Monday night’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Dade County Board of Education dispelled the long believed proverb that “the early bird gets the worm.”
The board heard from Superintendent Josh Ingle how a delay in the planned purchase of active panel displays for Davis Elementary, Dade Elementary and Dade Middle School evolved into a significant cost savings of nearly half of what was originally budgeted for the 114 new “Smart Boards” that are now bound for the three schools’ classrooms.
Superintendent Ingle says the initial plan was to purchase additional Promethean brand LED boards, such as those already installed at Dade County High School as well as in board chambers.
Ingle says the purchase order was approved by the board but the vendor was unable to fulfill, as the displays quickly sold out.
Promethean’s counteroffer of providing upgraded display versions without upcharge was short-lived, as the suggested replacements were sold out and unavailable also.
The quandary proved to be a blessing in disguise as Dade schools eventually “floor-tested” 75 inch display boards from Samsung in select classrooms, with rave reviews from teachers who liked the “plug and play” application.
Superintendent Ingle says the smart boards will replace the current white board and computer generated projection system currently used in many classrooms, likening the displays to a larger scaled IPad.
The board unanimously approved a $188,780 purchase order for the Samsung displays.
On an unrelated but similar theme, Dade County High School Principal Brent Cooper broached board members with the prospect of installing a video board for indoor sports events in the Wolverine’s Den.
Cooper says he was impressed by a recent visit to Sylvania High School when he saw their new video board to replace their former scoreboard.
Cooper suggested local business sponsorships could help defray the cost of the video board sought, which costs nearly $40,000. Cooper believes the new, state of the art display would make Dade basketball, volleyball and other indoor sports contests more distinctive for both fans and players. He joked “we’re a far ways away for that” for an equivalent for Dade football, but didn’t dismiss it outright.
In other board action, a $1.2 million capital improvement project to replace the roof and HVAC system for Dade Elementary was approved. Dade’s BOE expects nearly a quarter of the cost to be reimbursed by the Georgia Department of Education. The remainder to be paid by SPLOST funds.
Superintendent Ingle says the ongoing building expansion at Davis Elementary is on time and on track, with contractors hoping to make more finishing touches next week while classes are out for Spring Break.
As for answering his most-often asked question since President Trump’s executive order last week to dismantle the Department of Education, Ingle says it’s a wait and see approach as to what the federal move means locally in Dade County.
Ingle says he has no interaction with federal officials, but rather state liaisons who act as intermediaries between local and federal education agencies.
Ingle speculated that significant position elimination on the federal level could mean more funding available for schools nationwide, but admitted it’s too early to know exactly what the consequences of the federal overhaul will have in the classroom.
By Vince Lennon
