The board approved a contract with a new technician to upkeep the schools’ monitoring systems that will cost roughly $5,600 per year. The contract replaces a contract costing the school system $24,000 per year for the technical company currently overseeing the schools’ monitoring systems.

The board also approved a scholarship fund in honor of the late former Gainesville school board member Richard Shockley. The Richard Shockley Scholars program will assist funding academic opportunities for students including covering preparation and testing costs for college entrance tests, academic field trips and graduation expenses. Funds may be generated beginning in January 2009.