FARMINGTON -- Farmington School Board recently approved a low bid of $137,570 to purchase four scoreboards and two video boards for the new competitive basketball arena under construction on South Hunter Street.
Almost all of the cost will be reimbursed to the school from businesses that have committed to donations over a five-year period, said Athletic Director Brad Blew in discussing the bids at the Aug. 12 School Board meeting.
Rainey Electronics Inc. of Little Rock submitted the low bid. One other bid for $151,582 came from Daktronics of Brookings, S.D.
Blew said other schools use Rainey Electronics, including Siloam Springs and Fayetteville. He recommended Rainey's proposal.
"They have an outstanding service department," Blew said.
The bid includes a three-year, on-site service warranty, complete installation, two LED video displays, two larger and two smaller LED scoreboards, wireless controller system, five wireless LED locker room clocks, four personalized signs with school's mascot and team name, and six sponsor/advertising signs.
A breakdown of the bid shows that the video displays cost $26,950 each, the larger scoreboards cost $9,792 each and the smaller scoreboards cost $3,370 each. The locker room clocks cost $895 each. Blew said the locker room clocks will be synced to the game clock to assist players waiting in the locker room.
Blew said he has received five-year commitments from sponsors that will provide $125,000 toward the bid.
"I realize that's a lot of money (for the bid) but a lot of it we have raised," Blew said. "These are good, solid sponsorships to fulfill these obligations over a five-year period."
In other action, board members approved a one-year contract for $5,000 with consultant Aliza Jones to help the district with its six-year Facilities Master Plan. Jones formerly worked for the facilities division with Arkansas Education Department and is very familiar with the process to request state partnership funding for building projects.
In addition, she will assist the district with its state required Disaster Plan, will submit grants for federal funding for storm shelters and will provide other assistance as needed.
The Department of Education has received funding requests for construction this year that exceed money available, said Superintendent Bryan Law.
"It's going to be extremely competitive," Law said, noting Farmington hopes to receive about $6 million for a new high school. "It seems like $5,000 is a great investment. This is a way to pick up a person with great expertise in that area."
The board also agreed to a proposal from Dennis Hixson to allow him to use the high school parking lot for a monthly "Farmington Coffee and Cars" event. Hixson said Coffee and Cars is a popular trend where local car enthusiasts come together for a social get-together once a month. The event is free to participants and would not cost the school district any money.
Hixson said he would move the event to another location if it conflicts with a school event.
In other action, the board voted to purchase a 2011 77-passenger school bus for $63,900
General News on 08/27/2014