Meeting recap: New camera system up for bid at District 152
At the September 12 meeting, district officials discussed bids for a new camera system and prepped for the second phase of the Maya Angelou School project.
Meeting date
September 12, 2022
Roll call
Board President Casey Nesbit: Present
Vice President Janet Rogers: Present
Secretary Teresa Cameron: Present
Member Sandra Contreras: Present
Member Linda Hawkins: Present
Member Myra Gardner: Present
Member Joseph Whittington, Jr.: Present
The big picture
Harvey School District 152 officials are working on getting a new security system for schools.
Notable presentations
Camera bid confusion
The district received four total bids from vendors regarding a new camera system.
Member Gardner questioned if the lowest bidder selected at the time actually met the specifications for the district’s pixel requirement—3 by 5 megapixels—sent to all bidders, with an estimated price.
One vendor indicated they could make modifications to their offer at a lower rate, benefitting the district, explained District 152 Director of Technology Oscar Herrera.
However, Rogers objected, saying that modifications can’t be made to a bid during the process. “I been in this business a long time. My mama raised a fool, but it wasn’t me,” Rogers said.
The board then voted to approve a bid with Mokena-based Seconds Matter Safety Solutions pending legal review of the bid process.
The district attorney Dr. Margaret Longo and the legal team reviews all contracts.
Major decisions
Asbestos abatement at Maya Angelou School
The board approved a contract with the South Cook Mosquito Abatement, on which board president Janet Rogers serves as director of mosquito eradication.
Using federal dollars, the district is building an entirely new elementary school behind the current Maya Angelou School facility on 157th Street and Page Avenue. The area must be cleared of potentially hazardous materials prior to the project’s second phase and building’s eventual demolition.
The new facility is slated to be ready for the fall 2023 academic year.
Payroll
The board approved payroll for the month of August 2022. That totalled $860,031.48.
Accounts payable
The board approved the accounts payable ledger for August 2022. That totalled $992,998.86.
For context: An accounts payable ledger refers to charges currently owed. If you have multiple creditors, this is often kept in one large controlling account, called accounts payable. Bills refer to actual invoices you may receive for future services.
Public comment
N/A
For your viewing
Review the agenda and meeting minutes
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Amethyst J. Davis is responsible for spearheading the growth and development of the HWH, including outlining the editorial trajectory and content. She also produces “The Renaissance Letter,” our biweekly email newsletter, edits content, and fact-checks stories prior to publication Amethyst was an administrator at New York University before launching her journalism career. She is also a member of the Sounding Board, the community advisory board for Chicago Public Media, which includes WBEZ Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.
In 2022, Amethyst was a Casey Fellow with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Black News & Views, where she covered health and COVID-19 for the NABJ’s newly launched digital news service. She is a sought after speaker on community journalism and has given talks at institutions like DePaul University and the University of Kansas. Amethyst is a regular guest on City Cast Chicago.
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