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Subcommittee reviews E‑Rate filings and plans to replace end‑of‑life network equipment
Summary
The CIO briefed the subcommittee on annual E‑Rate filings (Forms 470/471), explained that federal support covers roughly 80% of eligible costs, and described a summer project to replace aging network switches and about 560 Wi‑Fi access points; bids for Category 2 equipment are due March 28.
The district’s technology leader told the subcommittee that E‑Rate filings for the current cycle include Form 470 for internet service and Form 471 for Category 2 wiring and equipment. She said the Federal Communications Commission’s E‑Rate program typically covers about 80% of eligible costs while the district covers the remaining 20%.
"They pay 80%. We pay 20%," the CIO said, explaining that the district’s current Crown Castle contract for internet service runs through fiscal year 2029. The CIO described outages earlier in the day caused by local fiber damage (a mouse and a squirrel were both cited as causes at different schools) and said that vendor response time has generally been good despite isolated incidents.
The CIO said Category 2 bids are due March 28; this year the E‑Rate request includes licensing (now an e‑ratable cost) and replacement of network equipment at Morton and roughly 560 access points across district buildings that are at end of life. She warned that new access points require different mounts and that low‑voltage electrician resources will be needed; the district has a vacancy in that trade position and will post the job.
Committee members asked about staff satisfaction with Crown Castle and whether the district had contingency terms to protect the district if a vendor were to fail mid‑contract. The CIO said contract or RFQ language could add favorable terms to mitigate vendor disruption.
Next steps: the CIO will receive vendor bids on March 28, rank proposals with the district’s E‑Rate consultant and present recommended next steps to the full committee.
