The technology upgrades are needed amid “a period of unprecedented growth” in the district, said Gregg Burcham, LHISD's new executive director of technology. Manufacturing shortages, shipping delays, rising construction costs and state-required online standardized testing requirements have also impacted the district’s technology, he said.
Zooming out
At a Nov. 18 board meeting, Burcham recommended updating the following technology and Wi-Fi features in LHISD:
- Internet service provider bandwidth
- Firewall
- Content filter
- Wide Area Network
- Local Area Network cabling, switch hardware, Wi-Fi hardware and configurations
- Short-term recommendations: $1.6 million-$2.45 million in improvements
- Mid-term recommendations: $1.75 million-$2.55 million in improvements
- Long-term recommendations: $3.03 million-$4.94 million in improvements.
Zooming in
LHISD is looking to improve its internet speed by doubling its internet service provider bandwidth, Burcham said.
The district’s internet speed is currently not meeting recommendations from the Federal Communications Commission amid its enrollment growth, he said. The district has previously struggled to find internet providers in the area that can provide an affordable rate.
LHISD needs to replace its firewall to continue protecting its network and has applied for a cybersecurity grant to do so, Burcham said.
The district recently submitted an order to replace its content filter. This filter, which protects students and is required by federal law, should be replaced before the spring semester, Burcham said. The district may later need to add a secondary firewall and content filter.
LHISD wants to increase the capacity of its wide area network to improve connections between campuses and build a resilient fiber ring, Burcham said. At some campuses, the district may rewire cabling as well as replace switch equipment and Wi-Fi hardware.
Something to note
Over 50 of the district’s wireless access points were implemented in 2009, making their efficiency equivalent to an iPhone 3GS, Burcham said. Over Thanksgiving break, the district is replacing wireless access points at Liberty Hill Elementary and expects to remove some of its oldest Wi-Fi equipment in the district by December, he said.
In the short term, the district plans to replace hundreds of wireless access points across several campuses. LHISD is aiming to replace its newest equipment in 2027 or 2028 when Wi-Fi 8, the next generation of Wi-Fi, is released, Burcham said.
What they’re saying
“We want to be very good stewards of the tax dollars available to us, but we want to provide experiences for our students and our staff so that they can learn,” Burcham said. “We have to have devices in the classroom. That’s the world we live in now.”
