District signs on with new Internet provider

Aromas San Juan Unified School District trustees voted 5-0 in favor of bringing a new Internet provider to two schools for an annual savings of $21,180.
The district’s contract with Charter INET Internet Services ends June 30. Instead of renewing it, the district is requesting a contract with AT&T to serve the San Juan School and Anzar High School campuses.
“Big picture, it’s moving us toward greater connectivity to the Internet,” said Superintendent Ruben Zepeda in an interview with the Free Lance.
The district’s Aromas School will also receive internet through AT&T but through a separate contract. The school was selected as one of 227 in the state that will receive a share of nearly $27 million in state grant funds meant to enhance network connectivity so schools can successfully administer the state’s new online standardized tests. The grant will handle the costs of updating site infrastructure and paying monthly web costs through June 2016.
AT&T requires 90 days in order to activate internet services, according to an agenda report.