Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The board for Logan Municipal Schools approved a resolution and lease-purchase agreement of $335,000 worth of education technology equipment after a brief special meeting on Aug. 8.
Participating in the videoconference during the special meeting were representatives from Cuddy & McCarthy of Santa Fe, the board’s legal firm, and the district’s financial adviser, RBC Capital Markets of Albuquerque. Both guided the board through approving an Educational Technology Note as described by the Education Technology Equipment Act.
Logan superintendent Dennis Roch said the note will be used this fall for new student computers, instructional software, communication equipment, servers and network switches.
The lease purchase was below the $350,000 authorized by the Education Technology Equipment Act, according to a legal notice published in the Quay County Sun.
Roch explained in an email the note uses local property tax dollars collected over the last year to borrow and almost immediately pay back funds that can then be used for technology upgrades. He stated the note will be outstanding for just one day, with an interest capped at $22.45.
“The Logan Board of Education viewed this as an incredible opportunity to achieve key upgrades for our students without additional cost to taxpayers,” Roch stated.
The payment for the equipment is scheduled to occur on Sept. 15.
During the board’s regular meeting:
• During a report, Roch said a trial for a class-action suit against Juul, an e-cigarette manufacturer, was scheduled to begin in November. Logan is one of nearly 800 school districts in 38 states that joined as a plaintiff in the suit.
• The board approved minor changes in the student handbook, as primarily recommended by principal Crystal Burns. Roch discussed changes that clarified language regarding publishing the honor roll, hall passes, transfers and participation letters. A section regarding coronavirus also was deleted because restrictions due to that disease were lifted.
• Burns said enrollment at the district has risen about 20 students, with several secondary classes accounting for the increase.
• Roch detailed a policy review that details how employees can donate leave time to another, especially for someone dealing with a lengthy illness.