School board approves E‑Rate contract with 801 Technology ahead of April 1 deadline

The School Board of Trustees held a special meeting beginning at 10:01 a.m. and approved an E‑Rate services contract with 801 Technology to meet an April 1 federal filing deadline.

The board’s chair said the contract’s federal status requires formal board approval even though the amount falls below the superintendent’s spending threshold. Jennifer, a board member, described the procurement process, saying, “We work with a consultant” and that the district used a rubric and outside review to vet proposals.

Jennifer said the district solicited eight companies and received five written proposals; she said 801 Technology met the district’s criteria and offered a competitive price. The consultant involved was named in the meeting as Julie Christie, and the district also used review support from K12 Montana, according to Jennifer.

A motion to accept the E‑Rate bid from 801 Technology was announced by the chair as moved by Stephanie and seconded by Jennifer; the transcript also records a board member verbally proposing to move the motion on the floor prior to the chair’s announcement. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the chair recorded “motion carries.” The meeting did not record a roll‑call vote or a written tally of yes/no votes.

With no further business, the chair called for adjournment. The chair announced the adjournment motion as moved by Jennifer and seconded by Fran; the motion carried by voice vote and the special meeting was declared adjourned shortly after the vote.

Notes on the record: the transcript includes a garbled adjournment time (“10 to 5AM”). The motion and second are recorded in the meeting as announced by the chair; the transcript contains inconsistent on-the-record indications of who physically offered the motion on the floor.