Computer Leasing, Other Issues On School Board Agenda

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County School Board is in for a marathon day of meetings, with numerous issues up for discussion today.

The board will meet for a 1 p.m. special meeting, followed by a 1 p.m. workshop and regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Perhaps most notable is a discussion during the workshop of a four-year, $8.1 million deal to lease computers from Dell.

Approximately 11,000 brand-new, leased machines would replace the district's current policy of buying 700 new computers per year.

The $8.1 million contract would include a maintenance agreement, with technicians standing by to install the computers by the start of the school year in August and conduct repairs as needed.

All computers would be replaced every four years. This would replace the district's current 10,474 machines, many of which are older than three years. The workshop will also include an update of the district's career and professional academies - in which students will chose a school based on their program of interest - and an update of the status of approximately $122 million in the state-run local government investment pool, among other issues.

The special meeting concerns Superintendent Wayne Alexander's recommendation to fire 11-year district veteran Jennifer Gallagher, who teaches fourth grade at Westside Elementary School in Spring Hill. While Gallagher says health issues prevented her from returning to work, district officials claim a case of excessive absenteeism and not following appropriate procedure.

The regular meeting's agenda includes approval of an education program that will offer gifted endorsement classes at no cost to local teachers, among other issues.

All meetings will take place at the school board's headquarters, 919 N. Broad Street in Brooksville.