The Grand Coulee Dam School District school board approved the purchase of a 2001 Suburban at its meeting Monday night. The vehicle has 71,000 miles on it and the purchase price is $9,386.

Prior to the decision to purchase the nine-passenger vehicle, the district rented it from Practical Rent a Car, in Grand Coulee, when school officials were scheduled to go to education meetings around the state.

It was pointed out by school officials that trips scheduled for this spring would cost the district nearly $1,000, so it made good sense to purchase the vehicle.

The board did not act on a request for the purchase of a bell system at the high school gym nor for a new curtain for the stage, because the district wanted to see how it would affect the budget.

The request for a bell system included a sound system for the stage and came to over $50,000.

The system would coordinate with the bell system in the new building.

The new curtain, which would replace the old and damaged curtain that has been in place for years, would cost about $11,000.

The requests will be reviewed again when the board has its next meeting.