Livingston seeks grant for telecom expenses
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish School Board voted Thursday night to approve a federal grant application to enable the school system to spend $1.2 million on telecommunications this year.
Known as the E-rate program, the federal government refunds a portion of costs to provide computers, telephone and Internet services to qualified schools.
“I don’t know how we would have what we have without these funds,” said Sandra Brewer, the school system’s technology director.
For example, the school system now spends $114,000 a year on Internet services. E-rate funds would reduce the system’s Internet services bill to about $39,900, Brewer said.
The application also included a request to replace computer network switches at nine schools for a total cost of $618,833, of which $216,591 will be paid by the school system.
The schools seeking this equipment are North Corbin Elementary, Doyle Elementary, Southside Junior High School, Freshwater Elementary, French Settlement Elementary, South Walker Elementary, Levi Milton Elementary, Holden High School and Gray’s Creek Elementary.
Each switch can handle 48 computers, and the school system has 9,600 computers, Brewer said.
The old switches, many of them dating to 2001 and past their designed life, will be kept to replace parts in the switches at schools, such as Denham Springs High School, that don’t qualify for the E-rate program, Brewer said.
In other business, the School Board approved new policies based on recently enacted state laws.
One of those policies outlines proper use of electronic communications, such as e-mail and Internet social networks.
Another policy prohibits sexual relationships between school employees or volunteers and students under age 21.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
