By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays USD 489 hopes to save money by purchasing student and staff computers using federal funds.
The Hays school board will hear a proposal Monday night to use Federal Emergency Connectivity Funding to purchase 900 student computers and 200 staff computers.
The federal funds will cover $400 for each student and staff computer. The savings will be $440,000. The district's cost will be $296,000.
The school district has a computer replacement schedule, which calls for replacing student computers every four years. Staff computers are replaced every five years.
All of the computers that will be purchased with the federal funds were scheduled to be replaced at the end of the coming school year. This will allow the computers to be replaced six months early.
The computers that are being replaced will be sold. How much the school district receives for each computer will depend on its condition.
Network replacement
The board is set to vote on the replacement of the district network. The cost of the replacement will be $384,000. However, the school qualifies for E-rate funds, which means the district's cost will be reduced to $135,000.
The E-rate program provides discounts to assist schools to obtain affordable internet access and telecommunications services.
Replacing the network will increase security, coverage and the district's ability to manage the system.
Other business
This will also be the school board's annual reorganization meeting. The board will elect a new president and vice-president, as well make a variety of appointments.
Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent, will present a report on summer school.
The board is also set to consider approval of the student and classified handbooks, as well as the application for a new building number for The Learning Center.