Band programs in Henry County’s public schools are getting an equipment boost.

The Henry County Board of Education voted at its March 13 regular meeting to approve a $249,753 purchase of band equipment for middle schools and high schools, a move that officials said is intended to meet the needs of the district’s growing band programs and aging existing inventory.

The district’s special-purpose local option sales tax will fund the purchase.

Termerion McCrary, the district’s chief learning and performance officer, reported to the board that meetings were held with each school band director to determine the need based on the condition of that school program’s current inventory.

Based on the fine arts team and band directors’ assessments, this purchase will include bassoons, bass clarinets, oboes, piccolos, alto saxophones, French horns, sousaphones, tubas, vibraphones, xylophones, and glockenspiels.

In other business, a $2,649,556 bid was approved for an upcoming project regarding electronic message signs at individual schools. According to district chief operations officer Josh Malcom, the work consists of complete removal of existing signs at all elementary schools and installation of new electronic message signs, while existing masonry monument signs at middle schools and high schools will be incorporated into new electronic message signs. All signs will require provisions for new electrical power for new electronic message signs.

Malcom said SunBelt Builders was the low bidder out of three bids that were received. A total of 41 electronic message signs will be installed through this project. Construction will take place between April and December of this year.

The board approved a $1,196,000 contract for the purchase of student Chromebook devices based on projected enrollment growth and replacement needs. Dr. Brian Blanton, the district’s chief information services officer, the upcoming school year will be the second year in the current five-year cycle for the Chromebook plan.

When asked by board member Dr. Pam Nutt if the proposal would provide enough devices for students, Blanton said that district officials had looked closely at projections and believe it will suffice.

Also approved was a $202,500 purchase of protective cases for Chromebooks, which will cover the new devices being purchased now as well as some already in use.

The board approved a new set of K-12 mathematics standards, which McCrary said incorporates new requirements set forth by the Georgia Department of Education. It was made available to the public for a customary review period, during which one response was received regarding the K-5 standards. McCrary said adjustments were then made based on that “very helpful feedback.”

Board member Makenzie McDaniel was nominated and approved by his peers to represent the board at the Georgia School Board Association Delegate Assembly, scheduled for June 9 in Savannah.