District says E‑Rate upgrades nearly complete; adds external Wi‑Fi and higher-capacity switches

Chris updated the committee on the district’s E‑Rate project that began under a 2022 approval and covers Category 1 (internet to buildings) and Category 2 (internal connections).

He said the total project cost was approximately $274,500 and that the district was responsible for roughly 40 percent of the total based on the free‑and‑reduced‑price population. Chris said about 98 percent of internal access points and switches are installed, with final internal and external access‑point mounting to be completed over the summer. He noted supply‑chain delays — particularly a main core switch — had slowed implementation but that the district installed a high‑capacity Aruba switch capable of 'smart‑rate' ports allowing multi‑gig throughput per port.

Chris described external coverage at the high school: 13 external access points to cover courtyard and stadium areas and provide broader campus Wi‑Fi. Board members asked about outdoor coverage and staff noted external coverage is concentrated near buildings and stadiums; wider fields may not have guaranteed signal strength. The administration emphasized in‑house staff completed much of the work with little contracted support and that the district is already seeing uses such as streaming for sporting events.