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District to recable aging fiber optics; LAN Connect contract presented for approval
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Summary
The board reviewed a proposed contract with LAN Connect to replace 25–30 year old internal fiber that currently limits throughput to 1 Gbps; new armored fiber will support 10–40 Gbps and is budgeted at up to $125,000.
The school district presented an action to contract with LAN Connect to replace interior fiber optic cabling in most schools at a cost not to exceed $125,000.
Director Ross described the work and asked IT staff to explain the technical need. IT staff said the existing orange fiber, installed circa 1989–1998, currently transmits only 1 gigabit and is a bottleneck: "it's like a kink in your garden hose," they said. The planned replacement is armored fiber that will support 10 Gbps and be future‑proofed to 40 Gbps. The contract covers internal fiber recabling at multiple schools (Bradford Heights, Brandywine Wallace, Shamona Creek, Pickering Valley, Lionville Middle and others) and includes labor and materials. Marsh Creek should also be included, IT staff said, noting it was omitted from an early list but will be covered.
Board members asked whether the replacement will address student complaints about internet access; IT staff said the change may help but that content filtering is often the cause of perceived slowness. The transcript records presentation of the contract for board action but does not include a recorded vote in the provided excerpt.
