Schools throughout Webster Parish will be in for major upgrades in the Wi-Fi network after school board members voted Monday to advertise Request for Proposals to provide products and services in the district.

A major portion of the money to fund the project, perhaps up to 85 percent for qualifying schools, will come from E-Rate Category 2, a federal program designed to help eligible schools and libraries obtain affordable broadband.

E-Rate programs are administered by the Universal Service Fund and provide discounts for telecommunications, Internet access and internal connections. Webster Parish has budgeted $500,000 for the upgrades.

Also at Monday’s meeting, board members approved a number of local district expenditures including a pair intended to improve sports facilities. Board members said yes to advertising for bids on a new softball complex for Minden High School. Site of the proposed facility would be at the former Webster Parish Alternative School (old Lowe Middle) property.

And, a change order totaling $45,641 was approved for a synthetic turf football field project at Lakeside Jr/Sr High School to replace unstable soil conditions at the field.