By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer- Elmore/Autauga News
The Elmore County Board of Education on Thursday approved the one-year lease of a warehouse at 73868 Tallassee Highway for the sorting, sealing and distribution of student meals as well as personal protection equipment (PPE’s).
The $3,500 a month lease of the warehouse across the street from Elmore Community Hospital in Wetumpka was approved during a called board meeting. The 5,000 square foot warehouse will give staff ample room to operate and ship supplies to the schools. The building has four delivery bays to load the meals and equipment.
Child Nutrition Program services will occupy two thirds of the facility and the rest will be used for sorting, packaging, and delivery of PPE’s.
Chief Financial Officer Jason Mann said the only thing the department will need to purchase will be large fans for air circulation. The building has air conditioning as well.
Also, on Thursday, the Board approved a $23,211 bid from Blue Ridge Mountain Water to bring water to the school for students to use instead of drinking fountains due to COVID-19 issues. Water stations will be placed in each school where students can fill up water bottles each day.
School Superintendent Richard Dennis said students can bring bottles from home or get them at school. He said the school system has purchased 16-ounce drinking bottles that will be distributed to students as needed. The water stations are like ones currently used for the county’s athletic programs
The Board also accepted a $239,500 bid from JaniKing of Montgomery to provide custodial services for one year. The bid includes nightly cleanings of the schools.
Dennis also told the Board that 35% of Elmore County’s 11,200 students have now indicated that they will attend school virtually. “This may be an asset in some regards because it allows us to start school with a staggered number of students,” he said.
He said enrollment also continues to climb at Elmore County’s Virtual School, EDGE. Around 197 students are currently enrolled in EDGE and another 120 applications are pending. “We have seen every day increases in students registering,” Dennis said.
EDGE is another free virtual program available for students in grades 6-12 living in Elmore, Autauga, and Montgomery counties. In this program, students can learn at home with diverse options including live, certified tutors virtually accessible daily, support for students and their parents/guardians, and schedule flexibility.
Students enrolled in this virtual program will have opportunities to participate in athletics, cheer, dance, band, and other activities. There are additional options for virtual or “on campus” elective and Career Technical Education.
