Category 2 E-Rate funds are awarded on a 5 year cycle. If not used, the funding will expire. Clay District Schools have aging Battery Backup equipment that are in need of replacement. New technologies in Battery Backup Systems allow for increased uptime and quicker recovery following extended power outages reducing the number of man hours needed for recovery.

The current standard in battery backup systems for networking technologies was implemented in 2020 and lacks new technologies to improve up time and lessen man hours following extended power outages. The remaining Category 2 E-Rate funds can be utilized to fill this gap.

The current standard for battery backup systems was implemented in March of 2020.

The new battery backup system will protect equipment from power surges and will allow the network, wireless communications, and phones to stay online longer during events that can cause loss of power. Additionally the new system will allow the district to recover network support more quickly following an extended power outage by utilizing systems that allow instant power recovery without manual intervention.

Strategic Plan Goal

GOAL 5 - Fiscal and Operational Efficiency

Strategy 5.4 Enhance fiscal practices that enable the district to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.

Key Activity 5.4.1 Analyze our existing purchasing and contract procedures to create a more streamlined user-friendly process.

Strategy 5.5 Enhance the technology infrastructure in all school and district spaces to support teaching, learning, communications, and operations.

Key Activity 5.5.4 Continue to provide all students and staff ubiquitous access to approved online applications, resources, and tools necessary for teaching, learning, communications,

and operations.

Key Activity 5.5.6 Improve cybersecurity posture.

Recommend approving the purchase from the proposal for Battery Backup Systems submitted by UDT utilizing Category 2 E-Rate funds.