KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

As the construction project at Jack T. Farrar Elementary School gets underway, the Tullahoma City Schools (TCS) Board of Education approved of a proposal for a low voltage contractor for over $800,000.

In its April 16 meeting, the item presented to the school board was a proposal from Central Technologies, Inc. to be the low voltage contractor for JTF expansion project.

According to TCS Finance Director Hank Jordan, Central Technologies is part of the TIPS-USA purchasing cooperative, which TCS has been a member of since 2016, and receives preferential pricing via the TIPS-USA contract.

Per Jordan, the scope of the work requested from Central Technologies is to provide the network cabling throughout the new building, providing security cameras in various locations, provide access control to our exterior doors and specified interior doors, provide Boxlight Panels for every classroom and other specified rooms and to provide an audio and speakers for the classrooms.

“Central Technologies has quoted $800,114.04 for all these items,” Jordan said to the board. “It should be noted, TCS may qualify for special pricing of the network cabling through the FCC’s E-Rate program, which provides school discounts on these items.”

He added the discount could amount to $185,886 in total, which would reduce the overall cost to $614,228.

“We won’t know if we will qualify until the summer when that application opens up, but we fill confident we do,” Jordan said. “We’ve qualified for this program for the prior years when we have used that discount on other projects.”

Jordan said he and staff recommended the school board to accept the proposal from Central Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $800,114.04. Jordan said they were at a point with construction that where the school district needs to engage a vendor for these kind of items to not hold anything up. Jordan also told the board that the funding will come from the reserves as part of the construction budget.

 Before making a motion and having discussion, Chairman Kim Uselton said this topic was discussed in a prior study session, as they discussed an intercom system for JTF. When opened to discussion, Board member Amy Dodson said having an intercom system in the classrooms will draw teachers and other districts to watch and observe how it’s implemented at TCS. 

“That makes a world of difference in a classroom if you’re a teacher and you have that in your classroom,” Dodson said. “I’m telling you, other districts, if they get ready to build a school, that’s what they are going to want to receive. I’m very excited about it.”

With no further discussion, the school board unanimously passed the recommended proposal from Central Technologies, Inc.