BOE approves bus radios, routing software

The Oglethorpe County Board of Education unanimously approved two measures to help bus transportation at its meeting on Tuesday.

The first was the purchase of bus routing software, not to exceed $15,000. 

Board members expressed concern with the large number of bus riders. There have been 60-70 children on average per bus, which seats approximately 72 students total with three in a seat.

“Hopefully the routing software will allow us to find those efficiencies that will spread them out and maybe obtain the same number, but more effectively,” board chair Becky Soto said.

The board also approved the installation of two-way radios in all buses, including route buses and spare buses, at the cost of $31,647. There will also be eight portable radios for $6,264. 

“Last Monday, a parent called and their kindergarten kid didn’t get dropped off,” Superintendent Beverley Levine said. “It was a substitute driver, and they just happened to miss the stop, but there was no way to get in contact. It was very scary for the parent, whereas if you can buzz in on the radio, they know immediately you’re trying to call.”

These radios will also have a 911 dispatch tie-in function for an additional $1,895, plus $609 a month for air time for all radios with the dispatch tie-in. The overall cost for the equipment and installation with the 911 tie-in will be $37,911.

Paul Thiel, director of operations for the school system, informed the board about new lighting to be installed for parking by the OCHS track, soccer and football fields. 

“There’s two old lights on a pole down there, so they’re gonna take those two lights down and put in three lights on that pole,” he said. “They’re going to put in another pole across the parking lot and illuminate that, so we should have some much better lighting, which that’s very needed for the long term.” 

Thiel also presented images of playground playsets to be considered by the board for the primary and elementary schools. These would be temporary as they would be built for use at the schools within the fences and then dismantled and rebuilt at the new school. 

Plans for purchasing a playground that would have space for more than 100 children was also considered. The board discussed buying it and putting it in storage until the new school building is complete because it was on sale at the discounted price of $50,000, down from the full price of $80,000. 

In other business, the board:

• Approved new personnel: Laquella Powell: bus driver; Hailey Pugh: paraprofessional; Samantha Saunders: kindergarten; Amy Erwin: full-time bus driver.
• Highlighted two students for achievements: third-grader Catherine Yauck, who was first in the Plains Peanut Festival Postcard Contest; ninth-grader James Adams, who achieved a perfect score on an Algebra I End of Course Test after completing a summer class through Georgia Virtual School.
• Recognized the 2023-2024 teachers of the year: Shonda Cronic, OCPS kindergarten; Lindsay Gregory, OCES gifted third-fifth grade teacher; Janet High, OCMS English teacher; Lee Jones, OCHS band director.
• Approved positions for two paraprofessionals for special education at the primary school and middle school.
• Approved repair of a fire pump at the middle school.
• Heard about a resident who offered dirt to the school system to fill a hole at the lift station at no cost, excluding fuel for transportation.