USD 383 board approves $26.7 million bid for MHS bond project and technology purchases for 1-to-1 program

The USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden school board on Wednesday approved the $26.7 million guaranteed maximum price for the Manhattan High School construction project.

Construction manager Patricia Brooke-Freundt says the project includes additions to the east and west sides of the building, including 25 new classrooms.  The proposal is going out to bid with several alternates that have reductions and additions.

“We have a guaranteed max price of $26,773,168 when in reality the contract is going to say $26,772,718,” she said.

The approval goes to McCown Gordon Construction. Brooke-Freundt says they will return with an amendment for the artificial turf for the practice field.  The turf that was chosen goes over the amount allotted for the field by over $10,000.

Assistant Superintendent Eric Reid thanked all those involved including MHS Principal Michael Dorst.

“He would sit at meeting after meeting after meeting just to knock them out right in a row. This is the first part and I’m excited to get things going,” he said.

Construction is likely to begin next month and continue through the next two years. It’s anticipated to be completed by August 2022.

In other business Wednesday, the board approved a $1.56 million purchase for its 1-to-1 student technology program.

The purchase includes hot spots, cases, access points, installation, as well as 6,300 iPads. The purchase is funded from the district’s contingency fund.

District Technology Director Mike Ribble says this is an expansion of their one to one plan, highlighting the need after the continuous learning program became necessary this past spring.

“This amount that we have identified is not purchasing all brand new devices. If we were to go out and purchase all new, we’d be looking more in the $3 million range,” he said. “We’re trying to leverage what we’ve already done and collected and use this new purchase to finish that piece off.”

The purchased devices are capable of running the latest operating system and the upcoming one for the fall 2020 semester. Another piece of the purchase is access points, which will allow Wifi outside of buildings and on district transportation. Since it will take about 4-6 weeks for delivery, the new technology should be in the hands of students upon the start of the new school year on Aug. 12.

Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade says this purchase is still staying the course of their plan, but is helping to speed it up. The plan up to this point was a more gradual approach by grade level to teach students and staff how to use the technology. Rather than take time to do all that, Wade says it will now occur sooner.

“We’ve accelerated that trajectory for a good reason. Over time we would add more instructional staff to train the trainer. Those kind of things now are on the fast track,” he said.

Board Member Brandy Santos was concerned about the implementation of these devices if schools were not open for the new school year. She wants to know if these devices will be an integral part of student learning and be used day one.

Teaching and Learning Director Dr. Paula Hough says they will.

“By having this technology available it’s going to shift what we can do for our students and what we have accessible to them,” she said. “Not just access in regard to the physical device. Without this device we will not be able to meet the needs of every student.”

Hough says if the students are allowed back in buildings this fall, the devices will help them follow health guidelines and not have to travel around too much.

The district has not released any details on what the new school year will look like in terms of restrictions and social distancing measures. The district and others across the state are awaiting guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education, which is planning to release information on July 10.