Parents will soon be able to monitor school buses their children are riding now that the Aberdeen School Board approved use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) on these vehicles during their meeting Tuesday evening.
Ernie Lott, the district’s transportation supervisor, used a large overhead screen to show board members what transportation staff would be able to see on a computer and it’s substantial. A map shows where each bus is and tracks the movement.
“It’s a nice tool for safety,” Lott explained during his presentation.
The system also monitors such things as speed, fuel level, and odometer display as well as an array of other details about the trips. It will allow mechanics, dispatchers and other transportation employees to keep track of the vehicles and see whether buses are traveling on schedule.
Parents would be able to monitor movement of the buses their children ride on using special software.
For the sake of privacy, access to it “wouldn’t be available to everyone,” Lott said.
Lott emphasized that the system isn’t perfect because of occasional poor cellular reception in the area. Some messages indicating a driver did something physically impossible with the bus will show up because of that.
Cost would be about $1,400 per bus. This equipment will go into 18 buses.
The total price for the equipment, licensing the software and linking in the district to the system will cost about $27,600.
The district would pay for the upgrade in five annual payments, Lott said.
Hoquiam will be getting this system as well. It’s being done through a cooperative agreement between the two school districts, Lott added.
Stewart Field
The board also approved continuing work on Phase 1 design improvements of the grandstands at Stewart Field. This portion of the work would be for a new roof and replacement of some, if not all, field lights.
Exact construction cost is still unknown until the project goes out to bid. The goal is to complete the roof and lighting improvements in time for next year’s football and soccer play. Constructing these pieces are the main parts of Phase 1, though preliminary design and other work on subsequent portions of the project will be occurring as well so there aren’t long time spans with no activity.
Contractor Alan Gozart’s report states that his services through Harbor Architects for preliminary designs and construction administration of the project to date total about $19,000.
The second phase of the work at Stewart Field would be constructing a support building and the third phase will focus on the grandstand bleachers. Board members have already expressed the desire to proceed slowly because completing the entire list of improvements would be expensive.
Board president Sandra Bielski wanted to bring attention to the strong community interest in the project and shared a story about a recent encounter she had with a community member after the vote. Someone at the front door of the high school stopped her to ask “please approve the roof tonight,” she said with a smile.
New compactor at high school
Aberdeen High School soon will have a new compacting dumpster. The newer model will allow custodial staff to roll the refuse to the compactor in a large receptacle instead of lifting the receptacle by hand and dumping its contents into the compactor.
Cost for the dumpster at the high school will be $30,400. Employees no longer becoming injured by repeatedly lifting the garbage receptacles is expected to save the district in worker’s compensation costs, said Michael Pauley, the district’s maintenance supervisor.
Plans for purchasing one for use at Miller Junior High were put on hold until staff has a chance to evaluate how well the new one at the high school works. Board member Christi Boora suggested holding off on the purchase for the second school campus.
