March 29, 2024

Inadequate school intercom systems to be replaced

NCSD board vote for $106K upgrades in elementary schools, high school

Ineffective intercom and paging systems that have been restricting or even prohibiting communication in the Newton elementary schools and high school were approved Monday to be replaced and upgraded before the next school year.

The Newton Community School District Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of the low bid of $106,695 from Communication Innovators (CI), under the condition the approved dollar amount not exceed the original offer and the estimate could decrease significantly following another value engineering assessment.

Broken down by campus, the updated intercom and paging system project would cost $44,689 for Newton High School, $18,299 for Thomas Jefferson Elementary, $17,059 for Woodrow Wilson Elementary, $14,159 for Aurora Heights Elementary and $12,489 for Emerson Hough Elementary.

When initially seeking bids for the project, NCSD Director of Business Services Tim Bloom was told by Communication Innovators that crews could complete the job for about $30,000. At first, Bloom thought the company estimated that price for each site, but was later told crews would use the current equipment to improve upon the system.

“We’re hoping that the cost will actually become less. We’ll meet with our technology managers and work with CI — we have a good relationship with them — so hopefully we can find some cost savings there as well,” Bloom told the board Monday.

NCSD Superintendent Bob Callaghan said the new intercom and paging systems for each campus included in the bid will mirror the system installed at the new Berg Middle School.

Three of the elementary school principals who attended the school board meeting Monday night noted problems with their current intercom system, which are operated in conjunction with speakers installed throughout the campuses and the schools’ phone lines.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary Principal Trisca Mick said her school’s intercom system was “crackling.” Aurora Heights Elementary Principal James Gilbert confirmed his school’s system was spotty at best. Emerson Hough Elementary Principal Jolene Comer affirmed her campus’ system was not entirely functional at the moment.

Bloom said Emerson Hough will be the first school to receive its upgrades because of its inability to efficiently communicate with staff and students. Comer told the Newton Daily News the current intercom and paging system will work in select classrooms and hallways but is otherwise not functioning correctly.

Last school year, the Emerson Hough intercom system had a small issue and was subsequently patched. Comer said staff and crews knew it would be a temporary patch until an upgraded system was installed. Regardless of its sparse functionality, Comer still uses the intercom every day.

However, if an emergency were to come up and staff would need to communicate with others in the building, administrators use three different methods to convey information: the intercom itself, walkie talkies amongst staff and the emergency messaging system through the Infinite Campus program, a student information system.

"So just the same way Mr. Callaghan communicates to families if we were to have a snow day or a late start, they've got me connected to that system so I can communicate with our staff members here," Comer said. "They would all get an alert through their phones."

School board members seemed hesitant of the bid, questioning the logistics and validity of the significantly reduced Communication Innovators bid. After discussion amongst themselves and Callaghan, school board members came to the conclusion the bid is no different from others they’ve approved and were pressed for time to repair Emerson Hough’s system.

“Jolene (Comer) will tell you right now she’s working on a shoestring,” Callaghan told school board members.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com