The Henry County School Board approved a series of strategic investments aimed at enhancing student safety, comfort, and educational infrastructure for the upcoming fiscal year.
At a recent meeting, the board committed more than $2.1 million to upgrades across four key areas: school technology systems, transportation for students with disabilities, cafeteria food services, and bus safety.
Technology Infrastructure Upgrades
As part of its ongoing effort to improve digital access and reliability in schools, the board approved the replacement of critical servers that support districtwide operations. The new system will feature secure, scalable hardware with warranties to ensure long-term service and adaptability to growing demands.
The total cost for the server replacements is $100,161.78, funded through the FY25 Instruction and Technology budgets.
Air Conditioning for Special Education Buses
In a move to improve transportation conditions for students with disabilities, the board approved the installation of air conditioning units on 21 special education (SPED) buses that currently lack cooling systems.
Kingmor Supply of Mount Crawford, Virginia—identified as the sole source provider—was awarded the contract to complete the installations. The work is expected to cost approximately $321,000 and will be funded through the FY25 Transportation budget.
The breakdown of the costs includes:
6 Type A buses at $16,000 each: $96,000
15 Type C buses at $15,000 each: $225,000
Food Supply Contract for School Cafeterias
To ensure consistent and reliable meal service, the board also awarded a food supply contract to RRS Foodservice, a division of J.L. Culpepper & Co., Inc., based in Ashland. RRS was the sole respondent to the district’s formal solicitation and has provided dependable service for the past five years.
The contract, valued at approximately $1.55 million annually, covers the 2025–26 school year and includes an option for up to four additional one-year renewals. Funding will come from the FY26 School Nutrition budget.
Backup Cameras for School Buses
As part of its commitment to student safety, the school division will install backup cameras on 130 school buses. Kingmor Supply submitted the lowest qualifying bid among three vendors and was awarded the contract at a cost of $157,742.
The other proposals came from:
Blue Bird: $162,169.48
Sonny Merryman: $181,350
The project will be funded through the FY25 Transportation budget.
