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Stockton Unified outlines 2024'27 technology plan, seeks E-rate funding for hotspots and major bandwidth upgrades
Summary
District staff presented a 2024'27 technology plan that includes a 2-to-1 Chromebook initiative, multi-carrier hotspot procurement under the E-rate 85/15 funding model, plans to widen WAN capacity toward 40'100 Gbps, and infrastructure upgrades (outdoor Wi-Fi, cameras, UPS). Trustees asked for follow-up on hotspot reliability and generator coverage at school sites.
District technology staff (identified in the meeting as Pache, joined by Jaime Aguilar) presented a multi-year technology plan and an update on federal E-rate funding for mobile hotspots.
Pache told trustees the district currently has about 600 active hotspots and described an 85/15 funding ratio: "the federal funding would provide 85% of the funding where the district would provide 15% matching funds to acquire these hotspots," staff said. Staff estimated devices cost roughly $90–$100 per hotspot and gave a Verizon recurring cost example of about $10 per device per month. To address connectivity gaps, staff said procurement will seek multi-carrier solutions (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) so coverage can fit local signal strength.
On the broader technology plan (2024'27), staff described curriculum devices and infrastructure goals: a 2-to-1 Chromebook initiative (one device in class, one at home upon request), expansion of interactive ViewSonic panels (the district ordered additional units), and professional development aligned to ISTE and digital citizenship curricula. Infrastructure proposals include pursuing an RFP to upgrade county connections from 10 Gbps to a 40'100 Gbps range, replacement of internal wireless systems, expansion of outdoor Wi-Fi and IP speakers at selected sites, UPS upgrades, and increased camera coverage to support safety and learning.
Jaime Aguilar, the technology manager, described redundancy steps (secondary ISP with automatic failover to Astound), two backup systems (Google cloud and a Unitrend Windows backup), and a planned RFP for a 40-gig to 100-gig county connection to avoid bottlenecks as campus traffic increases.
Trustees raised operational questions: Trustee Flores asked how the district will verify hotspots are working and requested follow-up; staff replied they can check monthly billing and the line activity and will provide follow-up when a vendor is chosen. Trustees also asked about generators at sites after storm-related losses cited by a trustee; staff said generators exist only at main data hubs and agreed to work with facilities staff to report back.
Staff said procurement resolutions authorizing E-rate RFPs (listed later on the agenda) would return with vendor recommendations for board approval. Pache asked trustees to attend two parent workshops to review the 2-to-1 Chromebook program and device-care guidance.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 799, topfinish SEG 1810.
