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Great Valley SD reviews $862,500 network upgrade; staff seek 40% E‑Rate reimbursement
Summary
District staff presented a proposal for a districtwide network switch replacement costing $862,500 and asked the board to authorize applying for E‑Rate funds that would cover 40% of the project (reducing local cost to roughly $517,500); the board also heard smaller technology and curricular purchases including Infinite Campus modules and a livestream contract for graduation.
At the March 9 work session, district staff detailed a proposed districtwide network switch replacement with a total projected cost of $862,500 and asked the board to authorize applying for E‑Rate reimbursement by April 1. Staff said a 40% E‑Rate reimbursement would reduce the district’s cost to about $517,500, representing an estimated $345,000 reduction.
“The board will make the decision as to whether or not we’re moving forward,” a staff presenter said, adding that the request at this stage is only to accept potential E‑Rate funds; final project approval would return to the finance committee and then the full board for a decision and timeline for implementation (project work would not begin until the 2026–27 school year if approved).
Staff also presented other technology and curricular items: a Foundation for Free Enterprise stock‑market personal‑finance elective for middle school at a quoted cost of $500 for the spring; the Learning Without Tears keyboarding program for grades 3–5 at $453.72 for the pilot; and two Infinite Campus modules (teacher time scheduling and campus payments) totaling $6,811.90 (teacher time module ~$5,961; campus payments startup $850 and annual $700). Staff said campus payments would reduce per‑transaction fees for families from $1.50–$1.75 down to $0.35, with a flat 3.5% credit card convenience fee (AmEx exceptions noted).
In finance updates, staff proposed hiring CCIU to livestream graduation at a cost of $7,740 for June 4 (rain date June 5) and discussed future accessibility features such as a jumbotron/captioning system and a potential scoreboard vendor that could carry sponsor messaging to offset costs.
Board members asked about timing, who would make final project decisions and whether families without electronic payment access would still be able to pay in cash; staff confirmed cash collection would remain available and that the finance committee would review technical details ahead of a board vote.
No final approvals were recorded at the work session; staff requested authorization to proceed with E‑Rate application steps so that funding eligibility could be preserved.
