HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CBC - 01/28/2019 Capital Budget Committee
January 28, 2019
Minutes
Approved 3-1 1-2019 4-0
CBC Members Present: Wakeman, Host, Dormitzer, Franklin, Lyons
Mr. Wakeman opened the meeting at 1900 with the above quorum present.
School Department: Michael MacMillan, Finance Director, Louise Demas, Superintendent
and School Committee Members Ellen Maher and Barbara Stefan
Bus Lease ($100,00) The lease for buses expires in June 2019 after a 3-year term and a six-
month extension to line up with the end of the school year. The schools would like to
continue to lease its buses and is seeking funding for another 3-year lease for 8 buses at
$100,000 / year. Inclusive of the cost of maintenance and repairs, . Transportation fees for
FY20 are estimated to be $113,000 and may be a source of offset maintenance and repair
costs. (Priority 1)
Student Information System (Aspen) ($50,000) The current solution (iPass) is antiquated, and
as it is part of the daily operations, the school seeks to replace it with a more dependable
and feature rich cloud-based tool. The desired software is called Aspen and costs $100,000.
The school has secured a $50,000 IT Compact Grant from the state. The new system will be
easier to use and should enhance daily operations. Data residing on iPass will be migrated
to the new platform. (Priority 2)
Public Announcement System (Aspen) ($65,000) The school has adopted the ALICE (Alert,
Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) protocol which requires that schools have the
ability to broadcast announcements fully inside and outside the school complex. Currently
the PA system has dead spots so announcements are augmented using texts. Additionally,
the current system is malfunctioning and requires weekly resets. The schools would like to
secure an IP-based system that communicates with the phone system to inform the school
complexes as well as public safety. The project could be rolled out in incrementally if funding
is limited. (Priority 3)
Interior Cameras ($40,000) To more fully satisfy the ALICE protocol, the schools would like to
expand the number of interior cameras on its surveillance system at the CMHS to increase
interior visibility, especially in long hallways, on stairways and at the front entrance. CBC
members felt the cameras proposed were expensive and requested further investigation by
the school and IT. (Priority 4)
Alarm System ($24,214) The current alarm systems in the schools are obsolete and out of
repair. In order to protect the buildings from vandalism and theft, an active alarm system is
desired. The recommendation proposed will utilize current wiring and bells but require new
software to activate and upgrade the current system to enable alarming and allow the
CMHS building to be 'zoned' to allow the alarm system to be active in some or all parts of the
building (e.g. the gymnasium can be deactivated while the hallways are activated to restrict
access during public sporting events). No grants for alarm systems have been identified.
(Priority 5)
Sidewalk Repair ($253,00) This is Phase II of the project undertaken last year. Repairs are
needed at all schools, with a staircase repair badly needed at the high school. CBC
members continue to express concern with use of concrete on stairs vs. granite. (Priority 5)
Windows 7 Upgrades ($215,000) Previously presented under IT. CBC again expressed desire
for investigation of cloud-based solutions for language labs allowing for access using BOD or
Chromebooks vs. Windows 10 Desktops. (Priority 7)
There being no further business we voted to adjourn at 21 :OOPM
Respectfully submitted
Susan Franklin