CANFIELD — The Canfield Board of Education met in special session Tuesday to get the ball rolling to replace the fire alarm panels at the elementary schools after the annual fire inspection of the schools.

“We have regular fire safety inspections of all of our buildings,” said Canfield Superintendent Joe Knoll. “The most recent one came with the recommendation to replace the panels at our two elementary buildings.”

He said the age of the fire panels at C.H. Campbell and Hilltop elementary schools are unknown. They could be the original panels that were installed.

Knoll said the fire alarm panels connect with all the buildings’ smoke detectors. When a smoke alarm goes off, it registers in the panel and automatically alerts the fire department to respond.

Knoll said he got quotes from Radi-O-Sound Communications in Salem. The C.H. Campbell panel will cost $85,265 and the Hilltop panel came in at $98,770. Both prices include installation.

With the replacement considered an emergency project, Knoll said it didn’t have to go out to bid. He said the goal is to get the panels replaced with minimal class interruption. He said the panels should be finished by Oct. 10.

“This is something we have to do,” said board President Nader Atway.

Knoll said the unexpected cost of the panels will cause the loss of two new buses in the district’s annual fleet replacement program.

Knoll did say the middle school and high school panels were considered acceptable at the inspection.

Board members Atway, Traci DeCapua, Matt Campbell and Steve DeMaiolo voted to accept the emergency repair work.