Published: July 11, 2008 10:35 pm            

‘E-rate’ technology saves Murray schools more than $1 million

Normally the percentage of students a school system has on free or reduced meals is not a bragging point, but in Murray County the numbers are allowing the information technology department to save money on telecommunications services and related infrastructure.

Through a program called E-rate, which is sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission, schools can save money on long distance phone calling, Internet, closed-circuit TV and even networking between campuses.

Grant funding is divvied up by the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) among states by the percentage of children taking advantage of free and reduced meals. The first time Murray applied and received monies in 2003 the “free and reduced” rate was 80 percent. Another grant applied for in 2007 was likewise successful, at the rate of 87 percent free and reduced lunch students.

“That means if we’d applied for $1 million in equipment, we would get 87 percent funding of that,” said Eric Pearson, chief information officer for Murray schools. “If we had not applied for E-rate we would be spending around $1.5 million a year for phone, long distance, Internet, etc. As it is now, we’re out of pocket $446,000. It’s definitely paying off for us.”

Pearson explained that the SLD funds are granted in Priority One and Priority Two phases. Priority One includes local and long distance telephone services and Internet. Priority Two involves internal connections like cabling and conduit to equip schools for technology, plus networking switches to connect campuses.

In March the school system applied for $1.5 million, most of that in anticipation of North Murray High’s projected opening in the fall of 2010.

“We can apply once every three years,” Pearson said, noting that the next opportunity will line up with Murray’s newest school construction.

The information technology department has 12 employees at the system’s different schools to take care of work orders, and also has a technical engineer. Those positions are paid for with local and state funds.

“They’re a ‘have to’ (employees),” Pearson said. “If you have all the technology out there, you have to have support. It’s a good program if you take advantage of it, but a lot of people don’t. I’ve been to conferences and some of the larger schools don’t have near the staff that we do. Our (school) board helps us do so much.”

By using other funds beside E-rate, such as Safe and Drug Free School grants and even general funds, the information tech office has also helped get a security system installed at Murray County High using door access control from the main office and entry through ID cards or key fobs.

“The doors can be scheduled to be open during mornings when school is starting, but during class if an access door is left ajar an e-mail will be sent to the office to let them know that,” Pearson said. “Of course, they will always open from the inside.”

“So many of our schools were designed before 9/11 (the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks),” Pearson pointed out, “and that changed everything (regarding security). Controlling flow is a big issue.”

“E-rate is a very useful tool for our schools,” said Dean Donehoo, director of administrative services for the school system. “It has helped us upgrade and build our infrastructure, and provided revenues for that infrastructure. It’s a very valuable tool, especially with the development of technology in our society.”

In the 2006-07 school year, Whitfield County Schools had 56 percent of its student population on the free and reduced lunch program, said spokesman Eric Beavers, who added that the rate is increasing steadily each year. The free and reduced lunch rate for Dalton Public Schools in the 2008 fiscal year was 71.7 percent, according to Karen Mecyssine in the technology support department for the school nutrition program. Both of those school systems also take advantage of E-rate, officials said.

        

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