Various costs were discussed at Crestview’s monthly board of education meeting on July 29, from Chromebook insurance to volleyball nets.
Chad Lemon, director of Instructional Technology at Crestview Local Schools, explained to the board a suggested change to the insurance rates on the Chromebooks issued to students in grades six through nine. This school year the Chromebooks will also be introduced to students in grades 11 and 12.
“Our previous model has been if the device goes off campus, families pay a $32 insurance premium,” said Lemon. “Once that premium was paid, all accidental damage shy of water damage was covered, whether it was once, twice or three times or more. One of the things we’re considering is a change to that model, a smaller premium up front but then supplement that with an insurance deductible on a per incident basis.”
Lemon explained as the Chromebooks age, the devices would see more damage requiring repair. The life expectancy of most Chromebooks is one to two years; however at the end of the prior school year one machine was returned so damaged to the point of replacing it out of pocket, and another machine was damaged to the point of beyond repair.
Crestview uses a “self-insured” model to insure the devices, meaning money collected in insurance premiums stays within the district rather than going to outside providers. All collected premiums are set aside in a specific budget line item dedicated to the care and maintenance of our Chromebook devices. The Chromebooks cost the district $81,000 in fiscal year 2014, according to Treasurer Christina Bennett.
“I like the responsibility aspect of partnering with the family and it wasn’t just the district’s responsibility to repair the damage,” said Lemon.
The board ultimately voted to accept Lemon’s new insurance cost model. Families will pay a $20 premium, a $25 first time deductible, and a $35 deductible for additional issues up to the amount of the repair. This is a reduction from the current premium of $32.
“I like the concept of rolling the price back for everyone and laying the responsibility back on the person that actually caused the damage instead of penalizing everybody across the board,” said board member Jamie McGraw.
“I think the fact that you have repeat incidents, there needs to be some way to shift that liability on that student to take better care of that machine,” added President Bill Bolin.
District expenses approved for the upcoming school year were discussed and approved as part of the superintendent report. The board approved a contract with Richland County Public Health for nursing services for the 2014-2015 school year costing $45,998.40 plus the approximate cost of screenings of $2,500, for a total of $48,498.40.
Also approved by the board was a contract with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department for security at varsity football and varsity basketball games for the 2014-2015 school year. The security detail, mandated by the Richland County Commissioners, costs the district $25 per hour per deputy, and $10 per hour per cruiser. McGraw questioned why the district was required to pay $10 per hour per police cruiser when taxpayers already paid for the cruisers.
“That burns me up,” he said. “If that’s not double dipping I don’t know what is.”
The board discussed at length purchasing a new four-pole high school volleyball net system. Athletic Director Tim Kuhn explained the current volleyball poles, though sturdy, were made in 1979, and the nets, pole pads and official stand desperately needed replaced.
“Last year we had an official actually fall through the stand,” said Kuhn.
A four-pole volleyball net system at approximately $12,000 was approved in a 4-1 vote by the board, which includes new poles, nets, pole pads and an official stand. Board member Ducia Hamm dissented, noting the district spent $300,000 on athletics in the previous school year.
Lastly, the board welcomed five new faces in personnel and bid goodbye to one. The board welcomed new staff members Katelyn McGookey, Elizabeth Cuppy, Joseph Lumpkins and Cassandra White, and the district’s new superintendent Randy Dunlap. Dunlap begins his term on August 1; meaning Superintendent Scott Will served his last board meeting on Tuesday evening.
“My kids are getting ready to enter school soon and we love it here, so we’re not looking to go anywhere any time soon,” Will reassured.