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District seeks board approval to request E-rate funding for network switches; district share $162,936
Summary
Springfield R-XII staff presented an E-rate purchase request for internal network switches (Category 2). The total purchase is $814,677, of which the district is responsible for $162,936 (20%); the service provider will claim $651,000 from USAC. Staff anticipates a funding decision in summer and installation through the following school year.
Mr. Bruce Douglas presented the district's annual E-rate purchase request to trustees, describing the federal E-rate program and how the district plans to use it to refresh internal network equipment.
"E rate's a federal grama, established in 1997. It's, established through the FCC but administered through the Universal Service Administration Company or USAC and it provides discounts to eligible schools and libraries for equipment and services around internet connections," Douglas said, explaining the program's purpose and cycle.
Douglas told the board the purchase before the trustees covers network switches that support wired connectivity (Category 2) and that the district will approve the full purchase amount but pay only the district share. For the current request the total cost is $814,677; the district's eligible portion is 20 percent, or $162,936, while the service provider will seek the E-rate funded portion of $651,000 from USAC.
He described two invoicing methods used by districts: the prior approach where the district bids one year, installs the next and is reimbursed later, and a method where the service provider invoices USAC directly (the "service provider invoice" method) and pursues the E-rate funds on behalf of the district. Douglas said staff will submit Form 471 after board approval and that funding approval is typically received between June and September; installation and invoicing are expected between September and May of the following year.
Douglas said the district plans a 10-year life cycle for wired switches and a seven-year cycle for wireless equipment; the wired refresh in this purchase will cover middle schools and elementary schools with completion targeted by 2027. The board did not take a vote on the E-rate request at this meeting; staff said the item will move forward through the E-rate submission and procurement process.
