Barrow County Schools staff recommend $565,860 audio upgrade contract for gyms and cafeterias
March 31, 2026 | Barrow County, School Districts, Georgia
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Barrow County School System staff recommended awarding a contract to Neiswonger AV Center of Lawrenceville to upgrade audio systems in middle and high school gymnasiums and cafeterias, citing improved emergency-announcement audibility and daily-use reliability.
Mr. St. Clair, who presented the project, said the low bidder met RFP terms and scored highest on the review matrix: “Neiswonger also scored highest on the scoring matrix of our review committee. They received 9.7 out of 10 possible points.” Staff requested authorization of the $528,860 base bid plus a 7% allowance (an additional $37,000) for a total project approval of $565,860 from school security grant funds.
Board members asked how the project fits within overall safety funding. One member noted, “to my knowledge, we get about $800,000 this year in safety grant funds,” and staff explained the district’s safety grant allocations do not fully cover other commitments such as school resource officer costs. Staff said the gym/cafeteria audio work was a logical use of available safety dollars because it addresses both daily operations and emergency communications.
The superintendent recommended moving the recommendation to the consent agenda for the April 14 meeting; staff indicated the vendor is not adversely listed on sam.gov and that the scope excludes elementary gyms and cafeterias (those will be addressed separately). The board moved the item to consent.
Mr. St. Clair, who presented the project, said the low bidder met RFP terms and scored highest on the review matrix: “Neiswonger also scored highest on the scoring matrix of our review committee. They received 9.7 out of 10 possible points.” Staff requested authorization of the $528,860 base bid plus a 7% allowance (an additional $37,000) for a total project approval of $565,860 from school security grant funds.
Board members asked how the project fits within overall safety funding. One member noted, “to my knowledge, we get about $800,000 this year in safety grant funds,” and staff explained the district’s safety grant allocations do not fully cover other commitments such as school resource officer costs. Staff said the gym/cafeteria audio work was a logical use of available safety dollars because it addresses both daily operations and emergency communications.
The superintendent recommended moving the recommendation to the consent agenda for the April 14 meeting; staff indicated the vendor is not adversely listed on sam.gov and that the scope excludes elementary gyms and cafeterias (those will be addressed separately). The board moved the item to consent.
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