Board debates $80,000 estimate to retrofit classroom cabinets for safety

The board considered a proposal to retrofit classroom cabinets with doors and locks to reduce the safety risk when students become dysregulated and access small objects. Administrators said many cabinets in older classrooms were not designed for doors and will require retrofitting; Public Works provided a count and an estimate intended to cover doors and locks for middle-school classrooms where needs are highest.

Board members pushed for more detailed cost estimates per cabinet and asked whether local trades programs or fundraising could help offset costs. One supervisor suggested the project might be a fit for local high-school woodshops or a community fundraising push; administrators said they will request that the project manager provide a line-item estimate and consider fundraising or targeted donations for elements such as a playground project.

A staff member emphasized safety concerns beyond mess and clean-up: students sometimes mouth or ingest small objects, making locked storage a protective measure. Administrators said the proposal targets the middle school department first to control costs and that future phases could extend door-and-lock retrofits as needs and budgets allow.

The board did not vote to fund the project at this meeting and asked for more detailed cost information from public works.