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School district previews E-Rate purchases including second internet path and managed services; board to vote Feb. 5
Summary
District IT staff previewed planned E-Rate funded purchases: a second dedicated internet connection (Key Largo to Tallahassee) and managed internal broadband services for 24/7 network monitoring. The district expects 70–80% discounts under the federal E-Rate program and to pay roughly 20% of costs.
District technology leaders told the Monroe County School Board they will return on Feb. 5 with one or more contract approvals tied to the federal E-Rate program, which provides discounts for school broadband and infrastructure.
Pat Lafier (presenting) and Dr. Marlene Kollagy (new IT director) reviewed three likely purchases: a routine wide-area network renewal, a second dedicated internet service whose route would originate in Key Largo and terminate near Tallahassee, and managed internal broadband services (MIBS) to provide 24/7 monitoring and outside vendor management of switches and routers. Lafier said the district typically receives “about a 70 to 80% discount” under E-Rate and expects to pay roughly 20% of costs for the dedicated internet service.
Dr. Kollagy said the Key West-to-Miami internet link would be retained and the new path would provide additional routing and balance traffic across the Florida Keys. She explained that managed services would give the district “24 by 7 monitoring of all of our switches and routers” and provide an outside vendor’s review of whether the district is using technology efficiently.
Board members asked several operational questions including why the second route is proposed to Tallahassee rather than Miami, whether Key Largo currently has adequate internet service and whether the managed services contract would be ongoing. Staff replied the Key Largo-to-Tallahassee route is one efficient option and that managed services would likely be a renewable annual contract that the board could terminate if not in the district’s interest.
Staff said E-Rate filing deadlines are tight; final bid evaluations are expected before the Feb. 6 filing deadline and at least one purchase will be brought back for board approval on Feb. 5. The board requested more technical and cost detail when staff returns.
Ending: Staff will return Feb. 5 with procurement documents and vendor proposals for the board’s approval and presented the district’s expectation that the E-Rate discount will cover the majority of costs.
