RFP Staff
♦ In Monday’s Board of Education meeting the star of the show was the much anticipated plan to video and broadcast the board of education proceedings not only for transparency sake, but for citizens who want to keep up with the Board of Education and what’s going on with the Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Videoing the Board of Education proceedings allows persons who are at work during the meetings to see the proceedings at their leisure.
Monday Candace Salmon-Hosey, the Director of Technology, discussed a new and far less expensive proposal to video and broadcast School Board meetings at $10,000. In Salmon-Hosey’s presentation about the $10,000 proposal she was assisted by David McDowell, Catawba’s Assistant Sports Information Director. The two talked up utilizing a single stationary camera and a new state-of-the art soundboard system to overcome the previous sound system’s problematic sound. Both the stationary camera and the soundboard system, which can be employed now in the current home of the School Board meetings, can be moved into the new Central Office when its construction is completed.
Salmon-Hosey told the meeting the videos can be uploaded to YouTube either the night of meeting or the following day. Hosey-Salmon also mentioned that having tech person do the recording for each meeting would cost around $100 per meeting because of “overtime”. Chuck Hughes, BOE member, told the meeting: “I think the need for doing this (Video recording) is significant enough that the extra money is worth paying time and a half.”
When a second proposal for contracting an independent videographer to do the recording, editing, and uploading was said to cost $900 per meeting, the board appeared distinctly uninterested.
By the next business meeting Salmon-Hosey will put forward an updated proposal with 3 competitive bids.
Ernie Vann told the Board the new Central Office Building Loan would be reviewed by the Local Government Commission on February 3rd. The Rowan County Commissioners okayed the Shulenburger property purchase.
The board approved the hiring of Eric Nianouris as RSSS new director of facilities. He previously served as Catawba’s director of facilities.
The board considered solar panels for some of its required roofing projects and did the first read of an environmental policy. The board will explore solar panel tax credits. Ernie Vann will start gathering estimates for the school districts highest need roofing projects and present his finding to the next business meeting.
Chief Financial Officer Tara Trexler discussed a timeline for the district’s 2015-16 budget. The board took no action. Trexler also mentioned how teacher supplements were much lower in the School System than in other nearby districts and makes RSSS less competitive.
Executive Director of Administration and Legal Services April Kuhn spoke about changes to the district’s code of conduct, focusing on disciplinary reassignment.
The board is seeking new school attorney options.
