Board approves indoor wireless refresh with CDW/Juniper, plans outdoor pilot

Cheryl, the district’s technology presenter, told the board the district sought proposals through the federal E‑Rate process to replace aging indoor wireless access points and recommended the CDW proposal to refresh the indoor network.

The approval matter centered on compatibility with the district’s existing Juniper Mist AI platform and timing tied to the E‑Rate funding window. “The CDW proposal leverages the district's recent investment in the Juniper Mist AI platform and provides a single management plan for managing our wired and wireless networks,” Cheryl said. She told the board the district received three proposals — from CDW, Qubit Networks and Sentinel Technologies — and that CDW’s offering is consistent with the district’s recent networking purchases.

Board members asked about installation timing, cabling and potential compatibility issues. Cheryl said the district cannot begin any E‑Rate‑funded purchases until April 1 and estimated installation of switch equipment could take three to four months, acknowledging national equipment backlogs. She also said the district will issue a cabling RFP next month to improve Wi‑Fi performance and support future projects. “We’re proposing a small scale pilot first to confirm compatibility with all of our devices, point of sale systems, streaming services, and other applications,” she said.

The board voted unanimously to approve the indoor wireless refresh using the CDW/Juniper proposal as presented. The administration said it will process the purchase through the E‑Rate contract procedures after April 1 and return to the board later with recommendations for the outdoor portion of the project and any required cabling contracts.