The Jackson County Board of Education approved a bid to purchase a new food-grade steamer for the Jackson County High School cafeteria.
The equipment purchase funded through the School Nutrition program rather than the district’s general fund. Chairman Dustin Kennedy said the district had previously discussed the need for the steamer during its May meeting but did not receive any bids at that time.
“And this, this had the specs in it that everything that she needed,” Kennedy said. “So what they’re bidding on was drawn up in the specs and she went with them and she talked to them, I think, when we brought the bid in.”
Kennedy said the final price came in lower than the $30,000 to $40,000 range officials originally expected for the unit and its installation. The board accepted a bid from Noble Fixture and Equipment, a company based in Alabama.
Board Member Mark Allen said the specific unit is a Cleveland brand steamer with an extended price of $23,609.56.
Hardy said the nutrition program maintains its own separate budget to handle cafeteria-specific needs and upgrades.
The next regular school board meeting will follow the July 16 workshop.