B-T to donate to Curran broadband project

After much discussion, the Blair-Taylor school board voted last week Monday to donate $6,271 toward the town of Curran’s broadband expansion project, while also limiting what other municipalities could receive in the future.

Multiple board members expressed concern about setting a precedent with the donation. While the town of Curran was the only one to ask for money at this time, the concern that others could come in the future was raised. 

“As everyone pushes for this expansion for broadband, chances are these other townships will be pursuing something,” David Thompson, board member, said. 

Superintendent Jeff Eide said he knew the town of Preston was discussing adding high speed internet and could come to the district asking for financial support. 

“So we have to be supportive and cautious at the same time,” Eide said.

Board member Perry Kujak voted against donating for the project, saying that the district should use its money for educational needs. 

“I may be out in left field a bit on this, but my perception is that the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) monies is what is keeping the school operating right now without having to look toward an operational referendum,” Kujak said. “Once these ESSER monies are used, we don’t know what is going to come down the line…. I think the fact that we can use them and not have to go toward any type of operational referendums because of it is pretty important. A part of me feels like it should stay for that.”

Eide noted that the community has passed two referendums recently and that district residents getting high speed internet would ultimately be a boon for the school.

The 4-1 approval came off of a motion from Thompson, which included basing the amount donated this time and in the future off of the equalization values of the municipalities asking for funds. That limit will remain for the next 12 months and then can be reevaluated.

The motion also included first looking to use money that was donated from Hi-Crush, if possible. If not, the board gave Eide approval to use ESSER money. Eide said he was not sure what limitations were attached to the Hi-Crush donation. 

In other matters, Eide updated the board on a number of maintenance needs the district will be facing in the near futures. 

Among them was work on the parking lot, railings in the middle/high school building, resurfacing the athletic track, upgrading the bell system, replacing lights and the fire panel.

Eide said he might be able to use ESSER money for the fire panel, adding that it could qualify as a safety concern. As of now, the school building has two fire panels that connect when an alarm is sounded. The components of the older system are beginning to fail and are being replaced as needed, but Eide said it will eventually be necessary to replace the entire panel. 

The superintendent said the district has a plain to replace lights that were installed in 2013 and 2014 one room at a time. That will enable them to use the components from the old light fixtures for repairs as necessary until the project is complete.