News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Jackson County School Board approved a bid to install new sound systems at multiple locations during its Thursday night meeting.
Director of Schools Kristy Brown said the sound system will come out of the ESSER federal funding as it meets the requirement of aiding in remote streaming and student activity.
“It is for audio and visual equipment related to live streaming events and school activities are where that will come from,” Brown said. “It includes the high school gymnasium, softball field, the Jackson County Middle School gymnasium, the Dodson Branch School gymnasium”
The $39,390 bid comes from Creative Entertainment Services and Management Group in Knoxville. Brown said Jackson County Schools has worked with CESMG before on the sound system for the Jackson County High School football stadium.
Six other items received school board approval including a $32,501 fencing project to update fencing around the high school baseball hitting facility and soccer field. The system will undertake some $28,640 in HVAC work and a $20,700 painting project for general upkeep. School board also approved bids remove and dispose of old flooring in the Gainesboro Elementary library and cafeteria, as well as the installation of new floors.
Brown said the goal is to complete the projects before the beginning of next school year.
There was also a desire to replace the floor in the Jackson County High School locker room, but according to maintenance technician Josh Morgan, Lyell Environmental does not have the materials to also do the locker room floors. The board motioned to to extend another bid for that project.
Funding for the new HVAC system and sound system will come from federal funding from the ESSER program. The program was introduced after COVID to help school systems with learning loss, aid schools in virtual learning, and allow for safer reopening of schools. The funds for other projects such as the painting maintenance, flooring projects, and fencing projects will come from the schools’ general purpose capital funding.
The board approved moving some $425,000 from the general fund to the federal projects fund to allow for easier payment for larger capital projects.
