Hartselle school officials are hoping that one of two new wells at the new Hartselle High School will be enough to irrigate the entire school campus.

Jim Maynard, project manager of the school construction with Martin and Cobey Construction in Athens, said he’s looking for at least one more well to give the irrigation system at least 60 gallons of water per minute. If that happens, then the school system will not have to use Hartselle Utilities to help water the landscaping and ball fields at the new school.

“If we can get at least one more well that will produce 60 gallons per minute, then we can use Hartselle Utilities as a backup,” Maynard said. “One of the spots we’re looking at was where the old creek bed was. We think there’s a good possibility we’ll find water there.”

The school system has already drilled two wells. One produced 60 gallons per minute, but the other one only produced 11 gallons per minute.

At a special called meeting Thursday, Hartselle’s Board of Education approved up to two wells to be drilled for a cost of $4,000 per well.

In other business, the board approved a $452,273.08 contract with IE Dynetic, Inc., of Huntsville for the purchase and installation of a data network equipment, wireless access equipment and VOIP-phone equipment for the new high school.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Reed said the school system budgeted $525,000 for the project, but Reed credited the savings to Tim Southerland, system director of technology, for getting “everything we wanted at a savings of $70,000.”