By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board has several capital projects on tap.
These include the purchase of a new phone system for the high school, new devices for the high school staff and new door locks for the elementary schools.
The board heard reports on the projects at its meeting last week and is set to vote on the projects at its next meeting in June.
HHS phone system
Last summer, the district completed a wiring project at Hays High School.
As a part of that project, the district pulled lines for a new phone system. However, the district didn't have the funds to install the new phone system at that time.
HHS has had problems with its phone system for several years, said Scott Summers, district technology director.
The work completed last summer would allow the district to install phones in all of its classrooms. Each of the phones will have its own designated number.
When the old intercom system was pulled, the office could call classrooms, but classrooms could not call the office in case of emergency, Summers said.
The district is considering a hosted phone system, which would include service on the hardware.
Summers recommended going with Nex-Tech, which offered a call forwarding app, which would allow calls o be forwarded without staff having to give out cell phone numbers.
Summers said he wanted to keep the contract local if possible.
He said if the district is happy with the HHS system, it could expand the new system to other schools.
He said he hoped the district could install the system over the summer.
The school also needs to come into compliance with a new law that requires phones in schools to be able to dial 911 directly. Summers said the Nex-Tech system would allow that.
The new system would not only connect an individual classroom to 911, it would alert dispatch from what area in the high school the call is coming, Summers said.
The ongoing service contract for the phone system would be paid for out of the general fund.
HHS staff devices
The district is looking at devices from Dell to replace staff devices at HHS.
The staff has been using Surface Pro 3s. There has had been some problems with backorders because of the COVID-19 shutdowns. The district might roll out new devices after the beginning of the school year.
Summers said a few of the current devices have had keyboards that have quit working.
The devices are budgeted for replacement this year in the capital improvement fund. Cost would be $51,000. The devices will cost about $727 each. That also covers service for five years.
Door locks
The district will finish installing interior door locks on district buildings.
The district started changing door locks three years ago for security reasons. Exterior door locks were completed first. Interior door locks were completed at HHS, HMS and the Roosevelt Elementary School last year.
The rest of the elementary schools, Rockwell Administration Center and the transportation center will be completed this year.
The district received a $57,000 matching grant for the project.
Rusty Lindsay, director of buildings and grounds, suggested the district move forward with the low bid from Inter Mountain Lock of Denver for $80,070.
The new locks will allow the classrooms door to be locked from the inside without a key.
Board member Allen Park expressed concern the locks that were being taken out were being scrapped. Lindsay said most of the locks were 50 years old and not able to be reused.