New bell system approved for middle school

In a subject that relates to both logistics and safety, Nodaway Valley’s school board approved a new bell system for the middle school during last Wednesday’s regular meeting in the high school media center.

From Rankin Communications Systems, the new equipment will come at a cost of $32,760.46. It will replace a current intercom and paging system but use some of the exiting wiring and other components where possible.

The system allows paging by zones, features programmable bell and alert tones and emergency messages can be broadcast through the system in an automated fashion or remotely activated by administrators even if they aren’t in the building at the time.

Following federal standards in place today, the new system is compatible, working alongside other systems in the building, such as the fire alarm or door locks. This is the case for any current or future systems the district would install. The system even has the capability of muting loud music played through a sound system in the building so that important announcements are heard by all.

Leaders feel all these qualities provide added layers of safety the current system doesn’t offer, not to mention reliability. Due to impacts from recent construction and the age of the current system, certain areas of the building aren’t even online with the system anymore. This means those areas of the building miss out entirely on bells or announcements.

“If you think of the worst case situation, which one of our kids are we OK not having access to the information? The answer is clearly ‘none,’” Nodaway Valley Superintendent Dr. Pam Stangeland said. “We really need to be thinking of being forward moving.”

In other action items, the board:

• approved a series of board policies

• approved a contract to provide breakfast and lunch to Green Hills AEA’s New Horizon therapeutic classroom at Orient-Macksburg’s facility at a cost of $3 per breakfast and $5 per lunch, with considerations for mileage and staff time to prepare and transport the meals

• approved a 1:15 p.m. early dismissal for this Friday for the 2:30 p.m. homecoming parade and community pep rally to follow

• approved amending para contracts for those formerly at Orient-Macksburg to better reflect their actual years of service

• approved an out-of-state trip for the FFA chapter to attend national convention in Indianapolis

• approved a transfer of $8,962.57 from the activity fund to the general fund covering safety equipment like the legally-required reconditioning of football helmets

• approved a consent agenda that included the hiring of Mike Cook and Don Stangeland as substitute bus drivers; Gracelyn Lewis, Emily Crigger and David Schweitzer as elementary paras and Addie Stringer and Jessica Hall as middle school paras. Brad Honnold was approved as a volunteer junior high football coach