Somersworth board approves vendor to pursue E‑rate grant for network upgrade

The Somersworth School Board approved a vendor selection to proceed with the district’s second-phase technology upgrade and the required E‑rate filing.

Katie, the district’s presenter on the project, told the board that the district’s E‑rate consultant ran a five-vendor RFP evaluation and that the technical recommendation favored an Aruba-branded solution quoted by Soarscribe, which Katie said “provides the most value over the life of the equipment” because of support and warranty terms. Katie described the selection step as the board’s authorization to move forward with a chosen vendor for the E‑rate filing window, not final approval of a purchase order; the final vendor quote and purchase will return to the board for approval.

Katie told the board the project has roughly $191,000 budgeted locally; the district expects a 60% E‑rate reimbursement and the remaining cost will come from the previously approved district funds. Because of the E‑rate timeline, Katie asked the board to suspend the normal rules and approve a vendor selection that day.

The board voted to suspend rules and to approve SourceOne (listed on the motion as the service provider for the 2025 E‑rate Category 2 RFP filing window). Board members acknowledged they will review the final vendor quote when it returns to the board for contract approval. Katie and Chad (the district’s consultant from NuVu) said the final scope and price could be adjusted to fit the budget once the vendor provides a firm quote.

No board member opposed the motion.

The district will proceed with the E‑rate filing and return any final vendor quote for board approval of expenditures.