The Kanawha County Board of Education chose the lowest bidder when it selected a new workers' compensation insurance provider at Thursday's regular meeting.
The board approved a contract with Brickstreet Insurance to provide workers' compensation insurance to the Kanawha County school system, which previously had a contract with Travelers Insurance.
"I just want to make it clear the reason I am going to support Brickstreet is because they are the low bid and that's the way we've been voting," said board member Becky Jordon. "It seems like we're picking the lower bid unless someone's been awful, for years. I just didn't want to get off of that track."
Representatives from Brickstreet and Travelers presented at the meeting.
The motion passed on a 3-1 vote. Board member Ryan White abstained from voting and Pete Thaw voted no.
The number of the Kanawha County schools workers' comp claims has plateaued in recent years. In the 2014-15 school year there were 121 claims. In the 2015-16 school year there were 120 claims. In the current school year, there have been 122 claims.
Also, during the question and answer portion of the meeting, Jordon asked if it was possible that the board change its purchasing policy to favor in-state businesses.
"They're employing our students' parents, paying our taxes," Jordon said. "We've definitely approved several out of state businesses.
"But I feel like [local businesses] need some type of preference."
Also at the meeting:
n The board unanimously approved the purchase of replacement school buses in the amount of $243,570 to Matheny Motor Truck Company. The cost will cover the price of two diesel school buses.
n The board unanimously approved the contract for the furnishings for Elkview Middle School to replace those lost in the June 23 flood in the amount of $172,406 to The HON Company. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. on July 20 at the Kanawha County Board of Education.
Reach Kayla Asbury at kayla.asbury@wvgazettemail.com, call 304-348-3051 or follow @kasbury_ on Twitter.