Cumberland County schools get new internet provider

Cumberland County public schools will be getting a new internet provider after the Board of Education unanimously approved the switch at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The board approved the change in providers as part of its consent agenda. Board members Nathan Warfel and Greg West were not present Tuesday.

The school system will cut ties with current provider Spectrum, whose contract ends on June 30, and begin a 36-month contract with Metronet, according to the proposed business agreement.

Chief Technical Officer Chris Young said at a Feb. 29 Student Support Services Committee meeting that the switch will represent a drastic cut in costs and provide better service to students and staff.

“For Spectrum, we are currently paying $91,000 a month,” Young said. “With Metronet, we’re going to be paying approximately $48,000 a month.”

It will take approximately four months to install Metronet’s technology, he said. The cost will come from the school system’s existing budget, according to a presentation created by Young and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mellotta Hill.

In other business:

• As part of its consent agenda, the board approved providing $1,510 salary supplements to all teachers as part of a statewide program. The amount of the supplement is determined by the state, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Ruben Reyes said at the Feb. 29 committee meeting. Cumberland County Schools will lobby for higher stipends in light of the county’s Tier 1 poverty status, Reyes said, noting that the program’s maximum stipend is $5,000.
• As part of its consent agenda, the board approved purchasing 1,000 iPads for Exceptional Children students and their teachers at a cost of $898,244.49. The EC program provides specially designed instruction to students with disabilities. According to a Feb. 29 presentation given to the board, the iPads are intended to address EC students’ potential difficulties with using mice and Chromebooks issued by the school system and provide more interactive learning opportunities. Teachers will receive the iPads in April, while students will receive them in August at the start of the new school year, the presentation stated.

The board will next meet at 6 p.m. April 9 at the Central Services building at 2465 Gillespie St. 

Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.

This story made possible by contributions to CityView News Fund, a 501c3 charitable organization committed to an informed democracy.