CCSID board to consider technology purchases

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees will meet this evening for their regular meeting and will consider several purchases exceeding $25,000. 

There are seven total purchases exceeding $25,000 on the board’s consent agenda tonight, including the FESTO MecLab System, which is partially funded by the recent $10,000 grant from the Education Service Center Region 12 Technology Foundation. The FESTO MecLab System will be purchased using $15,564.44 in budgeted funds and $10,000 from the grant. The system will allow CCHS students to transport workpieces from one manufacturing station to the next, which is an important task in production and manufacturing. The conveyor in MecLab allows realistic simulation of an industrial workpiece transport system. 

Also included in the consent agenda is a contract with Big Thought for technical assistance in the amount of $34,788. Under this agreement, Big Thought would work with CCISD to design, implement, and continuously improve a sustainable after-school program on nine of its campuses (all elementary, both junior highs and CCHS). 

The consent agenda also includes the purchase of Advanced Technologies Consultant’s zSpace Learning Station Inspire in the amount of $48,582.56. CCHS’ Health Science courses would utilize the zSpace Learning Station to facilitate virtual dissection of the human body.  This purchase would also include on-site training for CTE teachers at CCHS designed to train end users on the technology, hardware, and instructional applications of zSpace.  

Another purchase is for the Advanced Technologies Consultant’s Universal Robot 3e Certification Package in the amount of $44,734.00. This will allow CCHS students to take all Dual Credit Courses leading to a certification at Copperas Cove High School as a part of the district’s growing STEM pathway and CTE coherent sequence.  This Certification Package will support students in obtaining the Robotics Technology certification from CTC while taking these courses on the high school campus.  

The consent agenda also includes the purchase of the Iconic Drone Education Program in the amount of $34,025.00. Students completing this program of study in Drone (Unmanned Flight) Regional Program of Study will earn the high school industry-based certification Remote Drone Pilot. Students will also be able to compete in Skills USA through this program. This program comes with a fully developed curriculum for our teachers and provides in-person training to our teachers before the semester begins.  

Another purchase on the agenda is for a Tech-Lab Fanuc Robotic Arm in the amount of $65,650, for students to take all Dual Credit Courses leading to a certification in Robotics Technology from CTC while taking these courses on the high school campus.  

The final purchase is for the Barracuda Essentials for EDU in the amount of $26,363.64. The district utilizes this program as a spam filter and to archive emails. 

The board will also take action regarding accepting several donations, including $100 from Central Texas Council #5 of Royal and Select Master Prince Hall Affiliated for purchase of cap and gowns at Copperas Cove High School; $1,165.24 from Five Hills Scholarship Pageant; four $25 gift cars from Texas Primer Realty for prizes for multicultural night; and $186.75 for the donation of breakfast entrees by Chick-fil-A Copperas Cove for the paraprofessional breakfast at Clements/Parsons Elementary. 

The board will also take action on the appointment of investment officers for CCISD, with the district recommending Earl Parcell and Superintendent Joseph Burns be appointed as investment officers for the district. 

The board will take action on a resolution of release for a 0.160 portion of the drainage easement at S.C. Lee Junior High. 

The board will also take action to approve the scope of work and cost proposal with King Consultants Environmental for the asbestos abatement monitoring at Martin Walker Elementary and Hettie Halstead Elementary Schools, in the amount of $52,500. 

The board will take action on a resolution authorizing the participation in the Community Development Block Grant - Local Hazard Mitigation Plans Program (LHMPP), which is a grant program through the Texas General Land Office that develops a FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plan. 

The board will also take action on the submission of the instructional materials allotment and TEKS Certification for the 2022-2023 School Year.  

The board of trustees meet in the Board Room at the District Training Facility at 408 S. Main St, and the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.