The details
According to district documents, in an effort to remain up to date with technology-related licenses and support services, staff recommended appropriating $3.6 million for services, including:
- Network and software management
- Filtering applications
- Videoconferencing and phones
What they’re saying
While board members ultimately voted unanimously to appropriate funds to cover the recommended items, there was discussion on the importance of funding certain expenditures over others.
Board member AJ Pontillo voiced his concern about greater needs beyond things such as the replacement of the marquee at Grapevine Middle School with a new digitized sign—a $29,182 cost—that are not being addressed.
“I know some campuses and staff that don’t have a monitor; they have to work off a laptop,” Pontillo said. “Some don’t have desks; they buy their own desks. [English language arts] teachers need projector lights to use with their smartboards and are told to go to the PTA to get a grant. [These are] just simple things that we should be providing in the classroom to make education work a little bit better rather than a marquee.”
Board member Dianna Sager pushed back saying GMS is the only school that does not have a digitized marquee sign, and the sign is important to parents, students and the PTA.
“It’s a big deal for [students] to get their birthday on there, and [parents] actually pay the PTA to have their kid’s birthday [on the sign], so that’s another way that they generate revenue for the PTA, and GMS hasn’t had that ability,” Sager said. “When all the other campuses have that, I think it’s right and fair that GMS has that same opportunity.”
Superintendent Brad Schnautz said his administration team is listening to the board’s feedback and appreciates how dialogue about expenditures and appropriating bond funds can help navigate financial considerations.
“By allowing us to address these needs currently, it will also help relieve that burden, if you will, on the prospective May [20]24 bond,” Schnautz said.
