GISD board approves $473,000 in district technology purchases

GISD board approves $473,000 in district technology purchases News Staff Sat, 05/18/2024 - 2:54 pm

• (THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse speaks with the board of trustees Wednesday, May 15. Shown from left to right are Board President Chris Blanton and Cruse.

Thomas Wallner editor@grahamleader.com

Budget amendments totaling $437,000 were approved by the Graham ISD Board of Trustees this week to address technology needs within the district.

Superintendent Sonny Cruse said GISD Technology Director Chris Rasile identified and made recommendations for the purchases by the board during their meeting Wednesday, May 15.

The largest item at $196,000 is for the replacement of interior cameras at Graham High School and Graham Junior High School, which will be partially funded by a grant.

“I did, with the help of Natalie Husen, complete our second round (Safety and Facilities Enhancement Grant). We hit submit on that yesterday,” Cruse said. “That’s a formula-based grant so we’re going to get the money, it’s $150,000. We are going to use that against the cost of the cameras.”

The SAFE grant through the Texas Education Agency is offered to assist in preventing school violence by addressing factors that put people at risk.

Along with the cameras at the two campuses was an amendment for $79,500 for additional interior and exterior cameras at the bus barn near the GJHS campus. The board additionally approved the replacement of special education cameras at all campuses at a cost of $58,500.

In the 85th Legislative Session, SB 507 mandated cameras to be installed in the 2016-2017 year to deter incidents of abuse against non-verbal children who were vulnerable while also protecting special education teachers from claims of misconduct.

More on school safety will be discussed at the Safety and Security Committee meeting for the district which will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 at the Graham Learning Center.

The committee will receive an update on the interior door installation in the district as well as information regarding gates on the GHS shop doors, 2023-2024 intruder alerts and information on the silent panic alert technology for the campuses.
Additionally, the district approved replacement of its existing iPads and Chromebooks for a cost of $112,000.

The amendments were approved unanimously by the board.

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