Alva Review-Courier -

The Cherokee School Board held two meetings last month. One was the regular meeting on Nov. 6, where the board addressed an agenda item to replace Jeff White, who had resigned. After an executive session, Kurtis Goodwin was approved to fill White's unexpired term.

Then it turns out that Goodwin is a registered voter in Norman, and not Cherokee. This means he is not eligible and had to resign. So a special board meeting was held on Nov. 16 to accept his and Janelle Maltbie's resignations. She was a middle school para-professional.

Also at that meeting, the board approved the Annual School Board Election Resolution.

At Monday night's meeting, the board approved the following consent agenda with one vote: Minutes of Nov. 6, Minutes of Nov. 16, Gener Fund encumbrances, purchase orders and balances, General Fund warrants, Child Nutrition Fund encumbrances, purchase orders and balances, Child Nutrition warrants, Building Fund encumbrances, purchase orders and balances, Building Fund warrants, Activity Fund Report and Balances, Treasurer's Report and Fundraisers.

A couple of small activity fund transfers were approved, and then a lengthy period of time discussing bids for iPads and Chromebooks.

The bids were as follows:

Apple with Apple care for 210 iPads = $82,530

Apple without Apple Care = $61,740

CDI bid 265 Chromebooks = $105,205

FireFly bid 265 Chromebooks = $99,905

Office Depot = $85,189.55

SHI = $87,889.90

Trinity3 = $81,885

Trinty3 warranty = $29 per unit per year

Two Trees = $86,920

VIG = $95,776.30

The superintendent said Enid uses Trinity warranty over Apple.

Then the board discussed software to protect the students while online. GoGuardian would be used as a filter for the teacher to see what the student is doing and keep them off of sites they aren't supposed to be on. Enid uses it and likes it.

Another software protection was discussed: Imperio. One disadvantage of Imperio is it doesn't give notifications like GoGuardian. The students will be responsible to keep the tablets in cases and being charged overnight.

The price paid would be an annual purchase. The parents would have to come into the school to see what the kids are viewing. They can't log in from home. There will be three meetings in January that every parent has to attend at least one and go over the devices and how to handle them.

Superintendent Donna Anderson suggested a motion they purchase Apple without Apple Care for $61,740 and add the Trinity Warranty for $29 per year. They have been promised a 90-day turnaround and should be ready on Jan. 31, 2018. After an executive session, the board approved employment and salary extension of Donna Anderson for three more years. The extension starts July 1, 2018. A video of the entire meeting can be seen at http://www.AlvaReviewCourier.com.