VIENNA — The availability of federal CARES Act money in Maries County has assisted the Maries R-1 School District in making needed updates to technology to better serve students, sometimes learning virtually, during this uncertain time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the R-1School Board’s November meeting, Superintendent Mark Parker informed the board about what the money the district received was used for. He said Maries County approved all of the school district’s requests for reimbursements, which total about $120,000. The school also received $114,000 from the state.

Cleaning, disinfecting, masks and other supplies and equipment were purchased. Also purchased were infrared thermometers, plexiglass, disposable protective gowns and more. The district had three separate requests for 10 packs of two Medify air purifiers which will be placed in each classroom and office space to cleanse the air in the room from the virus. The school district had to split the order into three orders due to the charge limit on the school credit card and available credit.

A big expense was technology upgrades. Maries R-1 added 254 Chromebook laptop computers, and 25 iPads with data plans. The district purchased two laptop carts and now every staff member has a Chromebook. Parker said they increased the number of computers at the school so there are enough computers for every student in grades sixth through twelve with 40 left over.

Also added were cameras, a server, split cameras on server for checking close contacts. They added wiring infrastructure, replaced projectors, refreshed access points and plan to add eight Chromebooks for the special education department. He said these have not been received yet.

They added water fountains that became bottle fillers and now have 15 of them. Parker said the students are using the bottle fillers a lot.

Parker said after the safety entrances are installed, they plan to add two drop boxes — one outside the elementary school and the other outside of the high school.

There also was money from the state, which Visitation Inter-Parish School also has access to with Title 1. Parker said he met with VIPS Principal Marilyn Bassett about what the school needed. Because it is federal money, whatever is purchased as to remain the property of the public school, but can be loaned to the parochial school. Parker said they bought some Chromebooks to loan to VIPS. Also, a bottle filler fountain and hand sanitizer dispenser.

Board President Vicki Bade said at next month’s meeting she would like to see a complete itemization of CARES Act reimbursements to the school district.

In his financial report, Parker reported Formula/CTF November revenues of $90,720.30, down $8,712.23 from the previous year. Prop C revenue was $44,172.45, up $7,714.38 from last year. Transportation revenue was $5,745, down about $1,000 from the previous year.

Electricity expenses continue to be less than the previous year, which is attributed to the LED light project. November’s electricity bill was $3,107.85, down about $200 from last year’s bill for November. Parker estimated the annual savings at about $1,100.