Meeting Highlights - March 19
Board approves the bids for turf fields The Board approved the bids for the installation of a turf field at GBS at a total cost of $1,524,416. This includes the earthwork/site utilities, paving/running track, and the artificial turf surface. Construction at GBS is scheduled for this summer. The Board also approved the purchase of the artificial turf surface for GBN in the amount of $471,622. This does not include the earthwork/site utilities and paving/running track, which will be bid out next year. The approved bid package is $49,062 less than estimates, and totals $1,996,033 to date. Read More School building budgets for 2012-13 remain steady The district utilizes a site-based management structure that allows GBN and GBS to allocate their non-personnel building budgets based on each school's respective needs and priorities. Both schools receive a budget amount annually to fund items such as department budgets, small building projects, professional development, hourly overtime, equipment/capital purchases, and student transportation. This amount is generally based on two variables: projected enrollment and annual cost of living adjustments. For the 2012-13 school year, GBN's budget is 0.8 percent less than last year at $2,367,384. GBS has experienced growing enrollment causing the need for a budget increase of 3.5 percent from last year, for a total of $2,931,645. Read More Board reviews technology budget for 2012-13 District collaborates with area high schools on disaster recovery program The technology budget includes general operating expenses, administrative software systems and new initiatives. This year, the new technology initiatives will focus on refreshing equipment and addressing infrastructure needs such as servers, storage, mobile devices, computers and other necessary items. One of the featured projects included in the technology plan for 2012-13 is a disaster recovery platform. The district will collaborate with District 214 to share each other's data center resources. The Board will receive a full presentation on this program on April 9. The total technology budget for 2012-13 is $1,607,005. This represents an increase of 16 percent due to contingency money that has been earmarked to assist with potential student information system solutions. Read More | 
