Technology committee reviews livestreaming cost comparison, delays any change

The Beaufort County School District Technology Committee reviewed a staff presentation comparing the cost of continuing to outsource livestreaming to the County Channel with bringing production in‑house and unanimously decided not to make an immediate change.

Mr. Shohan, who presented the estimates, told the committee the County Channel option runs “a little under $46,000” a year and about $224,000 over five years. He said in‑house production would require hiring one full‑time technician (about $120,000 a year with benefits), buying a mobile camera setup (about $35,000), upgrading a meeting room (stated as about $60,000), and purchasing graduation production equipment (about $95,000). He summarized those elements as producing an annualized in‑house cost of roughly $310,000 and a five‑year total near $790,000.

Committee members asked whether alternative vendors found by staff are local and how seamless a transition would be if the County Channel stopped carrying district meetings. Mr. Shohan said the two vendors staff identified were within about an hour’s drive and that, historically, the County Channel had offered to continue services at the original fee when staffing changes occurred. One committee member noted vendor quotes were generally $7,000–$10,000 higher per year than the County Channel.

Members also questioned staffing and facility implications. Mr. Shohan explained existing district network technicians currently set up and support the County Channel broadcasts and that adding in‑house production would create a sustained need for an additional FTE to avoid diverting those technicians from other duties. Committee discussion covered the limitations of holding meetings in older school facilities and the potential operational and scheduling advantages of using a purpose‑built boardroom or returning to the county chambers; several members cited other districts that maintain a single dedicated meeting room to simplify production.

The chair summarized the committee’s takeaway: there is no appetite at this time to transition away from the County Channel, but the committee will continue to monitor costs and options over the next one to five years and may revisit the question if circumstances change.

Formal actions from the meeting on this topic were limited to procedural approvals; the committee did not vote to change any vendor relationship or to authorize capital spending.