Shawnee Heights board approves three-year Camp Invention license, calendar changes and technology contracts

Shawnee Heights USD 450’s Board of Education approved a three-year licensing agreement for Camp Invention, updates to the 2024–25 school calendar to recover snow days, and multiple technology contracts during its regular meeting. Major votes included a 7–0 approval of the Camp Invention license, a unanimous approval of calendar adjustments, a 7–0 approval for an E‑Rate consulting contract, a 6–1 vote to purchase Cisco wireless access points, and a 7–0 approval of an interim wide-area network (WAN) connection contract with AT&T.

District staff described the Camp Invention agreement as a three-year license with Camp Invention (affiliated with the National Inventors Hall of Fame). Staff told the board the multi-year contract responds to escalating annual renewal costs and that the district plans to fund sessions using at-risk funds across its four buildings; Title funds would cover the second week of programming at buildings designated as Title schools. The board voted 7–0 to approve the multi-year license.

Board members also approved an update to the 2024–25 calendar to make up missed instructional time from snow days. District staff said the request follows a review of hourly logs and state instructional-time requirements; the change repurposes two built-in snow days and shifts a previously scheduled professional development day so students receive consecutive instructional days in late April. The board approved the calendar changes unanimously.

On technology, the board approved three related items. First, staff recommended renewing an E‑Rate consulting contract with Funds for Learning; meeting materials listed a consulting fee that staff described as unchanged from the prior year (the materials list the fee as $11,000.50). The board voted 7–0 to approve the consulting contract.

Second, the board approved a purchase of Cisco wireless access points. IT staff said the purchase will be funded using E‑Rate Category 2 equipment funding and that the district currently qualifies for a 60% E‑Rate discount; staff explained this purchase uses remaining funds from the 2020–25 E‑Rate cycle. Board members discussed vendor selection and procurement scoring, including concerns raised about responsiveness from a previous vendor (ConvergeOne). After debate, the motion to buy the Cisco access points passed 6–1, with one board member voting no.

Third, because the district’s existing WAN contract expires before a longer-term fiber WAN construction can be completed, staff asked the board to approve an interim WAN connection contract with AT&T. The interim contract preserves current service while the district negotiates its larger fiber contract; staff said the interim monthly cost rose modestly (about $900) to roughly $5,900. The board approved the interim AT&T WAN contract 7–0.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes of the March 3, 2025 regular meeting — motion passed, 7–0 (mover: Rosa; second: Sarah). - Camp Invention three-year license (National Inventors Hall of Fame) — motion passed, 7–0 (mover: Lauren; second: Rosa). Funding: district to use at-risk funds across four buildings; Title funds to cover the second week at Title buildings. - 2024–25 calendar adjustments to recover snow days and reschedule a PD day — motion passed, 7–0 (mover: Lauren; second: Rosa). - E‑Rate consulting contract with Funds for Learning (consulting fee listed in materials as $11,000.50) — motion passed, 7–0 (mover: Christina; second: Sarah). - Cisco wireless access point purchase (E‑Rate Category 2; district at 60% discount; last year of 2020–25 cycle) — motion passed, 6–1 (mover: Christina; second: Rocky). One board member voted no. - Interim WAN connection contract with AT&T (temporary solution while fiber WAN contract is negotiated; monthly cost reported ~ $5,900) — motion passed, 7–0 (mover: Bridal; second: Sarah).

Discussion vs. decisions

Board materials and staff presentations provided the factual bases for votes. Staff presented cost and procurement details for the wireless equipment, noting the RFP allowed multiple vendors so long as equipment interoperated with district infrastructure; staff said Cisco bids were the lowest on the evaluation worksheet and that the district enforces cost as the heaviest weight to meet E‑Rate rules. On vendor performance, staff described ongoing responsiveness problems with a prior vendor, ConvergeOne, which influenced procurement choices.

For the WAN item, staff explained the interim contract is needed because construction for the longer-term fiber WAN (described in materials as a major construction project) cannot be completed in time; staff said the district must maintain service rather than pay higher month-to-month rates. For calendar changes, staff cited state instructional-time requirements and internal hourly logs when recommending using two built-in snow days and rescheduling a professional development day.

What the board did not decide

Board members did not finalize the long-term fiber WAN construction contract at the meeting; staff said that contract was still being negotiated, must clear legal review, and will require further board action and E‑Rate approval. The board also did not change the district’s E‑Rate discount level; staff said the district is currently at a 60% discount for Category 2 and that 2025 marks the end of the district’s 2020–25 Category 2 funding cycle.

Ending

The meeting proceeded to other routine status reports from building principals and staff before adjourning; the board and staff highlighted upcoming events, state testing windows, and ongoing facility and communications work.