001It's time to call the January Elizabeth and Board of Education uh to order. We'd like to welcome everyone tonight on this cold night. Kind of a quick agenda, short agenda. And again, at this time, I'll turn it over to Mr. Van Hus for a moment of silence and the pledge. Please stand for a moment of silence. Thank you. Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It's time to approve the consent and regular agenda. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Got a motion and a second. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion items? Anything need to be moved from anywhere? All right. Seeing none, uh the
002item is to approve consent agenda and regular agenda. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? And there are none. Uh we did not have anyone asked no citizens to speak. So we'll move on from there. And again, we had some special recognitions a little early in the school year this term. So people have asked to move that to a later date. So it'll be time for reports and I'll ask Mr. Van Hus if he will begin. Thank you very much, Mr. Ples. Thanks to everyone for coming out on a on a cold evening. Of course, we were on a two-hour delay today, mainly because of low wind chills and some questions about what road conditions may be in the morning. We uh or this morning. So we dodged all that with the
003exception of the wind chill. And just so you know, obviously the windchills were cold even when uh even though we were on a 2-hour delay, but there's a big difference in standing out at a bus stop when it's dark, no sunlight, uh and then doing that same thing in the exact same temperature. So, so that's why we tend to do that. Um uh just to try to make sure that the the students uh have the best opportunity to get there safely. So, uh so thank you for that. Um wanted to mention a couple things here. First, uh, right after Christmas break, we changed our internet vendor that we've had for for many years. Uh, there was a new RFP put out by the state and we joined on there with a new company and just
004wanted to give a thank you to the technology staff, uh, Jason Lancaster, of course, Mr. Brewer and the other guys. Uh, it was so basically the first day back from Christmas break, they basically [snorts] pulled the plug on one and put it in the other. put in the other one. Obviously, a lot more work that went on there. Uh just really want to commend them. It was it was an extremely smooth transition all things considered. So, just wanted to thank them publicly for all their work on that changeover. Um also, I want to acknowledge uh the the sad news of obviously Mike Wilson, Coach Mike Wilson's passing, a former board member here uh earlier this month. um a lot of fond memories of coach Wilson and we certainly appreciate his [clears throat] uh time in
005the school system and his contributions and uh you know his impact will be will be recognized for for many years to come. So I certainly want to continue to keep his uh family in our thoughts and prayers on the Wilson theme. Also want to recognize the fact that this is Miss Beth Wilson's last board meeting. She's so excited about that. Uh she's of course retiring at the end of the month. Uh just done a tremendous job. Uh she's kept me out of a lot of trouble. Uh Mr. Williams has big shoes to fill there. Uh so I don't know who's going to keep who out of trouble. Him him me out him. Which one? Hopefully hopefully we'll keep that straight. But again, just Miss Wilson, thank you for your many years of service to the
006school system. And uh same thing, you can look around. There's lots of incredible things that have gone on that you've had a big part in. So, we want to just say congratulations and we're still mad at you that you're leaving, but but thank you. >> Uh, couple of other things. We, of course, we had a great start up after Christmas break and we're well into the second semester, so continue to move along there. You probably seen in the news the Murder 101 documentary. They're going to have the premier showing of that at the Sundance Film Festival later this month in Utah. Um, so very very excited about that and the publicity that that's going to bring to our school system and our community. So proud of our students and the staff at Elizabeth and High
007School that work so much on that. There'll be an announcement in the near future as to which streaming service has picked up the documentary, but it's one of the big ones. Uh so so we'll just uh let you think about that. But but just the opportunities that this is going to give students that participated in this program uh you know in some ways in in many ways their lives going to change after this. So uh I think even today u they they provided some media training for some of those individuals just because of the blitz that may be may be coming well is coming for them. So again, just appreciate everyone's work on that and again the opportunity uh to highlight all the great work that goes on Elizabeth and that's going to be uh
008the best part of all that. So um that's my report today. So thank you very much for uh for coming out on a cold night. >> Good. All right. And then time for board member reports. Um anyone have anything uh that has gone on? I know we have some stuff coming up, but Anybody have anything they want to share? Just want to remind is anybody having trouble getting your yearly report done that it's due by the end just make sure you get that done by the end of the month. Um it's hard when you do anything one time a year even though it's easy. Um if you have an issue uh give me a shout and I'll find out who can tell you how to do it. [laughter] So, >> I will say last year
009when I, you know, I was I was in Nashville doing my training and I think I talked with you a little bit over the phone and >> I'd have to look back to see who it was I spoke with, but they were extremely helpful. >> Oh, they'll be very helpful. >> Extremely helpful. >> There's a number you can call. >> There was Yeah, there was a very very nice lady that I spoke with and got my password reset. Oh, they were super super. >> Yeah. And I I think about the people that have to raise thousands of dollars to do whatever it is they're running for and uh we don't have to deal with that. And then we'll have a report. Uh we're thankful that um Mr. Smith, Miss Sha, Mr. Van Hus will be
010going to the legislative conference here in February. I think that will be really I'm real curious to see what the hot topics and hot buttons are. So we'll look forward uh to a report for there. And if you've given me the evaluation, thank you for that. If you if you haven't, if you can get me a copy of that um as soon as possible, I appreciate that. All right. Uh anything else from any board members? Okay. If not, Mr. Simmerly. >> Good evening. >> It's been a while since I've stood up here. Thumbs up. Offered money. You took you turned me down on money in December. >> Means you must have some money. You're back. [laughter] You brought us a check. >> Yeah. No, thank you. Uh um I'm here to talk to just a
011briefly a little bit about lights. Uh I talked to the gentleman here that that represents your lighting company. You're going to be voting tonight on a lighting program. City council voted recently uh we'll be completely redoing the city limits of all our street lights. We're going to the new LED lighting. You'll see some of the lights as you drive around town now look a little brighter maybe kind of like like daylight almost. And if you look up at them, they almost will blind you. But in any case, it's the new lighting we're going to and same program that you guys will be looking at tonight. We voted on recently and approved for the city. Same program, a 10-year payback scale we're looking at. Uh we're working through TVA on that and it's, you know, we
012approve that. Understand I'm only one vote for your funding, but uh again, I'm not pushing one way or the other for you to vote on it tonight, but I am asking I spoke to Mr. Vanhus earlier tonight. Uh when uh we're looking for the payment on that, that will come from your general fun. So when you're looking for your I guess when you start doing your planning for all your finances for the new year uh just again that will not come from the half cent sales tax our accounting department get with your accounting department and just to have the accountants be happy and more importantly just how that money will be paid back when we have to pay back the loan. I don't know how many millions of dollars it will be but you know
013but this will keep everyone happy. But again the city's redone that we're doing it with street lights and I know you guys tonight will be talking about it with your lighting program. I don't want to take any of the the guys presentations up here, but again, appreciate everything. My wife did get this out of the closet tonight. I'm wearing my Elizabeth looking good. >> But just great great sports programs as I've always, you know, complimented our sports programs. Love our basketball guys. If you've not been out to a basketball game this year, get out and come to some basketball. I think you sat behind me last week. >> I think you did. I think I saw you there. But any case, it's just uh we we love our sports program. We love our school. We
014love everything. the great things that you guys are doing. And of course, she tell she tells you about it every week or every month that we come here to talk. But again, it's just we're so proud proud of the new building we have for our athletics departments and everyone else, all the students. But again, thank you for everything you do. Appreciate it. >> Talking to you soon. >> All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Simler. >> Okay. And Miss Helen, student liaison report. Since our last meeting, I've been looking into getting student perspective on the state board wanting to cut the language requirements down to one semester. And so there are a lot of different opinions, students and teachers. But one pattern I've noticed is that people are thinking about our community as a whole. And
015as we're growing more diverse and more and more community members speak a language other than English, the language learning is helping people connect, not even if it's the same language, but just a cultural understanding I think is integral to our culture. And some other things the students brought up was like they said it helped them in other classes. We've talked to alumni and they're saying it's helping them with their career path. So I think that it's we're beginning to see patterns that language learning does help students and some of them would prefer the more flexible scheduling that taking out a semester would offer. But those who are intentional about their learning want the growth. >> Yeah. >> And so in gathering those responses I was able to email the state board and kind of send
016it to them. So, we've been in contact and then I talked to the student board member on the state board and we've been in contact as well. And one cool thing is she's starting a group of student leaison for school boards across Tennessee and our first meeting is next week. >> So, I'm excited about that. >> Yeah, that's it for me. >> Thank you and thank you for taking charge there on that and thank you for keeping us informed there. I don't know where that will fall on what you all will see in a couple three weeks I would imagine. So they obviously just started session this week. Um so so we'll be following that closely and I'll I'll share information with the board as as well as Miss Hacket on that as well as
017if I hear anything what what that proposal may look like. Okay. Thank you. All right. It's time to move on to the regular agenda. First item approve first reading of the following board policy 2.804. 804 expenses and reimbursement. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Have a motion and I'll take second there. Did you get that, Miss Cindy? All right. So, um, Mr. Van Hus, any explanation? Yes. So, this was brought to our attention. uh the comproller had received some questions about whether or not school systems and probably public entities in general, but if if they could reimburse employees for sales tax and basically the comproller says yes, you may, but you need to have boards need to have that in their policy. So that's what necessitated uh this proposal before you. it. We
018also took the opportunity to clear clean up some language in here from the the current policy. But biggest thing two two things on page two on lines 11 through 13. It says the board shall be responsible for all expenses pertaining to staff development. Student activity funds shall not be used for this purpose. And we this part is the new part unless grtors or donors explicitly permit the use use of such funds for staff development. And so in our discussions with that uh we were concerned uh quite about the XQ grant. So that's a grant that we received that considered student funds and obviously there's training that we do with staff with those funds. So we wanted to clear up that language and make sure that that was allowable and in in alignment with board policy.
019The big change again about the sales tax was on page three and it basically outlines what the system will do. Uh so I'll just go ahead and read that to you here. Uh reimbursement for sales tax is permissible in limited circumstances including when the sales tax is charged on small purchases for which tax exemption is not accepted. So some places don't take tax exempt. And then so we're basically saying that's one avenue that we could reimburse for sales tax or when it is more fiscally adv advantageous to purchase the item through a non- taxexempt transaction. There's some situations where we could purchase an item and pay sales tax and it would still be cheaper if we went another avenue that was in it was indeed taxfree. So we're we basically want to be good stewards
020of the systems money. If we have to pay sales tax but it's cheaper than we can get it anywhere else with it tax exempt. Obviously we want to go with the cheaper of the two because in our in our view it's dollars you know it's dollars that we want to try to save. So, so that's kind of a brief uh e explanation of why this policy is before you for consideration tonight. Any questions for me on that? That's always been an issue. Yes. >> For an employee. >> Okay. Questions? All right. The items to approve first reading of the following board policy 2.804, expenses and reimbursements. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? And there are none. Uh, next item, approve an agreement between Excel Energy Group Incorporated and Elizabeth and City
021Schools to complete a district-wide energy efficient lighting project contingent upon approval by the Elizabeth and City Council and grant approval by TVA and EESI, the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve >> and a second. >> Second. >> And a second. Thank you, Mr. Smith. All right. Thank you. So, just uh a couple of things here. First, first of all, I want to thank Mr. O'Quinn. He worked uh uh quite a bit on this, getting this proposal together with XL Energy Group. Uh so, so very thankful for him for that. This is an excellent opportunity for us to essentially change all of the interior lighting fixtures in the district that aren't already LED to an LED fixture, similar to what Mr. Simmerly mentioned earlier about the street
022lights. Um, so this is an opportunity for us to leverage TVA and the EESI program for a lowinterest loan essentially to pay for this and the payback of the loan will come from the energy savings that this project uh realizes. And so it's an extremely detailed uh grant um application process that again is monitored and approved by the TVA and EESI. So it's very secure for you as a board if we get approval from those entities that it is a viable project and it will realize the savings that are projected. Uh we have two individuals here with us with XL Energy. You have Colton Churchill and Charlie Brewer. They're going to share a little bit about uh the the more details of the program and obviously give you an opportunity to ask any questions that
023you may have. While they're coming up, I also want to mention when they first provided us with this proposal, I spoke with the city manager, Mr. Estas and talked to him about the possibility and he was very gracious and said he thought that that was something that he could certainly support and and felt like that it was something that that council would look at uh and and provide some serious consideration for as well. So again, whatever you approve today still has those other approval processes that uh that are required before we move forward with the project. So Churchill, thank you for being with us. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you all for having us. Uh, yeah. We're excited to kind of explain what we put together for you guys. I'll try to give you all
024the a bridge version. I'm one of the very few people that gets excited about lighting, so I can probably go for a while. So, I'll give you all the a bridge version and then any questions you guys have, please ask me and I'll I'll dive into that. But, so I'm with Excel Energy Group. Um, we do one thing. We do energy efficient lighting upgrades for schools all across the country, but Tennessee is one of our biggest states that we operate in. Goodness, we've upgraded probably about 65% of all the Tennessee school districts just locally here. We've just we're wrapping up Uniccoy as we speak. We've done Washington, Sullivan, Cranger, Jefferson, Sevilla. We just this month signed Hamilton County, which is all Chattanooga. So, we this is all we do and we've done a lot of
025Tennessee. So, I hope that gives maybe a little comfort that we've done several of y'all's neighbors. We're looking to do the exact same program for you guys that we've done for all and it's a lighting upgrade through ESI which is the Tennessee energy efficient school initiative and TVA your ultimately your power provider who's going to provide some free incentive money to do a project like this. Um so all that being said what we're looking at doing is as Mr. Van Hus said upgrading all of your interior lighting to 100% LED. Um and through that the Reason you would do this would be one, the energy savings. You guys have probably seen it. TVA rates are not going down, they're going up. They've gone up 10% in the last two years. Unfortunately, that trend is probably
026going to continue. So, this is one a hedge against that. There's significant energy savings through this project. In total, about 80 $88,000 annually. Um, two, you're going to eliminate all lighting maintenance. So, your maintenance staff's no longer worried about lighting. They've got a lot of other things. I'm sure they deal with lighting is thankfully not going to be one of them. These are going to be 20 plus rated year systems. And two, this is going to improve and this is going to provide improved lighting throughout the district. So by switching LED anywhere that's got light levels that are below standards, we're going to raise them up to that. There's going to be improved aesthetics throughout. So we're replacing over 50% of the fixtures in the district. We're retrofitting some that are in great shape. You
027guys are like every district. You've got a bunch of fixtures that are old fixtures from decades ago that are mounted on ceilings like this. What we're going to do is remove those and put in brand new LED panels so they're recessed and look basically clean and flush kind of like this room does but with LED. You guys have a ton of fixtures throughout the district that are like that. So this is going to be a major we call it a redesign aesthetic upgrade as well. Um through ESI we have to maintain lighting the right lighting levels in all areas. Your gyms have to meet Tennessee sports association lighting requirements. All the gyms will be high. Um in any special needs classrooms we have to basically install special type of lighting high lighting. It's proven to
028be better for for those students. So we've got to follow a lot of very specific EESI requirements and TVA requirements through these designs. But um that's oh lastly we're going to be doing occupancy sensors throughout the district. So what those are are essentially your lighting is going to be automated to when there's no occupants the lights turn off so that none of that energy is wasted without occupants. Um so that's really the scope in a nutshell. Um as you guys can probably see this is just over a million dollar project. There are TVA incentives that we will procure for the district. What you guys are seeing is um just over $65,000. We actually got your TVA application in before the end of the year where they had a bonus running. So we actually have that
029secured for $87,000. So that's a good little $22,000 bonus. Um but yeah, and the way we set this up with the ESI, the application for ESI is due at the end of this month, so the 30th. We can handle that for the district. As Mr. Van said it, it's very technical. They require a data. They've got a whole technical advisory council that's going to review our products, our designs for each room, our photometrics, a lot of engineering based stuff that they're going to require. So, we can submit all that. Um, and then they'll have a technical advisory council meeting in February, final approval in March. This will also require city council approval because it's taking on debt ultimately through the city council. Um, but We'd set this up on a 16year financing term through ESI.
030The way they require us to structure these that's we have to put it on one that long in order to make certain that the savings fully pay for each payment. Um we do every so everything you guys are looking at here that's fully included in the price what we do. So so the design, the engineering, um peritting disposal, you guys are getting a fully complete project with no costs. We're not come back with change orders. Um, our [clears throat] we use all our own crews. Our own crews have worked with us for years and decades. We've been doing this for 30 years. They come in and work nights and weekends. So, roughly 400 p.m. 4 a.m. Not to interrupt any school activity. And this is about a 20 to 25 day job in and out.
031Our guys is all they do. They come in kind of like locust and knock on the next. Um, so yeah, that's Oh, also, um, we do a almost everything on this project has a has a 10-year warranty. A few small things like screw in lights, which aren't a big component of this project, have five warranties. But what we do is we leave a PAR stop about 1% of each type of fixture. There's going to be something go out. Even though it's a 20 year system, very low failure rate out of thousands and thousands of pictures, one or two fail. We leave a par so that pop something back up there. We continue out manufacturer. Um if anything's going to fail, it's generally fail. So probably while we're here and we'll be able to address, but
032we have to maintain a great warranty program or people aren't going to keep using this. Um so yeah, guys, that was a very a bridged version. I'm sure those things I didn't Do you all have any questions about the process, the scope, >> or any of it really? >> Well, actually, we'll cut down on some of our maintenance expense. You won't be changing out ballast anymore. >> Exactly. >> And but you go from balance to a driver and you know that driver is what makes it work like a ballast >> during that 10year warranty period. If we lose a fix, are you guys going to come replace it or just provides the parts and our guys? >> We we're going to provide material. We do not do a labor uh warranty. Again, that's we just
033our guys work all across the country, but we provide a labor warranty. And if for any reason there is I mean I mean if you guys were talking about a two or 3% failure, you would call us and we would bring out a team to address that there would be a product issue. For instance, we got a bad batch or something. When we did Jefferson County, they had a school that essentially had dirty power. This one was a lot of not work. So we had to come back in and swap them out something. I say all that we're here to be your partner in this. So if you guys experiencing any significant failures, then we would send it back to replace >> on your products. Will it be pretty consistent? The same fixture and all
034the schools are not going to have one from this company and some from this company. They'll all be consistent. The parts will all be consistent >> as consistent as we can. Obviously there's, you know, some areas have a different style picture and they need a different style versus others, but we use only a couple manufacturers. We only use tier one manufacturers because as we put in millions of these, we the worst thing that can happen to us is a bad manufacturer that failures. So we use all we think they're best in the world. But yeah, our goal here is as much standardization as possible. We don't want you guys on a hot spot. is a good thing. >> We we think so. We think it's it's we've got to go through a bunch of tests
035and find the ones that work the best because again we need them to perform right and last and they've been single best over. >> Do you have any idea how long this upgrade will last? >> How long until a school board will have to vote on this again? I would say 20 years. So in terms of how longated they are school terms and 12 years that there may not even performance and longevity. We got we started our first full project. in 2011 last I can't say that's what happenity my s my memory survey correct in the mid 90s we did a comprehensive energy change out stuff and they went from T12 T12 bulbs to the T8 was thing back then that's been 27 years ago. So hopefully, you know, the technology and stuff will stay
036the same that long, but you know, something else will come back. Yeah, we went from the T12 to T8 all throughout the system and and some other things that we did, but that was in like the mids. >> Yes. So I can tell you that we obvious right now. What happens to answer your question? >> But Colton, there won't be any like room that has multiple fixtures necessarily in it. Would that would that be accurate? The about every room would have a a fixture in it period, one one top. Does that make sense? Like there wouldn't be mixes in any one room. >> Oh, the only scenarios like that would be perhaps like a gym where you have your highs and then on the bleachers you have a wire guard type. Those sometimes come from
037two different manufacturers, but that's really the only scenario where you have a an area with a specializ one standardized picture across the totality of how back to Phil's question about the labor guarantee and you said if it above a certain rate starts to fail you you'll send people back. Is that in the contract or is that just a a friendly agreement? >> That's always friendly agreement. I don't have that contract. That was something really So we've always just kind of there's no fears of us being out of business. We've done this 30 years. We can continue. So >> it's not in the contract. >> We've never built that into a contract. Again, that's something >> parts is the main thing. I think our guys can do the labor very cost. >> We if there's a
038bunch of failures, we expect you guys to be calling us and saying this is honestly unacceptable, unacceptable. It's not what you presented to us. We need to address more than just >> have a friend that's maintenance in the county and they did it at the courthouse. Did it a room at a time and they did it took them two or three years to do it, but over the five year period they replaced. >> They are amazing. >> I mean, well, they don't use a lot of energy. They they don't want to burn up like a ballast would or anything like that. They're low energy >> and and they have less components, >> please. Absolutely. >> Great question. Absolutely. So, I was at the school board out west in West Tennessee. Tuesday, they approved us and
039they are on a 16-year term as well because they have a bunch of redesign just like you guys. That kind of drags the payback further. you will still need to do contractually with ES Eesi a 16-year term, but you can you can pay that quicker at any point. So, they're going to they've already set it up that they're going to do theirs in 12 years. There is no penalty for prepayment. You guys can do it in two years. ESI doesn't care. The only reason they even charge an interest rate, which is 1.5%, is to pay their staff. So, yeah, exactly what you described. You can pay it off anytime you want, >> but one and a half% interest might get in a hurry. >> We would we would do so much more business if every
040state had an ESI. It's incredible that Tennessee offers this at almost free interest to do these. And furthermore, as Mr. Van Hus said, EDSI is going to review all this. they have to in detail review our savings numbers, our products, our design, and confirm that everything we're saying is in fact true or they'll deny it. Um, so I hope there's some reassurance through that because again, this is the controllers office. So >> I wish it existed in all the states. >> I'm just curious, Mr. Simley, do you remember for the street light? Do you remember what the pay? >> Okay. Yes. So, you guys actually have just over a 10-year payback. And I guess what I mean by that is if the district were to pay cash, which I strongly don't recommend the ESI, you
041would have a 10-year payback. Once you put that little bit of interest and ESI makes us structure these in such a way, it drags that out to a 16-year term, if that makes sense. So, your simple payback is better than what that financing term appears to be because of the way ESI requires us to structure it and because of the little bit of interest. any any other comments or questions? We certainly appreciate you sharing. >> My pleasure. Um, all right. So, the item is to approve an agreement between Excel Energy Group Incorporated and Elizabeth and City Schools to complete a district-wide energy efficient lighting project contingent upon approval by the Elizabeth and City Council and grant approval by TVA and the energy efficient schools initiative. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed?
042There are none. Motion carries and we thank you gentlemen. Uh, next item, approve awarding of bid number ECSS2025-2026-1 to Midsouth Bus Center for purchase of passenger buses. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion and a second. >> Second. All right. Okay. So, uh, real quickly here, part of the budget, we set aside $250,000 to purchase two buses, uh, that we we talked about during the budget process. So, that's basically $125,000 per bus. Well, if you look at the bid document, you will see that it's more than $125,000 per bus. So, for two buses, it's about $50,000 over what we had budgeted. uh in talking with the bus manufacturer the there are several factors to that just I'll just say the cost of manufacturing now I'll just I'll just say that cost of manufacturing
043has increased for various reasons uh and so we feel like that it's the best path forward to go ahead and purchase two buses at this time instead of just one and waiting couple of things on that one is we don't want to get in a situation where we bump the need for a bus down the road and maybe we get in a situation where there's a year that we're going to have to buy two or three and then all of a sudden you're buying three or four. Uh, as you know, price isn't going to get any cheaper today. You know, it's going to be higher tomorrow more than likely. So, if we go ahead and lock these in, our fleet a few years ago, you know, they did do extended use on some of the
044buses, which means basically if it meets uh rigorous inspection, you can continue to use it over what the original life uh that the state transportation department will let you run a bus. So, they've extended that, which has been very helpful for districts. But even those buses, even if they pass inspection, as they get older, we tend to try to keep them off long runs. We try to use them around town, smaller runs, things like that, because they are getting older and the wear and tear on those. But again, our staff does a great job of taking care of the buses certainly. So, we've gotten great use out of the ones that we have. Uh we currently have two buses that are down for various mechanical reasons. So, it's really important to have a fleet there.
045And so, so typically what we do with these new ones, we don't put them on a route immediately. We use them again for long trips, kind of break those in and use those as uh spares while we're continuing to use those that are getting close to the end of their useful life. So, our recommendation in talking with Mr. Williams and Miss Wilson was to move forward and pull the difference in this what we had set aside to pull that from fund balance and go ahead and make this purchase. So >> comments or questions on that? >> Well, to put things in perspective, the first thing, one of the first or second meetings that I attended, it was a bus and you know, what year was that? >> We're not going to say it's been [laughter]
046a few years ago, but anyway, it's $90,000. So, I mean, that was probably 10 12 years ago. And >> you see what's happened. I wish we could get by with just buying the one bus and kind of stay within our budget, within our means, but I think You told me correctly. It's going to be 16 18 months before we get it. So therefore, ano if Miss Wilson and and Tyler think that we can stretch our budget to, you know, $50,000, I guess we're going to have to. >> That would be my recommendation. Again, it's not going to get any cheaper and we just don't want to get in a bind where, you know, we just we're we're strapped for buses and that affects a lot of things like the ability for uh some teams or
047programs, uh, activities that may need to leave earlier in the day. All of a sudden, you have fewer buses. And so, you have to say, "No, I'm sorry. You can't go. You're going to have to wait till we get them leave back off of their afternoon runs before we can leave." So, or even morning runs for that matter. Uh, you know, we have groups going to, you know, Builtmore, you know, different different field trips that last all day. if we don't have enough vehicle or buses to to transport them outside of the normal bus fleet, it it makes it difficult. So, it's there's there's lots of different ways that this affects the district. Okay, any other questions or comments? Okay, the items to approve. award of bid number ECSS2025-2026-1 to Midsouth Bus Center for the
048purchase of two 66 passenger buses. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? And motion carries. Last item, approve the purchase of a box truck for equipment transportation for the Elizabeth and High School Betsy Band not to exceed $75,000 to be paid for using donated funds. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion and a second. >> Second. All right. Well, this is a great opportunity again to publicly thank Dr. Robert Sams for his extremely generous donation of $100,000 to the Betsy band a few months ago. We recognized uh him and his family at a football game uh back in the fall. Again, just very appreciative of that. But the current box truck that the band uses, I think, is it a 98 model? I believe 95 95. So, do the math.
049It's It's old. >> It It has served its time. that's ready to be put out to pasture and that's essential for the band to be able to travel and transport uh their their equipment. Obviously, we're very proud of them and their success. Uh four time state champ four four in a row state champions. Just thought I'd throw that in there, too. But in talking with Mr. Valentine, he really feels like this would be a great use for a portion of those funds to start looking for. We would purchase a used box truck. So, the reason that it's before you in this way is as we continue to look used vehicle, we need to be ready potentially to move fairly quickly before uh you know someone else may may purchase that. And just a couple of
050things, uh it is, you know, we're we're saying an amount not to exceed $75,000. We feel like that it will come in well below that, but we wanted to provide enough cushion in there in case there are things like transportation, you know, depending on where we purchase it from, maybe transportation costs or maybe it's sales tax that we have to pay if it's if it's outside the the state of Tennessee or things like that. So, we want to provide a little bit of a cushion. Typically, an item this expensive, we would bid, but with the fact that it's a used vehicle, we're following the same procedure that our auditors work with us the last time. If you remember, we purchased a van a couple of years ago for the special ed department that has a
051wheelchair lift attached to that. And going through that process and the fact it's difficult to do a bid on a used vehicle, this process was set up and again approved by our auditors. And so we're following the same procedure on this one as well. So again, it's at this point it's just so they can be ready to strike when they find the correct correct vehicle. Okay. Again, all from donated funds. No, no school system funds. >> All right. The items to approve the purchase of a box truck for the equipment for the equipment transportation for the Elizabeth and High School Betsy Band not to exceed $75,000 to be paid for using donated funds. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? And there are none. Um, again, the next regularly scheduled board meeting will
052be, it's hard to believe we're midway through January already, but will be on Thursday, February the 19th here in the M Pierce boardroom at 5:30. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. Have a good evening. Thank you all. Monday, Sunday.