Board OKs purchase of new bus tracking and navigation system

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

For years, Charles City School District buildings and grounds manager Jerry Mitchell has been looking for a bus tracking and navigation system that could track students as they get on or off the bus, as well as assist bus drivers with their routes and help activities bus drivers find their out-of-town activities.

Thanks largely to funds recently received for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), Mitchell has found one that can be implemented at the start of the 2021-22 school year.

“When a student gets on the bus in the morning, they can swipe their name tag and if they’re supposed to be on the bus, it will light up green, if they’re not, it will light up red,” Mitchell told the Charles City School District Board of Directors at Monday’s meeting. “This will help us tremendously, especially at the beginning of the year, when we’re trying to get everyone on the right bus.”

The board unanimously approved the Traversa busing system, totaling $56,814 out of ESSER funds over the next two years. The cost includes installation and training.

“They’ll come here and train all the drivers how to do it,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the system will track every student who gets on and off a bus, so a parent can know what bus their child is on and what time they got on or off the bus. The system will also automatically put a route together for drivers, after they enter all the addresses. The system will also direct activities routes.

“It will be on the screen, just like a GPS, and tell the driver turn-by-turn where to go,” Mitchell said. “This will especially be helpful when we have to use a substitute driver who isn’t as familiar with the route.”

In other business Monday, the board approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the sale of the 1970 portion of the North Grand Building, expiring June 10. The RFP states the district will be able to review all offers and reserve the right of refusal of any and all offers that do not meet state specifications.

The RFP also indicates that higher priority will be given to entities and individuals who would like to utilize the building in a manner that meets the mission and vision of the district by advancing education and child development within the community.

In other action on Friday, the board:
— Approved the purchase of two lawn mowers, totaling $31,560.41. The mowers are a 72-inch Diesel Toro for $15050.41, and a Diesel 72-inch Grasshopper for $16,510.
— Approved a 2% package increase for senior leader salary, a 2.48% package increase for non-union licensed staff and a 2.6% package increase for administrative support staff for the 2021-22 school year.
— Approved the resignation of Loren Robbins, full-time para-educator, effective May 27.
— Approved the resignation of Laura Walker, junior class chair and prom advisor, effective May 10.
— Approved the resignation of Julie Hollister, part-time para-educator, effective May 29.
— Approved the resignation of Josh Johnson, assistant varsity football coach, effective May 10.
— Approved the appointments of Brenda Abrahamson, Kim Jensen and Jennifer Satrio, full-time para-educators, at a wage of $15.09. Abrahamson and Jensen will start May 11 while Satrio will start Aug. 19.
— Approved the appointment of Jill Striech, special education teacher, at a salary of $52,639, starting Aug. 12.
— Approved the appointment of Abby Palsic, high school business teacher, at a salary of $50,810, effective Aug. 12.
— Approved the personnel transfers of Brooke Hamm (from educational sec. to full-time para-educator), Jessica Jones and Tracy Frein (from part-time to full-time para-educators), Madalyn Fank (from 2nd-grade Washington to Title I special education), Allison Reams (from Washington para-educator or library para-educator) and Tyler Mitchell (from 10th-grade football to assistant varsity football.)