Waterloo school board to consider purchase of computer network equipment

The board meets at 5 p.m. in the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington St.

In December, the Waterloo Community Schools sought bids for network switches and wireless access points. The technology would replace aging equipment at Carver and Central middle schools plus Cunningham, Highland, Kingsley, and Lincoln elementaries plus two other district locations. Additionally, bids were sought for equipment to replace Waterloo Schools’ master enterprise wireless controllers, which serve all access points in the district.

The bids have since been evaluated and the board could approve two separate purchases.

The first could go to Goldfield Telecom LC for network equipment with a cost of $433,354. The second could go to Aercor Wireless for wireless network equipment with a cost of $172,699. This is a total cost of $606,053.

However, the district will apply for about $515,145 in e-rate assistance from the Universal Service Fund to offset the equipment purchases. That is the maximum amount of funding the district is allowed. If approved, the cost for the district would be $90,908.

Due to the e-rate funding process, the purchase will be part of the fiscal year 2024 budget.