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Technology director installs Comcast redundant connection; summer infrastructure projects outlined
Summary
Technology staff installed a Comcast redundant Internet link at the Durfee head end to reduce downtime and provided an overview of prioritized summer network and device work, including PACE closet cleanup and other infrastructure upgrades.
The district's technology office told the Technology Subcommittee on June 5 that a Comcast redundant Internet connection is now live at the Durfee head end to reduce outage risk and allow outside events to use a separate network.
Chief Information Officer Mister Cabral said the Comcast line will serve two purposes: provide a separate Internet path for outside event vendors so they do not touch the district network, and act as an automatic failover if the district's primary Lightspeed connection has an outage. "With the click of a button, we can go over and I can divert all traffic out of the Comcast," Cabral said, estimating the redundant link costs about $1,800 per month.
Cabral also presented a prioritized list of summer technology projects covering infrastructure, device management, telecom, security camera work, staff support/onboarding, and strategic initiatives. Specific items called out included PACE network closet cleanup (shorter patch cables and tidy racks), updates to cameras and the Evolve weapon detection scanning system, and a planned website refresh and BoardDocs/Diligent migration for board materials and improved live‑meeting subtitling.
Why it matters: The Comcast redundancy reduces potential downtime during high‑stakes activities (for example MCAS testing or live events) and creates an operational path for third‑party event vendors. The summer projects are intended to improve reliability and classroom technology readiness for the coming school year.
Administration noted some of the cabling work is being supported by donated material from UMass Dartmouth and that Comcast/PEG funding historically underwrites government channel equipment; formal budget and contract approvals will follow district purchasing rules where applicable.
No formal vote was required; the presentation was informational and the committee requested quarterly updates on major technology projects.
