Board clears multiple contracts, tech upgrades and surplus actions; awards E‑Rate and data‑transmission bids

The Marion County Board of Education approved a package of consent and action items that included vendor contracts, equipment and network upgrades, surplus declarations and donations.

Key approvals included: an annual environmental compliance contract with Micro Analytics to satisfy required asbestos inspections and recordkeeping; a landscape service agreement with Hords; BG‑5 closeouts for listed capital projects; award of switch hardware and data‑transmission services; replacement of underground fiber between Marion County High School and Glasscock Elementary; acceptance of technology surplus items for disposal; and the declaration of several buses as surplus property.

The board awarded the E‑Rate MIBs bid to StepCG for $36,432 with an optional $6,000 package of additional services, which technology staff said includes a firewall and other protections that can be covered under E‑Rate funding. The board also approved awarding a switch bid to StepGC for $57,763.17 and a data transmission agreement to Spectrum at $352 per month; staff noted the Spectrum contract upgrades some off‑campus schools from 2 Gbps to 10 Gbps under a 3‑year term with two optional extension years.

Donations acknowledged during consent included $1,000 from Hayden Materials to Marion County High School FFA and $1,350 from Kentucky Cooperage to the boys’ soccer program. Following acknowledgement of personnel actions, the board adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- 5a: Annual contract with Micro Analytics (environmental compliance) — approved
- 5b: Hords Landscape Service Agreement — approved
- 5c: BG‑5 closeout for window replacement (agenda list entry) — approved
- 5d: BG‑5 roof replacement BG24‑121 — approved
- 5e: BG‑5 Glasscock masonry BG24‑122 — approved
- 5f: BG2/BG3/BG25 ATC documents — approved (see separate article)
- 5h: Award E‑Rate MIBs bid to StepCG, $36,432 (+ optional $6,000 services) — approved
- 5j: Award switch bid to StepGC, $57,763.17 — approved
- 5l: Award data transmission to Spectrum, $352/month — approved
- 5n: Award fiber replacement (Marion County HS to Glasscock) — approved
- 5o: Disposal of technology surplus items (equipment list) — approved
- 5q: Declare buses surplus (IDs listed on agenda) — approved

All motions were moved, seconded and recorded as approved by voice vote during the meeting.