TIPS implements Marketplace system for eProcurement

The Interlocal Purchasing System is implementing the TIPS Marketplace, a one-stop eProcurement system that TIPS members can utilize to facilitate and streamline the electronic purchasing process.

The TIPS Marketplace, powered by EqualLevel©, will facilitate vendor/contract discovery, evaluation, request for information/quote, and order processing between TIPS members and TIPS awarded vendors.

The Marketplace allows members to order from multiple vendors from one site, while knowing that the contracts they are purchasing from have been awarded through a competitive bid.

For more information, go to www. tips-usa.com

Stephens can help board members obtain training hours

Stephens can assist board members with obtaining their required professional development hours.

Arkansas law generally requires that school board members obtain up to six hours of certified professional development on topics related to school operations.

ASBA has deemed Stephens’ financial advisors as certified ASBA trainers who are able to provide up to four hours of school finance training annually toward ASBA’s Boardsmanship Awards Program. Normally held in the evening or on a weekend, this free training workshop addresses topics ranging from state and local funding revenue sources to debt financing of capital projects. This type of workshop can be particularly useful when boards are considering how to finance future capital projects.

To learn more about how Stephens can assist your district, contact Michael McBryde of Stephens Public Finance at 501.377.2641. For more information about Stephens, go to www.stephens. com.

Arkansas Public Safety installs weapons finder at Hot Springs

Arkansas Public Safety Solutions has contracted with the Hot Springs School District to implement Motorola Avigilon Concealed Weapons Detection technology powered by Evolv.

APSS Engineering Director Joe Marfone said, “Our team is excited to be implementing the second Motorola/ Avigilon Concealed Weapons Detection system in the K-12 market in Arkansas. APSS appreciates the confidence the Hot Springs School District places in our team for this mission-critical component of next generation school safety technology.”

Greenbrier was the first district to install the technology.

Arkansas Public Safety Solutions, a Little Rock-based system integrator, is focused on the K-12 market and has 85 years of public safety system design, integration, and service experience.

For more information about Arkansas Public Safety Systems, go to www. motorolaapss.com

100,000 children, teachers, and residents in 60 Arkansas school districts are safer because of safe rooms.

C.R. Crawford has served as construction manager for several Arkansas projects. In 2017, it completed one that doubles as a P.E. facility for Mountainburg School District. The district added the extra protection to the design knowing it would not interfere with the building’s use or aesthetics. A year after it was complete, a tornado touched down in Mountainburg, and many took shelter in the safe room.

For questions about safe room construction, contact Leigh Ann Showalter at lshowalter@crcrawford.com or go to www.crcrawford.com.

French Architects designed five safe rooms for Lakeside

French Architects designed five safe rooms for the Lakeside School District that are spread over its campus and were constructed several years ago.

French Architects designed the safe rooms to be integrated into the design while meeting the needs of the district. One is a classroom space within the building at the primary wing, others blend in as French Architects matched the façade of the existing middle school facility, and all are located within proximity of students.

C.R. Crawford built FEMA safe room in Mountainburg

An average of 38 tornadoes hit Arkansas each year, and multi-purpose FEMA safe rooms are one solution. In a 2021 study, FEMA said more than

The safe rooms provide an open P.E. space in both primary and intermediate schools. They are striped for games, provide wall climbing activities, and serve as another basketball gym for elementary sports.

For more information about French Architects, email David French at david@frencharchitects.net, or check out the firm’s Facebook page.

Nabholz partners with Greenbrier on useful storm shelters

As more Arkansas school districts include storm shelters in their construction projects, they are increasingly viewing these shelters as more than mere concrete boxes. By incorporating them into multi-purpose buildings, schools can maximize their space and stretch their construction budgets, all while keeping students safe.

Nabholz partnered with Greenbrier Public Schools to build six such facilities, beginning in 2015 with construction of the new Springhill Elementary. Shelters were later added to the district’s remaining three elementary schools; the junior high, which shares a campus with the middle school; and to the high school. All six serve students daily as physical education, athletic, and flex spaces. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, these facilities also provided much-needed space for social distancing.

Between ever-evolving K-12 educational facility needs and the constant threat of severe weather in Arkansas, Nabholz predicts these versatile, resilient spaces will become routine additions to school design plans.

For more information about Nabholz, visit nabholz.com.

WER Architects designs more than 20 hardened facilities

Keeping students safe is always a top priority in school design. Storm shelters not only serve as a safe haven for students and the community during severe weather, but also can be a large-format educational space year round.

Under Arkansas’ newest iteration of the building code, all new school construction projects built for 50 or more students will be required to provide a storm shelter within them. WER has designed more than 20 hardened facilities from FEMA to ICC 500.

For more information about WER Architects, go to www.werarch.com

Energy company M3 Services meets students, offers jobs

Energy reduction company M3 Services had a booth at the 2023 Draft Day career fair at Lake Hamilton. Students from Garland County districts and elsewhere were bused in to meet with potential employers.

“What sets us apart from the traditional employer at this fair is we are looking for those students who may be overlooked, offer them a trade and encourage them to reach their full potential,” noted owner Alex Mouton, who is pictured above at left.

M3 Services, one of a handful of trades companies there, interviewed a dozen students and made entry-level offers to a few graduating seniors. It plans to keep up with the juniors it met and steer them towards a path in the energy reduction trades upon graduation, including successful completion of their EPA license.

For more information about M3 Services, go to m3svs.com or call 501.991.4822.

Baldwin & Shell celebrates finish of Lion Arena

Searcy Public Schools hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at its new high school arena in May 2023. The new Lion Arena, which was completed by Baldwin & Shell, is approximately 100,000 square feet and contains 2,800 permanent seats. Additional features include a golf practice room, hospitality room with kitchen, history wall, trophy case, cheer/dance room, locker rooms, weight room, and a high-end sound system with lighting controls. The main uses for the arena will be for basketball, volleyball, and wrestling.

For more information about Baldwin & Shell, go to www.baldwinshell.com

Strategos provides armed school protection services

Strategos International now offers “school protection specialist” services that provide schools with armed school protection. These specialists are high quality and highly trained professionals. Strategos has delivered this program to some of the largest districts in Missouri. Strategos’ extensive experience in providing school training, consulting and protection solutions to more than 500 school districts currently ensures the districts get a protection solution that increases safety and security without compromising the core mission of educating students.

For more information, go to www. strategosintl.com or contact Steve Anderson at 501.617.4718.