Allentown schools secure multi‑million E‑Rate and FCC cybersecurity awards to modernize network and security

The Allentown School District on Feb. 26 unveiled a multi-year plan to modernize classroom connectivity and cybersecurity after securing substantial federal discounts and a competitive pilot award.

Acting executive director of technology Jose Rivera told the board the district qualified for steep E‑Rate discounts and has been awarded a package of category‑1 and category‑2 funds that, together with a newly announced FCC cybersecurity pilot award, will allow a major hardware refresh and security upgrade. Rivera said the combined program represents more than $4.1 million in project value and that outside funding will cover roughly $3.49 million, leaving the district responsible for about $620,621.

The program includes: upgrading internet circuits and increasing backbone bandwidth; replacing core routers, roughly 137 end‑of‑life network switches and an initial 373 wireless access points (with the rest of nearly 1,600 access points scheduled in future years); district‑wide UPS power protection; automated patch management; and a centralized, AI‑driven network management platform. Rivera said the FCC pilot award specifically funds advanced firewalls, endpoint protection, identity/authentication/monitoring and response systems and covers 90% of the pilot project cost over three years.

Rivera described the funding model and timing: E‑Rate category‑1 connectivity awards for five years, E‑Rate category‑2 internal connection awards, and a three‑year cybersecurity pilot award that apportions funding per student. He said the district had been selected among a small number of school systems nationwide for the cybersecurity pilot and received the largest award in Pennsylvania.

To bridge platforms during implementation, the board approved an interim cybersecurity services contract extension with CrowdStrike (authorized at $54,000 per quarter) and voted to move E‑Rate items and related management-system items forward. The technology team said the upgrades will support priority district initiatives — increased device density, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools programs and future classroom AI integration — and emphasized that the upgraded cybersecurity posture will protect student and staff data and critical life‑safety systems.

What’s next: Implementation timelines, procurement of equipment and staged wireless access‑point replacements will be coordinated with E‑Rate filing cycles and pilot‑program milestones; administration said it will return with procurement and project schedules as awards are finalized.