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Robeson County schools win competitive federal cybersecurity pilot grant worth more than $1 million
Summary
District staff announced a federal cybersecurity pilot award of roughly $1,000,000 for a three-year initiative; presenter said competition was intense and funds must be spent within three years.
The Robeson County Board of Education was told the district has been awarded a competitive federal cybersecurity pilot grant, with an initial award figure presented as roughly $1,000,000 to be spent over three years.
Presenter Everett Veil (presenter name in packet) told the board that the program was highly competitive and that only 17 districts won statewide. “We were lucky to be awarded over $1,000,000 for our cybersecurity pilot program,” he said, and he noted the federal program’s primary focus now is on providing Internet connectivity and wireless access to schools nationally. Veil added the federal program has shifted away from funding on-premises servers toward connectivity and infrastructure.
Veil told the board that the application asked for a larger sum nationally — he cited figures for total applicants and total dollars requested — and that the district’s award could be adjusted downward if the application did not meet all federal requirements. Board members asked whether the grant would include funds for student devices (Chromebooks) replacement; Veil said the packet did not include a dedicated replacement fund and referred questions about device replacement to the district’s technology office and central accounting staff.
Board members and staff discussed existing device cycles and the district’s plan to move to a multi-year lease/purchase cycle for devices; Veil said central office staff are preparing a plan for device refresh that would address fourth- and fifth-year device needs. The presenter also provided a brief historical note that federal connectivity initiatives have provided tens of millions of dollars to the district since 1998 to support wireless access points and related infrastructure.
The district will finalize the award terms and confirm procurement and implementation plans in coming months. Board members asked staff to return with specifics about device-replacement budgeting and central-office funding sources if the grant requires local matching or cannot fund devices directly.
