The Genesee Technology Department submitted two separate Requests for Proposal (RFPs) and filed FCC 471 forms with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for the following service improvements:

Category 1 - Contract was awarded to Ziply Fiber (formerly Frontier Business) to upgrade the district's existing 100MB microwave connection to a 500MB fiber connection.

Category 2 - Contract was awarded to CompuNet to upgrade existing 802.11n Aerohive WiFi system with Cisco Meraki 802.11ax system.

Both of our 471 forms are pending approval from USAC, but the hope is that both will be approved and installed by July 1, 2020.

Through a combination of GEF and Literacy Grant funding, the Genesee Technology Department was able to add an additional 16 new 7th Generation iPads to grades K-2 this year.  

Depending on the impact of upcoming classroom technology budget cuts by the State of Idaho, the Genesee Technology Department is working hard to purchase an additional cart of Chromebooks for 6th Grade, which would bring grades 3-6 to a full 1:1 ratio of student devices for the start of the 2020-21 school year.

The secondary Math department added 12 new 7th Generation iPads w/Apple pencils, enhancing student engagement and learning through apps like Doceri Interactive Whiteboard and Desmos Graphing/Scientific Calculator.

The Business Ed department replaced 7 aging PCs with current generation computers.  These new PCs will support students in the coming years through the use of the latest Adobe Creative Cloud applications and Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) training and certification on Office 2019 applications.

Four teachers (2 elementary and 2 secondary) were selected to pilot test a mobile classroom setup.  This setup allows teachers to freely move about their classroom and interact with students while still presenting through their classroom projectors.  They also have "home" stations that allow them to work in a more traditional PC workstation setup.  Deployed equipment includes:

• Lenovo ThinkPad P53s notebooks
• Airtame 2 Wireless Presenters
• Iogear GUD3C05 Docking Stations with full monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers

In 2019, the FCC released new guidelines for E-rate Category 2 funding for the next 5 years.  Category 2 funding can be used to pay for Internal Connections (IC), Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS), and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC).

The Genesee Joint School District will be considering two separate projects that fall under Category 2 funding:

• IC - Switching infrastructure upgrade
• MIBS - WiFi Assurance

Update all Windows PCs and Laptops to Office 2019 Professional.