Benton County board approves switch to Gibson County Electric for internet; budget resolutions and related measures pass

The Benton County Board of Education voted to approve an Internet service agreement with Gibson County Electric, moving the district away from its previous provider. The board also approved multiple budget resolutions and routine reports at the meeting.

Director of Schools reported the district's monthly Internet expense is expected to fall from about $3,600 to roughly $1,800–$2,000 after the switch and that the federal E-rate program will cover approximately 85 percent of the eligible cost. "The bottom line is it's a little less than $2,000 a month than we have been paying 3,600," the director said during discussion.

Board action and vote: The motion to approve the Internet service agreement passed on a roll call recorded as 10 yes and 1 pass. Earlier in the meeting the board approved the agenda and consent agenda, the spring planning report, the budget committee report and a package of budget resolutions; the minutes and recorded roll calls show unanimous approvals where counts were provided (multiple items recorded as 11 yes).

Budget resolutions and allocations: During the budget-resolution discussion staff identified several line items included in the package the board approved: an allocation of $500,000 from fund balance for new textbooks (amount described by staff as approximate), a $200,000 allocation related to ensuring consistent security-camera technology across schools, insurance-recovery funds tied to a chiller incident at Broadwood, and inclusion of a federal COPS grant (about $428,000) to support cameras and related security work. Staff said the actual camera expenditures to be charged in the current year were smaller (about $160,000) but the resolutions provided authority to apply available grant funds and internal matches as needed.

Procurement and contract terms: Staff told the board the proposed Gibson County Electric agreement was a multi-year arrangement; the director said it is a five-year contract that will require county commission approval because it exceeds a one-year term. Staff said the provider will use existing fiber (run by local cooperatives) and that a switchover was expected in the summer months; staff cautioned there may be transition issues during any large provider change.

Why it matters: District technology costs and resiliency affect classroom instruction and remote learning capacity; lowering the district's net monthly cost while using E-rate funds frees local dollars for other priorities. The budget resolutions also allocate one-time fund-balance and grant funds to textbooks and security upgrades.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of agenda and consent agenda: approved (vote recorded as "Ayes have it"). - Spring planning report: approved (recorded as unanimous aye). - Budget committee report: approved (recorded roll call indicated unanimous support). - Budget resolutions (textbooks, cameras, insurance recovery, COPS grant authority): approved (recorded as 11 yes where roll call was recorded). - Internet service agreement with Gibson County Electric: approved (roll call recorded 10 yes, 1 pass).

Board discussion and next steps: The director said he has already signed the agreement pending board approval and will present the five-year contract to the county commission for required approval. Staff and board members noted potential short-term transition issues but emphasized cost savings and local partnership as benefits.