School Board approves $800K in funding to purchase tech devices, Wi-Fi for buses
Texas Border Business
PHARR – Aware of the need in the community during school closures, the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) School Board of Trustees approved $808,000 in funding to purchase computers for students and equip buses with Wi-Fi during a School Board Meeting held Monday, May 4, 2020.
The district will invest $652,902.60 to purchase 2,266 Lenovo 100e Winnbooks and 5,000 storage bags to protect these and previously purchased devices to assist students during distance learning.
In addition, it was approved to invest $155,888.81 to equip 119 school buses with broadband connectivity to offer Wi-Fi hotspots that will be deployed to targeted areas in need identified by surveys. The buses will provide internet access up to a quarter-mile radius from where they are parked.
The district will also be investing in increasing digital storage for its servers to ensure the safe and secure backup of all critical data. This will include student, employee, finance data as well as the backup of critical infrastructure and business continuity servers.
“Thank you to our School Board of Trustees for approving these much-needed investments,” said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. “Our goal is to serve our PSJA Family and ensure our students continue learning with the tools they need to be successful.”
