Politics & Government

District 99 Board Hears Plans for Wireless Network

North and South high schools slated to get technology upgrades this summer.

District 99 plans to spend about $905,000 to install wireless Internet access at North and South high schools this summer.

The upgrade will include the replacement of the district's network hardware, which is four years past its seven-year life expectancy, said Rod Russeau, director of technology and information services. 

The installation will coincide with another major undertaking at the high schools: . The district also is in the process of , at an anticipated cost of $11 million.

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While there is "a sense of urgency" to accomplish the technology upgrade this summer while classrooms are empty, said Supt. Mark McDonald, the item has been on the district's radar for some time.

With the community calling for technological improvements in the recently completed Strategic Plan report, the administration decided to present the project now, McDonald said. Other school districts, including District 58, already have transitioned to wireless, he said.

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The project would be accomplished in three phases. The first phase, which includes the installation of network infrastructure and wireless access points in each classroom, is set to be completed by August. The second phase, scheduled to take place during the 2011-12 school year, calls for selected teachers to pilot the wireless system with mobile computers.

The third phase would provide all teachers with mobile computers and expand the program to students.

The first phase of the project is budgeted at $905,000, with 60 percent of that cost going to update existing infrastructure, Russeau said. The second phase—which will provide mobile computers to four or five teachers per department—is expected to cost another $70,000, he said.

Controller Mark Staehlin said the district could pay for the program out of a projected $2 million surplus that will result if the state fully funds its aid payments.

Staehlin said the district also could fund the project out of its operations budget and, if necessary, could earmark $500,000 from its Woodridge land sale—proceeds of which also are paying for the athletic field improvements—for technology. Short-term bonds are a possibility for future technology purchases, he said.

"We felt it was our duty to bring it to you now," he told the board. "We have the means and we have the desire."

"There is a strong chorus from the community, staff and students that wireless is where technology is going," Staehlin said.

Noting that "it's a lot of money," board member Allyn Barnett cautioned that technology is something the board will have to take into account as it considers future spending. 

Member Bill White agreed that technology expenditures are "a new category of educational expense."

"I'm all in favor of this," he said. "But because it's a recurring expense, what I don't want is to use long-term capital dollars for something that is really an extended operating expense." He suggested the board begin "holding some money back" as it works on next year's budget.

Board President Julia Kennedy Beckman commented on the "fabulous bargain" the district is getting for the equipment. According to Russeau's report, the district will receive a 42.5 percent state-level discount on the purchase of Cisco networking equipment. 

 

 

 


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