Lamar Board Approves Purchase Of Court Projection System
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by Janice Penix
Members of the Lamar School Board approved the purchase of a court projection system for the high school gymnasium at their monthly meeting Wednesday, June 10.
The Luxedo Court Projection System is an immersive audio/visual setup that will allow the school to offer professional, three-dimensional visuals, animated graphics, and sponsor highlights onto the gymnasium floor.
The technology consists of four projectors that convert the gym floor into a multimedia surface capable of supporting school programming, student engagement initiatives and has the possibility to generate new sponsorship revenue.
The Board approved the purchase of the system hardware at a cost of $50,000, with one-third of the total cost paid each year for the next three years. The electrical and network preparation costs, which the district will be responsible to complete, were estimated between $3,000 and $5,000.
Athletic Director Nick Fisher said he will be trained in the use of the system, and will subsequently train other district staff members, to allow the technology to be used for a variety of purposes. Board members said they wanted to ensure multiple employees would be trained so the responsibility would not fall solely on Fisher.
According to information provided to the Board, the Luxedo system can be utilized for a variety of academic, athletic and extracurricular functions, such as volleyball and basketball games; pep rallies and school assemblies; physical education classes; academic recognition and student acknowledgment; and special events such as homecoming or prom.
Shot Stop Curtain Grant
Superintendent Clint Jones reported the district was awarded a $27,000 grant from the MidwayUSA Foundation for the purchase of a shot stop curtain at the trap field.
A shot stop curtain is a specialized, heavy-duty ballistic fabric used at outdoor shotgun and clay target ranges. The curtain is hung as a safety barrier to catch stray lead pellets, preventing them from scattering outside the shooting range.
Jones said the grant will fund approximately half of the project cost, with the district contributing the balance. He said he is seeking sources for the donation of the poles the curtain will be mounted onto, as well as their installation. The curtain will require seven 50-foot poles.
While the grant funds will be used to purchase the curtain by the required deadline, Jones said the installation will be delayed until plans are finalized for the location of the new football field, in case the trap field location or arrangement needs to be adjusted.
Other Matters
–The Board approved the purchase of three lease-return buses from Midwest Bus Sales at a cost of $98,600 each, for a total of $295,800. The 77-passenger buses are all equipped with air conditioning and have less than 50,000 miles, Jones said.
–Board members approved policy updates as recommended by the Arkansas School Boards Association, in compliance with legislative updates.
–Personnel items approved included the employment of Heaven Weathers, middle school science teacher; and Richard Morton, district technology director. The Board also voted to employ Billie Boze as a full-time custodian, pending approval from the state education commissioner. Boze is the mother-in-law of Board member Johnessa Boze, who left the meeting prior to the discussion of and vote on the employment recommendation.
Board members present included Amiee Freeman, Clint Ratliff, Chad Kendall and Boze, while Billy Joe Wilkins was absent.
Read this story and others in the June 17 issue of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Franklin and Johnson counties. Subscribe or donate here to support more hometown journalism.
