District outlines $200K annual network plan and March vendor vote tied to E-Rate reimbursements

Justin Webb, the district's technology presenter, walked the board through the federal E-Rate program and how it applies to Unionville-Chadds Ford. Webb said the district spends about $200,000 per year on network hardware (switches, wireless access points and firewalls) as part of a refresh cycle and that Category 2 of E-Rate covers in-building equipment subject to a five-year per-student cap. He explained the district's discount (about 40% in their case, tied to National School Lunch Program data) would typically reimburse a portion of that spend — Webb estimated approximately $80,000 annually in reimbursements off the $200,000 cost.

Webb said the district will solicit bids and return in March with the vendor name and a formal request for budget authority for the upcoming contract year; he estimated a March action in the range of $200,000 and said final bids would be in by late February. Webb cautioned that the program's five-year cap can mean district projects count against a fixed allotment and that prior cycles have exhausted the cap in year four, so planning matters for multi-year equipment refreshes.

Board members sought clarification on whether student IT interns participated in installations (Webb said not in the summer round but that internships could be a future opportunity) and whether the March request would include vendor names and final amounts (Webb said yes once bids are finalized). The item was described as informational at the work session; the formal procurement and vote will be on the March agenda.