After two major system failures caused Northland Pioneer College (NPC) to cancel video classes for nearly one and one-half days, the Navajo County Commnity College Distrct Governing Board has approved the emergency purchase of a new video system.

In a special teleconference meeting of the board held Oct. 28, the board voted unanimously to allow NPC to spend $282,180.50, plus tax and shipping, for a new video system, including equipment, installation and maintenance.

Director of Information Systems Eric Bishop said the video system had been giving indications it was breaking down over the past year, and the college unsuccessfully sought grant funding to replace the system, which serves all nine of the college’s locations.

The college was in the process of exploring how to fund a new system when two significant failures resulted in the cancellation of one evening and a full day of classes, with the most recent failure taking 14 hours to repair.

“The criticalness of the situation is increasing,” said Bishop.

The system failures curtail 80 to 85 percent of the college’s services at its five centers, and about 50 percent of its services at its four campuses, Bishop said.

He reported the college sought five bids for a new video system, and received three that were acceptable. One Vision Solutions of Texas submitted the lowest bid, which the board voted unanimously to approve.

The new video system could take four to eight weeks to receive and install. One Vision is providing a loaner system for the college to use in the interim.

Board member Dusty Parsons asked if the college had consulted with its attorney to confirm it is appropriate to expend the money for the new system, and whether this is considered an emergency purchase.

NPC President Dr. Jeanne Swarthout confirmed the college’s attorney had reviewed the purchase process and found it was within the guidelines of community college procurement practices, and stated that NPC is a good steward of public resources.

College staff had originally planned to secure board approval for the new video system purchase during the Nov. board meeting, but in a briefing statement to the board stated, “Staff has very little confidence in the ability of the video bridge to continue normal operation until the November meeting.”