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Technology director outlines bond-driven infrastructure upgrades, phone system and E-Rate funding
Summary
Technology director Mike Estes (presenter) updated the board on the district'approved $30 million technology bond, Teams phone rollout, classroom device refresh, data center and security upgrades, and an expected $2.1 million E'Rate reimbursement that will return to operating funds after federal processing.
Technology leadership presented an update on capital and operational technology projects funded by the district'approved 2024 technology bond and ongoing operating plans. "2024 was a great year...the voters passing the $30,000,000 technology bond that gave us the ability to move forward with the full infrastructure refresh," the presenter said.
Major projects already underway or approved:
- Teams phone system replacement for end'of'life Avaya hardware; teachers will receive desk phones in classrooms for safety and operational use. - New teacher laptops and a student 1:1 refresh: grades 5'12 Windows 2'in'1 devices have been distributed; an upcoming classroom set for grades 2'4 will be distributed over the summer; preK'1 devices (iPads) are planned for the next refresh wave. - Classroom projector replacements and CTE lab refreshes targeted over the coming fiscal years. - Data center production servers, storage and security/video storage upgrades (equipment already received and staged for deployment). - Wireless infrastructure upgrade submitted under E'Rate Category 2; the district anticipates approximately $2.1 million in E'Rate funding once federal approval and processing complete, with work rolling through spring 2026.
Estes and his team also reviewed operational items: business continuity planning after a July CrowdStrike'related outage that briefly affected the district'managed environment; RapidIdentity single sign'on improvements (QR code login for young students); Microsoft license renegotiation that added features at lower net cost; and a new technician incentive program to improve recruitment and retention of Tech 1 staff.
Board members asked whether new Wi'Fi hardware would address long'standing coverage gaps; Estes said the upgrade will substantially improve coverage and penetration but that building construction and physical constraints can still create localized weak spots. Estes said classroom phones will be hardwired and that alternate phone access will be available through Teams on district devices.
Why it matters: The bond work affects classroom instruction, safety (hardwired desk phones) and core systems (student devices, data center, and security). E'Rate funding will offset a significant portion of the wireless refresh cost when federally approved.
