All Webster Parish schools could see a major upgrade in Wi-Fi networks in the future following the parish school board’s unanimous approval Monday of staff recommendations to begin work on an application to replace the existing network.
Board approval means parish staff will begin making application for E-Rate Category 2 products and services at a cost of slightly more than $549,600 for the upgraded solution. E-Rate also provides discounts for telecommunications, internet access and internal connections to eligible schools.
Discounts for Webster Parish could range up to 85 percent from its budgeted E-Rate funds. Technology Coordinator David Griffith said $413,502 of the cost of the upgrade would come from E-Rate and the school district’s share of the cost above the district’s budget would run $136,101.
“Approval of the application could take up to a year, so we recommend you allow us to get started on the process,” Griffith told board members.
Griffith said the current network was purchased about seven years ago and staff members have been facing issues including connectivity. He also pointed out that the old system will soon be losing its support from the manufacturer, meaning no technological assistance would be available if problems arose.
Board members also approved awarding a base bid of $798,400 to Walker Construction Co. for a new visitor grandstand at the Minden High School football field. According to information presented at the meeting, seating capacity for the new section will be roughly 1,000.
And, officials representing the general contractor constructing a multi-purpose building on the north side of Minden High School talked about difficulties that have plagued the project since it began in 2021.
Edward Angel Jr. said problems included a ground water situation that had not been expected, COVID and the difficulties that pandemic caused, supply chain issues and cost increases in materials. All these have caused delays and created change orders totaling roughly $720,000 to date.
Originally, the project was awarded at a cost of $7 million. In addition to the change orders, company officials indicated an additional $970,000 would be needed for the increased cost of materials and delivery. Company officers asked that the information provided, including unanticipated costs, be taken under advisement and requested another meeting with board members.
In other business Monday, board members gave approval to a number of projects to be paid from separate maintenance and sales tax funds, including a $122,800 proposal from Mechanical Cooling Services to replace all HVAC frond end controls on buildings at Webster Jr. High School.
