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District to seek E‑Rate funding and advertise reverse auction for 2,300 Chromebooks
Summary
The board authorized filing for E‑Rate funding to equip two new high‑school sites and approved a reverse auction to purchase 2,300 Chromebooks for grades 3, 6 and 9; motions carried unanimously with one absence.
The Lamar County Board of Education approved two technology actions at its February meeting: authorization to file for federal E‑Rate funding to support network equipment and circuits for the district's new Purvis and Sumrall high school sites, and authorization to advertise a reverse auction to purchase 2,300 student Chromebooks.
Director of Technology Ross Randall provided written requests describing the E‑Rate scope: network switches and wireless access points for the new Purvis and Sumrall high schools; a data circuit for Sumrall High School (to be added to the district's contract with Uniti Fiber, including construction costs to bore the fiber); and a private fiber installation to connect the new Purvis High School to the existing district network. Randall noted that the construction costs and the data circuit are eligible for E‑Rate funding and that private fiber for Purvis is also eligible under E‑Rate rules.
On devices, Randall stated the Chromebook purchase is the annual refresh for grades 3, 6 and 9 and will total 2,300 units. The board approved advertising a reverse auction to procure the devices using district funds.
Both motions were recorded as passed without opposition and with one member absent. The E‑Rate authorization allows district staff to prepare and submit funding requests; actual awards and device procurement will proceed according to E‑Rate timelines and standard procurement rules and will be reported to the board when funding decisions and bids are available.
