Levelland Independent School Board approved the purchase of two 52-passenger and two 57-passenger motor coach activity buses for approximately $1 million May 15.
The 57-passenger bus purchase is contingent on the price being no more than $10,000 more per bus than the 52passenger bus.
Concerns were raised about using the activity buses back-toback without having the ability to maintain the buses between each use. The purchase of the four new buses will allow more preventative maintenance to be done and increase sit time between back-toback travel days.
Max Buxkemper, Deette Edens and Carrie Ellis ran unopposed for reelection to the School Board and took an oath of office at the school board meeting.
Carrie Ellis was elected as school board president, Deette Edens was elected as vicepresident and Treva Potter was
elected as secretary.
Rusty Gibson spoke during the public comment section raising concerns about the transparency of the school board and the intermediate school closing.
“My concern is the transparency regarding all of this change and everything that we’re doing. I was on the board for 12 years and went through lots of different things over those years, but I found one of the most important things we did was to stay in the public and make sure everything we did everybody knew exactly what was going on. A lack of transparency is going to breed distrust. Nobody knows what’s going on with this school moving around.”
Gibson also raised spoke about overpopulation at the middle school if the intermediate students were moved to the middle school. As a taxpayer, Gibson said he needs to be convinced improvements and renovations will not fix the school.
“If we’re so packed and crammed in there that we’re busting out the walls then we can’t even accept students if we wanted to,” Gibson said. “I understand we have to abandon the building at least for a year but let’s take a breath and see what exactly we’re gonna do with it and include the taxpayers. If the building has to come down, then convince us.” The board approved to replace or upgrade the current camera and access system for the vestibules district wide to ensure the safety security of staff and students. The board approved the estimate of $94,827.82 but believe there could have been an error making the cost closer to $60,000.
The board approved the purchase of a new audio and video system for the middle school auditorium for roughly $138,000. The middle school auditorium audio and video broke during the school year and staff have had to use a projector and cart for the remainder of the school year.
The board also approved the technology purchase of Chrome books, desk top computers and Chrome-boxes. The purchase will provide Chrome books to second graders and technology for computer labs at the elementary and high school.
The board approved the 2023-2024 approved a five-year contract for Sodexo Food Services. The fixed price per meal equivalent is $1.535 for breakfast, $2.226 for lunch, $3.405 for dinner, $0.789 for snacks and $2.226 for meal equivalent.
The board elected delegates for the Texas Associate of School Boards. Joyce Johnson was appointed as the delegate and Brooke Obenhaus was appointed as delegate alternate.