BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Cell phone bills were a topic of discussion at the Baldwin County Board of Education’s February meeting in Bay Minette Thursday night when the board was asked to consider a list of financial bids and proposals.

Among that list was the recommendation to award a $113,645.88 contract to Sprint Solutions Inc., for staff cell phones.

“This is not a commitment to actually spend any money?” District 6 Board member Robert Callahan Jr. asked.

Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee deferred to Financial Officer Jean McCutchen for an explanation of the recommendation.

“Normally the bills run an average of $11,000 a month,” she said. “That covers 250-plus drivers and 200 staff. That covers all the staff.”

McCutchen added that the quoted recommendation was for 20,000 cell-phone minutes.

“But I will double check about that rate,” she said.

Callahan then asked about the need for adding text and e-mail features to staff cell phones.

McCutchen said those services were only provided to a select few staff members who travel frequently and use those services as their main forms of communication.

Lee added that he has a list of personnel having cell phones and the reasons for their need.

After the discussion, the board approved the bids and proposals, which include the following:

* A three-year, $95,760 contract with ScholinSites.com LLC in Saraland for web-hosting services;

* A contract with School Improvement Network of Midvale, Utah, for a web-based professional development program, with an initial first-year cost of $147,620;

* contract with McGriff Tire Company of Pritchard for tires, with expenditures made on an as-needed basis;

* and the extension of a contract with Nall Printing of Fairhope for printing services, with expenditures made on an as-needed basis. The contract is extended through March 19, 2012.

Read expanded coverage in the Wednesday, March 2, edition of The Baldwin Times.