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East Hartford reviews technology infrastructure, E‑rate projects and device inventory ahead of refresh cycle
Summary
Technology staff outlined network, device and cybersecurity projects, E‑rate-funded fiber and wireless procurements, device counts and a planned infrastructure refresh; the district also noted staffing transitions.
Roberta Pratt presented the district’s technology portfolio to the board, describing infrastructure, device totals and E‑rate-funded projects the district is pursuing to sustain classroom connectivity.
"We really start with the infrastructure and the security, that's the most important thing," Pratt said, describing routers, servers, wiring and the district’s 42 miles of fiber. She told the board the district manages a large device inventory, that school displays and interactive boards are in every classroom, and that summer activities include collection, refurbishment and redeployment of devices.
Assistant network administrator Joe De Leon, who was recognized earlier in the meeting, summarized day‑to‑day responsibilities: "It's basically making sure that you have network availability 24 7. The Wi Fi works when teachers come in in the morning. The phones work." Pratt added that the district turns over about 7,000 devices each year for inventory and deployment and expects to deliver 800 devices for summer programs and ESY services.
Pratt described two E‑rate contracts the board later approved: a three‑year fiber services contract with Crown Castle with a total cost of $504,252 (district share 10% = $50,425.20), and a wireless access point contract with Wally Computers for 235 access points at a total project cost of $172,370 (district share = $25,855). She told the board the fiber award was approved through the E‑rate cost‑only RFP process and that both projects are reimbursable under E‑rate rules.
Pratt said the district has been accepted to a federal cybersecurity pilot program and plans vulnerability testing after summer projects finish. She noted use of ARP funds to move capital projects forward and emphasized the need to plan for a future refresh cycle of servers, storage and student/staff devices when federal relief funding ends.
During questions, a board member asked whether E‑rate funding could be sustained long term; Pratt said her consultant had not reported plans to end USAC programs but acknowledged uncertainty in federal priorities. Pratt also told the board, "I'm not going to be here next year. I'm not going to be here this summer," a staffing note she raised during the update.
The board later approved contract awards and motions related to the E‑rate projects during the consent portion of the meeting.
