Beatrice School Board approves several purchases, ahead of new school year

BEATRICE, Neb. - The Beatrice School Board is acting on additions to technology, while also purchasing a useful piece of machinery ahead of the new school year. 

On Monday night, the school board voted unanimously to approve purchases of new laptops and chromebook's, as well as the purchase of a new side-by-side Utility Terrain Vehicle. Superintendent Jason Alexander says the purchases for laptops fit this years budget.

"It made sense to do some of those this year," Alexander said. "We decided to do 20 of those... There's probably that many next year that need to be taken care of."

In addition to the 20 laptops, 15 chromebook's will be purchased for student use. The 35 pieces of technology will cost just shy of $30,000. 

Alexander expressed the need for the new side-by-side, saying it can be used for transportation at Beatrice Orangemen football games, landscaping, lawn care, and snow removal. Alexander says estimated the cost at $15,000, but said that cost could be lower. 

"We thought we had one for $8,000-$10,000, but it got sold," Alexander said. "Just knowing what these cost, I'm asking for your authorization of $15,000, but if we can find one used for less than that, then we will spend less than that."

Beatrice's first day of school for all students is Wednesday, August 13.