FREEHOLD – The Freehold Borough K-8 School District Board of Education has authorized the $109,200 purchase of five thermal imaging cameras to help protect the health of students and staff members when the district’s schools reopen later in the year.
The district’s three schools closed in March and remained closed for the duration of the 2019-20 academic year due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
On June 29, board members approved the purchase of five Mobotix thermal imaging cameras and related equipment from Ergotron. Each unit will cost $21,840 for a $109,200 total.
According to district administrators, funding for the purchase will come from the district’s approved Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act federal funding.
Schools are expected to reopen in September for the 2020-21 school year with certain restrictions in place to help prevent the spread of the virus.
According to district administrators, the cameras will be used to monitor the body temperature of individuals who enter the district’s facilities. An elevated body temperature may be a symptom of coronavirus.
The purchase of the devices was made in consultation with the Freehold Borough Health Department and the school district’s physician, according to administrators.
Board members authorized Assistant Superintendent of Business Joseph Howe to purchase 50 hand sanitizer stations with dispensers and 75 hand sanitizer stands with dispensers from Visual Sound.
The purchase of the hand sanitizer stations/stands will total $22,100. According to district administrators, it is anticipated that 75% of that amount will be reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
