Newark Unified hears HVAC update and vendor pitch for network modernization; trustees press for clarity on contracts and scope

District staff updated the board June 17 on an emergency HVAC effort and the installation of Pelican thermostats funded in part through a CowSpa grant, and a technology vendor presented options for network modernization and managed services.

Victoria, filling in for the absent technician, summarized Pelican thermostat installations across classrooms and a centralized dashboard used by MOT staff to monitor and troubleshoot thermostats remotely; she said the district is completing CowSpa reimbursement (about $566,000) and has repaired 84 thermostats while 124 units remain recommended for replacement and may be considered in a future bond project. Staff also said a new local vendor, Dukes, was added for maintenance to lower call‑out costs.

During the Q&A, trustees pressed staff to clarify original scopes and whether the thermostat project addressed the broader HVAC problem. Trustee Hill asked about project ownership and cost control after board members described differing expectations about the scope of the emergency resolution and subsequent vendor work.

Later in the meeting DJI (a technology integrator) presented its Ruby offering — described as a network‑as‑a‑service model that bundles equipment procurement, installation, financing, and managed operations. DJI representative Terry Kappis said the model is typically contracted for five years (extendable), can be funded in part through MIBS/E‑rate eligibility, and can be procured through the SPUR JPA contract vehicle.

Kappis said DJI’s scope includes equipment procurement, on‑site project management, 24/7 network operations monitoring, regular patching, and optional cybersecurity services through partner firms; at contract end districts may buy out equipment at fair‑market value or renew the managed service.

Trustees asked about warranties, response SLAs, and how DJI handles security incidents and ransomware response; DJI described a layered approach — maintaining manufacturer support, regular patching and monitoring, and acting as an intermediary with cyber vendors when districts subscribe to cyber services. Trustees also discussed whether the district would prefer collocating critical infrastructure offsite or keeping equipment on campus and clarified that district IT staff remain an essential point of contact in DJI’s model.

No new contracts were approved at the meeting. Trustees asked staff to provide further detail about procurement options, contract terms, and the relationship between ongoing HVAC maintenance, emergency resolutions, and longer‑term capital replacement planning.