T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS Rogers Elementary is one Marshalltown school building that experienced vandalism this summer. School officials hope planned security measures will stop that kind of activity as well as strengthen general safety.

The Marshalltown School Board voiced its approval Monday of a project to improve security systems around the district.

Among the expected improvements will be installing more security cameras and implementing key card access for school personnel.

“Particularly, we’re looking at focusing on the elementary schools and putting external cameras on the buildings so we can get a better handle on what’s going on not just during school hours but outside school hours,” said district superintendent Theron Schutte during the board’s regular meeting.

He again said the new security systems “hopefully will help curb some of the vandalism we’ve experienced in the past.”

Schutte and district buildings and grounds director Chuck Springer have previously mentioned vandalism incidents at various elementary school buildings this summer. One of the security measures that could be put in place is a series of 270-degree cameras that would cover many parts of school grounds not currently in sight of a camera.

Another proposal is to lock the front doors of elementary schools, making visitors buzz into the school office before being allowed into a vestibule. Those vestibules currently have a system of door locks and office communication that provides security at the schools.

TSP Inc. architect Justin Sorensen said requests for proposals will be sent out Wednesday for interested vendors. The bids for the work will be received and considered by the board in October before the project is awarded.

“Once that’s done, we’ll start contracting and move the project forward,” Sorensen said.

Springer previously said it would be favorable if the total project cost estimate came in under $450,000.

As the district’s architectural and engineering contractor for the project, TSP staff have put forward the following timeline for the security upgrade project:

• Sept. 3 – Public hearing held on project plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated total cost. Board approves of those same project details.

• Sept. 4 – Project details released for potential bidders to inspect.

• Sept. 26 – A pre-bid conference at 3:30 p.m. at Franklin Elementary School, 1315 W. Main St.

• Oct. 3 – School district to receive project bids.

• Oct. 7 – School board considers project bids received by potential contractors. One of those contractors will be awarded the project and work will begin thereafter. Once a bid is awarded, a more concrete idea of the total cost of the project will be known.

• Feb. 14, 2020 – Estimated substantial completion date.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

641-753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com