NCSD spends $84,000 to replace computer hub equipment

When new wireless network hardware was recently installed at Newton High School, it had the expected result of improving internet speeds.

However, once the district learned how many people and devices were hoping to use the wireless network, it crashed some older hardware, which now must be replaced.

The Newton Community School District Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to spend about $84,000 on a network switch — a hub of ports that helps connect computers within large organizations such as school districts. The winning bid was from Heartland Business Systems, which had a slightly higher bid than a West Des Moines firm called AOSNC, LLC.

Technology Supervisor Dan Sloan explained that when connectivity slowed down over the past few years, it became impossible to know exactly how many people are trying to access wireless internet at Newton High School. The problem came to a head on Oct. 12 when the district’s four older switch boards became overloaded, knocking out all district computer traffic — both internet connectivity and communication between computers.

“We were able to stabilize it by adding our spare fifth board, but it’s not a stable situation,” Sloan said. “We’re very reluctant to add anything else to the network, and it requires constant monitoring. By the end of the week of Oct. 12, we decided to put it out to bid.”

Board member Andy Elbert asked Sloan if the problem could have been foreseen.

“When you’re guessing at how many people can’t get online, how do you quantify that?” Sloan said.

The supervisor told the Newton Daily News the problem was exacerbated when the password to the student wireless network was accidentally “leaked” to students, who then began using that network for personal devices instead of the public WiFi. Sloan said this sped up the overuse of the network switch, but the 4-year-old device might have soon reached its capacity anyway.

“The average life span of network switches is four to six years,” Sloan said.

The installation of the new switch is planned for Nov. 28, which could affect teacher professional development activities scheduled, but there is no school that day when Internet service might be disrupted.

Internet technology will also be needed for the upcoming Smarter Balance assessments the state Department of Education plans to implement in the 2017-18 school year. Superintendent Bob Callaghan said not only are the standards detailed and not likely to be available to districts until July 2017 — seven weeks before the start of the school year — but the testing will go from 90 minutes to eight hours (12 for older students who take science assessments) and the district cost for testing could go from $26,000 to as high as $80,000.

Callaghan also talked about budget concerns based on possible increases of 2.0, 2.25 or 2.5 percent in state aid, and how such little new aid would help with rising expenses. Health insurance is expected to be more expensive, “aging,” or teachers and specialists moving one more year up their credential ladders produces $160,000 in increases alone, and any teacher raises from a union settlement are not even on the budget horizon yet.

Callaghan recommended bringing in a consultant whose services are part of the district’s membership dues to the Iowa Association of School Boards.

“We don’t need to get depressed about this,” Callaghan said. “I do not envision our Legislature going up the ladder beyond these percentages. I don’t do a great job of showing empathy, but it pains me to have to address this. The board feels we should try to keep our talented leaders, but I cannot recommended a wage increase for 2017-18 for administrators, based on what I’m looking at.”

The School Improvement Advisory Committee is set to meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the EJH Beard Center. A 5 p.m. board work session and a regular board meeting are set for Nov. 28.

In other action Monday, the board:

• Approved a resolution for the sale of $10 million in general-obligation bonds. The bonds are being sold in “chunks” to minimize accrued bond interest.

• Approved an application to the School Budget Review Committee for special spending-authority levy funding for increasing enrollment, open enrollment out, and limited-English proficient student instruction beyond five years. The levy should give the district more than $200,000 of categorical funding for 2017-18 programs from the state, but that is less than the SBRC provided for 2015-16.

• Heard from Desiree Cameron of the Newton Community Education Foundation regarding donations totaling $52,000 from the Elizabeth J. Dickinson Estate. More about these donations will be covered in upcoming editions of the Newton Daily News.

• Read a form letter from The Family Leader, a religious organization, which takes exception to President Obama’s directives regarding gender and use of facilities such as restrooms and locker rooms.

• Approved the purchase and installation of a 10-foot-high sign to be placed in front of the EJH Beard Administration Building, near the sidewalk, from Performance Sign for about $9,800. The other bid, from SignPro, was slightly less, but the district would have had to construct a concrete pad itself, making the costs virtually equivalent.

• Berg Middle School teacher Deb Rose read a letter recognizing Nov. 14-18 as American Education Week, thanking the board for their volunteered time on behalf of the Newton Community Education Association.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com