.04. Hagg said Mambo is a company in Lafayette, Ind., that does web hosting and development for schools in Indiana. Mambo hosts all of WCS’s website and Warsaw’s new Intranet. They provide WCS with unlimited storage and 24-hour support, Hagg said.
“It’s a great resourcing opportunity for us,” he noted, and the lowest vendor price by far. Mambo also provided a five-year rate and contract.
“This company has proven to be a remarkable partner,” Hagg said. “We have a good relationship with them.”[[In-content Ad]]
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