County school board OKs GPS device pilot program for district’s vehicle
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Country
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, 11:45 p.m. — The Nelson County Board of Education approved a pilot program that will install GPS devices on the district’s non-school bus vehicles.
Two member of the Thomas Nelson High School jazz band perform “Moscow 1941” during the Nelson County board of education meeting Tuesday night.
Tim Hockensmith, the district’s chief operating office, told the board that the program’s goal is not find fault with how employees are using district vehicles. The goal is to identify how to be more efficient with their usage.
Board member Diane Berry wasn’t convinced the program would be beneficial. At the board’s recent working session, Berry said the devices may imply that the district doesn’t trust its own employees with how they use vehicles.
“What exactly are you looking for?” she asked Hockensmith. “I’m having a hard time seeing how this thing is going to help.”
The GPS system will provide data — data which can be used to improve the efficiency of vehicle use or planning, he said. The GPS devices will be provided by Versatrans.
Board member Damon Jackey spoke in favor of the pilot GPS program. “This is the opportunity to be more efficient,” he told Berry. “Without the data we can tell.”
The initial program will cost the district $6,000 a year — costs that the district may be able to recoup simply by more efficient use of its vehicles, Hockensmith told the board.
If the pilot program is found useful, the GPS devices can be installed on the district’s bus fleet. “If we find out the things have no value, we can stop the service,” Hockensmith said.
Superintendent Anthony Orr and members of the Nelson County board of education gather around Becky Armstrong and Michael Hines who were honored with “Expect the Best” awards.
The board voted 4-1 to approve the pilot project, with board member Diane Berry voting against.
SURPLUS EQUIPMENT. The board approved a request to declare its old copying machines as surplus equipment. New copiers have been installed at all district buildings, and the old copiers will either be recycled or donated to non-profit organizations for their use.
AUDIT REVIEW. Jason Strange with Smith & Company CPAs presented the board with a thorough review of the district’s 2013-14 audit, and its subsequent approval of the Annual Financial Report presented by Hockensmith.
JAZZ PERFORMANCE. Two members of Thomas Nelson High School jazz band performed “Moscow, 1941” as a duet for the board and audience in attendance.
In other action, the board:
— honored Becky Armstrong and Michael Hines with “Expect the Best” awards;
— heard a review by Tim Beck, director of the district’s elementary schools, of the instruction domain as part of an ongoing board review of the Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (PGES).
— approved adopting the Department of Education’s superintendent professional growth and effectiveness system (SPGES).
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