By JOSH COTTON
Qualified Zone Academy Bonds aren't going to just allow the Warren County School District to renovate Eisenhower Middle High School.
The money can provide technology upgrades, too.
The Warren County School District's Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Committee forwarded a request to the full board for the purchase of three laptop carts, with 30 laptops each, to be deployed at Eisenhower Middle High School.
According to an executive summary, "The Technology Department has been receiving quotes for laptops to be deployed to EMHS to assist in providing instruction once construction begins and classrooms are shuffled. Three laptop carts...will be outfitted with charging stations, extra batteries, power adapters and wireless access points."
The total cost of $95,534.65 will be paid for through QZAB funding.
"Based on the construction process that will be taking place, (we) want to begin a wireless process," Gary Weber, the district's director of curriculum, instruction and learning, said. He explained that the purchase was "in the original discussion of the renovations" but noted that the district is seeking the purchase "slightly sooner than we expected."
Board Vice President Donna Zariczny asked if the purchase will allow the district the flexibility to "do what needs done to get the Keystone Exams accomplished."
"At Eisenhower, this will accommodate," Superintendent Brandon Hufnagel said.
The district, he added, is "Buying the technology for the building on the front end (of the renovation the process) instead of on the back end."
Director of Administrative Support Services Amy Stewart said the district currently has one laptop cart that is being utilized at Warren Area High School.
Three quotes were received based on the CoStars contract, which is the state's cooperative purchasing program. Working under the CoStars contract allows school districts to forego the bid process on items they routinely purchase.