By Jeff Eubanks

SPSD Public Information Director

The old adage “good things come to those who wait” holds true for the South Panola School District Technology and Information Systems Department.

Work began this week on a a more than half-million-dollar upgrade of the school district’s computer network.

After diligently completing the proper paperwork and protocols over a nearly two-year period, Jay Sandlin, Director of Technology and Information Systems at SPSD, learned late last year that the district was “approved” for a grant totaling $538,019.19 to be used for network upgrades by the Universal Service Administrative Company.

Of the nearly $540,000 project, SPSD is responsible for matching 15 percent of the total, approximately $80,000.

School districts and libraries apply for eligible federal funds through USAC’s E-rate Program. 

Sandlin said the funds will provide faster switches and wireless Internet access for every classroom, K-12, in the South Panola School District.

“I’m really excited about the infrastructure upgrades that will take place to the network within the South Panola School District,” Sandlin said. “These upgrades will provide the South Panola School District the platform it needs to launch into the next 10 years as we are looking forward to 1:1 initiatives and getting more technology in the students’ hands.”

SPSD was last awarded infrastructure upgrade funds through the E-rate Program during the 2007-08 school year. The network upgrades will mark the third generation of infrastructure upgrades in the past 20 years at SPSD.

The universal service Schools and Libraries Program, commonly known as the E-rate Program, helps ensure that schools and libraries can obtain high-speed Internet access and telecommunications at affordable rates.

Funding may be requested under two categories of service: Category One services include Data Transmission Services and Internet Access, and Voice Services. Category Two services include Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. Discounts for support depend on the category of service requested, the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the appropriate school district. Discounts range from 20 percent to 90 percent of the costs of eligible services.

USAC is an independent, not-for-profit corporation designated by the Federal Communications Commission as the administrator of universal service.

USAC works to protect the integrity of universal service through informing and educating program audiences, collecting and distributing contributions, and promoting program compliance.