Board signs off on various projects

A project to upgrade its wireless network infrastructure districtwide will cost Northern Lehigh School District $192,980.

The school board on Monday approved the awarding of the PEPPM Mini-Bid proposal from IntegraOne to update its wireless network infrastructure, districtwide, contingent upon receiving E-Rate funding, with the additional cost over the E-Rate funding to be paid from the 2018-19 Assigned Technology Fund Balance.

John Hrizuk, director of technology, said it will include replacing every access point in the district with new access points.

Hrizuk said it’s a piece of network management software the district is buying to manage all those access points, and another access point that they’re using that can control who can get onto its wireless network and can limit the amount of devices from one person that would get on their network.

He said it’s more the speed, the amount of bandwidth in a given area, and can also put access points in their gymnasiums and auditoriums so that people can use wireless there.

“It’s kind of getting things up to date,” Hrizuk said. “The one we have in now since 2011, so it’s been in for seven years; seven years is quite a long time, and we’re starting to see some of our access points fail.”

Other projects

The board also agreed to enter into an agreement with Shaw Industries Inc. to replace hallway tile and office carpet at the middle school, at a cost of $128,475, to be paid from the 2018-19 Assigned Long Range Maintenance Fund Balance.

Greg Derr, director of support services and transportation, said the tile and carpet are 20 years old.

“It’s time to change it out,” Derr said.

Additionally, the board approved an agreement with Degler-Whiting Inc. to replace lockers and bathroom partitions in the high school boys’ locker room at a cost of $18,490, to be paid from the 2018-19 Assigned Long Range Maintenance Fund Balance.

Derr said they are the original lockers and bathroom partitions.

“It’s at the end of its life cycle and we want to replace it,” he said.

The board also agreed to purchase curtains for the Peters Elementary stage from K&H Custom Window Treatment at a cost of $7,100, to be paid from the 2018-19 Assigned Long Range Maintenance Fund Balance.

Derr said the curtains are from 1990.

“They also are at the end of their life cycle and time to replace,” he said.

Derr said all of those projects will start after July 1 and be done before the students come back in the fall.