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Board approves use of fund balance to secure E‑rate discount for network upgrades
Summary
The board approved using district fund balance (district share) to begin a three‑school network infrastructure upgrade so the district can secure an 80% E‑rate subsidy; staff said the district’s share after a recent mini‑bid is about $101,608.80 and the total project cost is about $508,044.
The Lenoir City Board of Education voted March 26 to authorize using district fund balance to begin a network infrastructure upgrade at all three schools so the district can secure a federal E‑rate discount.
Dr. Small told the board that a recent mini‑bid changed equipment pricing and reduced the district’s share to roughly $101,608.80. He said E‑rate would subsidize about 80% of the total project, which he estimated at $508,044. “So the real cost of this project is $508,044. So we're only having to pay our portion to do that,” Dr. Small said.
Staff argued for acting now to lock in the best discount and to schedule installation over the summer to avoid disrupting classes. The Chair read an amended motion to use approximately $101,006.88 in fund balance (the transcript contains slightly varying figures for the amended amount); Mitch Ledbetter made the motion and a board member seconded. The board conducted a roll‑call vote on the item and approved the allocation.
The motion authorizes staff to move forward with purchases and implementation planning necessary to begin summer work; staff said anticipated E‑rate reimbursements will return funds to the balance when received. The board did not provide a detailed vendor contract during the meeting; procurement steps and final vendor selection will follow district procedures.
