The School Board voted 5-0 to accept a grant from New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management to perform security updates at Londonderry High School.
Facilities Director Chuck Zappala told the Board at its April 5 meeting the District was notified on March 29 that its grant application to update the software on the high school’s security video server and install new cameras, switches and wiring is a finalist and has moved on to administrative review.
“Although it looks very promising, we have not yet been awarded the grant,” he said, noting he anticipates an answer by early May.
All work for the proposed project must be completed by Sept. 30.
The District was eligible to apply for the grant after having completed buildings assessments with the New Hampshire Department of Safety and having had employees attend National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.
The District planned to complete the $80,000 to $90,000 security improvements project at the high school before learning the grant funds were available, according to Zappala.
The District has completed security upgrades at the elementary schools, while the high school’s video security system has been in place for about 10 years.
Upgrades in the high school’s security system could include a card activating system, which would take a picture when a card is activated to gain entry to the building, according to Zappala.
“We had originally planned to perform these improvements over a three-year period and there is $30,000 in the FY17 Maintenance Trust Fund for year one,” he said. “If we received the grant, we could move up the installation schedule and complete the year two improvement during the summer.”
The Homeland Security grant would provide matching funds for the security upgrades up to a maximum of $24,000, with the District required to subsidize at least 50 percent of the project. Reimbursement funds for work completed by Sept. 30 would be available in late 2016.
“Thank you for going after this grant with such vigor,” Vice Chairman Leitha Reilly said. “Any way we can help the taxpayer is appreciated.”
In other business:
• Noting the School District will enter negotiations this year for almost all faculty and staff members, Chairman Nancy Hendricks asked that the Board make appointments for liaisons to the negotiating committees at its April 5 meeting.
“The Board can get back to me on other committees they might like to sit on,” she said.
Members Leitha Reilly and Dan Lekas were appointed liaisons to the LEA (Londonderry Education Association) and Allied Health Negotiating Committees; Hendricks and Steve Young as liaisons to the Support Staff Negotiating Committee; and Hendricks and Jenn Ganem to the Custodians’ Negotiating Committee.