During the previous Bartow Board of Education meeting the board approved four purchases for a total amount of $3,082,949.57.
The largest of these purchases by a resounding amount was the purchase of Dell Latitude 3140 laptops to refresh the middle school 1:1 devices. The total amount for this one purchase was $2,327,500.00, and in addition to the laptops adding a 4-year warranty for the devices. The 4-year warranty was stated to be added so that the board does not have to refresh multiple school band levels in a single year in the future. This item was a budgeted item and will be paid for from the ESSERIII ARP fund.
The second largest purchase that was approved under the consent agenda was individualized learning hubs in media centers at Clear Creek Elementary, Pine Log Elementary, Cass Middle, Hamilton Crossing Elementary, Euharlee Elementary, Woodland Middle, and Taylorsville Elementary schools. It is stated that these new learning hubs will support all STEM learning activities while also providing opportunities for interventions and extensions as an integral part of the classroom learning experience for all student, including staff and community. The total amount for these learning hubs was $645,939.89, is a budgeted expense, and will be paid for from the ESSER fund.
The last two purchases that were approved combined for just over $100,000. Those two purchases were a new Ford F-250 for the school systems maintenance department, and the purchase of laptop bags for middle school students, for 3rd and 9th grade levels, and for middle school teachers.