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CAT Tracks for September 3, 2007
TWISTING IN THE WIND |
Still no decision on former Cairo superintendent candidate Ronald Driemeier...
From the Harrisburg Daily Register...
Galatia Unit 1 board acts on cameras, computer software
By Brian DeNeal, Staff Writer
GALATIA - During a special meeting Thursday Galatia school board voted to order new student information software and bought out of a costly contract over rental of security cameras.
The board voted to spend $6,800 to buy out of a contract with a security camera supplier. The board had understood it was receiving a grant from the Safe Schools Healthy Students program to buy the cameras, but the grant never came. In investigating the matter school administration discovered the paperwork for the grant had never been submitted, though the cameras were already installed at a cost to the district of $500.
Then administration discovered the contract with the company for a 60 month lease of the cameras which would ultimately amount to $15,000 without ever owning them.
Felty said the district has paid two $256 monthly bills.
Felty is submitting paperwork for the grant for the purchase of cameras.
"There is a good chance of getting the money, but no guarantees," Felty said.
The board voted to pay $7,074 to Information Now for a new student information software. The current program has plagued administrators with corrupt files.
"I think it's going to save our district time and money," Technology Coordinator Cheryl Dwyer said.
There is a technical support fee of $2 per student, Dwyer said.
Interim Superintendent Ernest Felty said prior to the meeting the board would not be taking any action regarding Superintendent Ron Driemeier during Thursday night's meeting.
During closed session the board left the meeting room at 8 p.m. to go upstairs for a conference call with the school district's attorney, and came back just over an hour later.
The board voted during a July 12 meeting to hire Kevin W. McClain Investigations of Centralia to investigate unspecified allegations involving Driemeier. Felty said the report of the investigation is complete and is in the hands of the board's attorneys, but that he has not yet seen a copy of the report.
The Daily Register/Daily Journal has requested a copy of the report as permitted under the Freedom of Information Act. Felty said he would act on the FOIA request after his week of vacation which begins Friday.
The board voted to hold a special meeting 7 p.m. Sept. 6 to address the topic of personnel.
The board hired Tim Monroe as high school baseball and high school girls basketball coach and hired Felty to serve another two weeks as interim superintendent.