The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved an agreement with Ideal Impact to install new state-of-the-art HVAC monitoring equipment throughout the entire district, during a special-called meeting Wednesday, May 26.
Dr. Wayne Guidry, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, explained that this monitoring system stands to provide estimated savings to taxpayers of $600,000 per year and, over the next 15 years, 'we are anticipating a total savings of $15 million to the taxpayers of Longview ISD.'
'This program could conceivably pay for itself within four years,' he said, adding that Ideal Impact 'will be making a large number of significant improvements to LISD facilities.'
Based in Grapevine, the company's stated goal is to put more money back into the maintenance and operations budget of public school districts.
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Dr. Guidry said the project will be paid from the fund balance and is an allowable expenditure for the ESSER Federal Grant.
The proposal from Ideal Impact was procured through the district's membership with The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS), a national purchasing cooperative that offers access to competitively procured purchasing contracts to its membership. The system is housed and managed by the Region VIII Education Service Center in Pittsburg, Texas.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Cleaner air for Montessori
Board members also approved a new air purification system for the East Texas Montessori Prep Academy campus.
Houston-based Harvest Innovative Solutions will Install a new 'CIMR System' at the campus. The CIMR system continuously disinfects viruses, bacteria, mold, and other fungi by vaporizing the molecules in the air.
Mr. Dennis Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative & Pupil Services, said installing the system in existing HVAC ducts 'allows the system to automatically manufacture safe levels of purified air.'
'This will create a healthier environment for students and teachers as well as reduce energy costs, maintenance costs to equipment, and cleaning costs to the air ducts,' he said. 'It is estimated that this system will operate for three years before replacement is required.'
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Dr. Guidry said the project will be paid from the fund balance and is an allowable expenditure for the ESSER Federal Grant.
The proposal from Harvest Innovative Solutions was also procured through the district's membership with The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS).
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
More campus improvements coming
Board members also approved Phase II of an Investment Grade Audit from Schneider Electric.
Part of the audit process includes:
- Removing and replacing six air handling units and VFD drives at Johnston-McQueen Elementary
- Replacing 26 HVAC systems at the old SDC building located at 500 N. Third Street
- The installation of new security lighting at the Longview High School parking lot
- The installation of a new roof on the LISD bus barn and maintenance building
- The installation of new theatre lights at the Mickey Melton Center
- Replacing 35 rooftop air conditioners at South Ward Elementary
- Fascia cleaning and repair at the Longview High building
- Replacing Variable Air Volume units at Longview High
- The installation of a new roof on the old SDC building
- Replacing hydraulic pumps at Longview High
The proposal from Schneider Electric was also procured through the district's membership with The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS).
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Free training for teachers
Board members also approved approximately $100,000 for a Montessori teacher training program during the 2021-22 school year.
Dr. James Coleman, LISD Chief Innovation Officer, said the Southwestern Montessori Training Center (SMTC) utilizes a mobile training center for on-site training of curriculum presentations that provide a deep and comprehensive exploration of the Montessori approach for children 3-11 years of age.
'Students complete a variety of meaningful assignments which relate directly to their classroom experience and provide opportunities for practical application of the course material,' he said. 'Weekly face-to-face interactions with instructors and fellow students build a rich and supportive learning community and provides additional opportunities for integration of course topics.'
Funding for the program comes from local and federal grant funding.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Winter weather waiver
Board members also approved a waiver application to the Texas Education Agency for days missed during the winter weather event earlier this year.
Dr. Guidry explained that on the week of Feb. 15-18, 2021, Longview schools were closed due to a winter storm, 'and this waiver allows school districts the option to not make up these instructional days later in the year.'
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
South Ward Elementary renamed
Board members also approved renaming South Ward Elementary in honor of the district's first African-American school board member. South Ward Elementary will now become Clarence W. Bailey Elementary, or 'The Bailey School,' with a dedication set for later this summer.
Mr. Clarence W. Bailey was elected in 1977, serving Place 6 on the LISD Board of Trustees for 21 years before stepping down in 1998.
Read the complete story here.
In other business...
During the course of the meeting, the LISD Board of Trustees also:
- APPROVED the expenditure of $49,980 to Dell Computers for TLC lab replacements at Longview High School. Charter program and magnet grant federal funds will be used for the expenditure.
- APPROVED the Time Use Tracker and official Minutes for the May 10th Special Meeting and May 15th Board Workshop;
- RECEIVED an expenditure update from LISD public school charter partners as of May 2021; and
- APPROVED Budget Amendment No. 11.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street), but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. June 14th, 2021.
Due to public health protocols currently in place, anyone wishing to attend the meeting in person must abide by COVID-19 guidelines, as only limited seating capacity is available. Meetings are also streamed online at LISD.org/BoardroomLive.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
