A proposal to upgrade Bigfork school district’s uninterruptable power system is going before the school board on Wednesday. The system provides backup power to vital network and server equipment if there is a power interruption.

The cost to replace the backup batteries and network card is estimated to be $31,815, according to a quote from Montana Sky.  

A letter detailing the need for replacement said the current system is aging, and in many cases, only provides a few minutes of runtime during an outage. For comparison, a modern system would keep the core network and communications systems going for up to four hours — also giving staff enough time to safely shut down systems if necessary.  

Power interruptions can cause sudden shutdowns, which can lead to data loss or damage caused by outages and electric fluctuations, according to the letter. The district’s current uninterruptable power system is expected to last five years before degradation occurs, and it is past that time period.   

During December’s school board meeting, trustees approved a new contract with Peaks and Cellar for cleaning services through the rest of the school year. Superintendent Tom Stack told the board the previous company couldn’t complete all of what the district requested.  

Trustees also approved a field trip request for the Bigfork Middle School band. Teacher Brian Phillips proposed taking the seventh and eighth graders to Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho for a performance followed by a day of fun for students. Phillips said it would be an opportunity to give students a unique performing experience and another way to keep them interested in the program. 

“It’s for recruitment and retention, but I also feel like we need to do things to celebrate their hard work. They work really hard all year long,” Phillips told trustees.  

Following administrative reports, Stack thanked the Bigfork Rotary, as well as the district’s teachers, principals and counselors, for rallying around students in during the holiday season.  

“Providing pies and turkeys ... the same as what Charlie talked about, with their student council going out and doing that and Nate talking about students using their own money to buy presents for others,” Stack said.  

As the liaison for homeless students and students in foster care, Stack said he has also seen a generous amount of support from dental and vision offices, which offer services for little to no cost for their students who are homeless or in foster care.  

“I just made an appointment today for the second or third kid to go get eyeglasses ... and we do have a fund for needy students, where we can pay for the initial screening and some minor work. But they said ‘We’ll just comp it, we can cover it.” Stack said. “...So behind the scenes a lot of that is going on and it’s duly noted.”  

The Bigfork School Board meeting is Jan. 14, starting at 5 p.m. in the Bigfork High School Library. 

Next month's meeting is set for Feb. 11.  

Taylor Inman may be reached at 758-4440 or [email protected].