MARTINEZ, Calif. – Martinez Unified School District’s Board of Education will consider buying safety radios Monday that could be used in emergencies to talk throughout not only a school campus but throughout the district.
District Chief Technology Officer Max Eissler will present the proposal to buy the new system that would provide two-way communication on multiple channels that would minimize interference.
The radios could be taken anywhere on campuses and to reunification sites, and their batteries would power the radios longer than backup power systems, according to the vendor report.
Not only would they be available for emergencies, the radios also could be used during routine campus operations, such as for traffic control or yard duty.
The proposed system has bandwidth with five channels to reduce interference and its higher power would provide better coverage. The vendor, Radio Guys of Woodland, would install a repeater at the district office and add another tower on the roof of the Alhambra High School gym to address gaps. The digital radios can be reconfigured to address changes in safety plans, according to the report.
The proposed replacement would cost $133,728.89 to buy and install, and the District would need to spend about $18,000 annually on a subscription and battery replacement to be underwritten by Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) money.
Also on Monday’s agenda is Assistant Superintendent Helen Rossi’s report about the condition of Alhambra High School’s swimming pool. District staff will ask the Board to weigh in on the subject and make suggestions about the approach the District should take.
The Board has aired concerns in the past about the cost to repair the pool. However, its configuration allows for activities that can’t take place at the Rankin Aquatic Center.
Rossi also will give a presentation on changes in the state budget as signed by Governor Jerry Brown.
In her report, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services wrote that that the governor’s 45-day revise increases Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) revenues from $35,278557 to $35,505,369 for Fiscal Year 2018,2019.
Likewise, Fiscal Year 2019-20 sees a change from $36,347,410 to $36,583,021, and Fiscal Year 2020-2021 changes from $37,310,162 to $37,549,817.
But the revised budget makes a reduction in the one-time mandate reimbursement of $184 for each average daily attendance (ADA) of 3,999.99, which calculates to $735,998 in 2018-10.
The Board of Education will meet at 5:45 p.m. Monday to consider student and labor matters. The regular meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the District building, 921 Susana St.
