Meeting Minutes Friday Nov. 20, 2020

Yavapai County Educational Technology Consortium (YCETC)
Board of Directors  Meeting Minutes

Friday, November 20, 2020 –  10am

YCESA – training room – Zoom
2970 Centerpointe E Dr, Prescott 86301

Board Members and the Public May Attend by Telephonic or Electronic Means.  Call 928-442-5692. No Code is Needed.

Also present were: Frank Vander Horst – YCESA, Stan Goligoski – YCESA, Lori Bomar – Yarnell Elementary, Larry Fullmer – Chino Valley USD

MINUTES

Call to Order (President Epperson)

President Epperson called the meeting to order at 10:00am

Welcome and Establishment of Quorum (President Epperson)

A quorum was established.

Pledge of Allegiance (President Epperson)

Presentation, Discussion and Action Item: Broadband Marketing Pricing Update(Mr. Goligoski and Mr. Vander Horst)

Stan advised the board that there have been two meetings with Sparklight, the first meeting was to make Sparklight aware that schools might leave the consortium because of Sparklight’s new state contract that shows a significant reduction in pricing versus the current YCETC contract. The second meeting Sparklight confirmed they are honoring the set prices and if any entity filed a new FCC Form 470 Sparklight will “no bid”. This will preserve the consortium and keep most members from leaving. The schools see the value in the consortium and have not expressed a want to leave.

Presentation, Discussion: Sparklight Hub and Spoke Concept (Mr. Goligoski and Mr. Vander Horst)

If the consortium goes over 20 gigabytes for collectively for the entire consortium, there will be a price decrease, but only if specific equipment are purchased to create a Hub and Spoke network.  This equipment will cost a total of $30,000, with a net cost of $8,000 after the E-rate reimbursement. This equipment would also allow the consortium some entrepreneurial opportunities. Going to a Hub and Spoke model would mean the internet would go to the ESA office and then a WAN going from the ESA office to the schools and libraries. The board discussed how the $8,000 can be obtained, the board could ask FFMA for the funds or the ESA can front the money for the consortium. The $22,000 would have to come out of the schools/libraries category 2 funding. Corey suggested that the total $22,000 come out of his entities category 2 funding and the library has 200 unused IP addresses that can be available if needed. Frank will find out if it can be paid out of one entity. Gary brought up some IT issues that could arise with sharing a Hub and Spoke, such as losing IP addresses for individual schools and districts. Board members will be getting feedback from their respective groups and further discuss the item in December. The agenda item will include the funding source for the $30,000 and delegating additional revenue into a separate account, further discussion for the Hub and Spoke concept, and discussion for a technical subcommittee. Mr. Carter will review past minutes to review the specifics of the subcommittee. Stan will look into grant funding of the consortium. 

Presentation, Discussion: For Locations that are not on Sparklight Fiber, Increases in Bandwidth requestes will be approved by Sparklight only if the requestor commits to stay with YCETC Broadband Consortium Through the end of the Current Contract with Sparklight, March 2023 (Mr. Goligoski and Mr. Vander Horst) 

Sparklight is requesting that a document be drafted that the board and type 2 locations will increase their bandwidth, but not leave the consortium and completed the contract through 2023. There are currently 17 type 2 locations. The board discussed if they should draft the document or have the 17 locations sign and draft their own document.  The co-terminus issue must be resolved by the districts after the 2023 contract is completed. Mr. Carter suggested a resolution from the consortium would suffice. The board requested that Mr. Carter create a resolution for the board and present it at the December meeting.

Presentation, Discussion and Action Item: Communication Process to and for the Membership 

Stan requested direction from the board regarding the fact that Sparklight will not open bids from members within the consortium. The board agreed to let the consortium members know what the concerns are for Sparklight and the resolution will be included in the communication. Stan will send the letter to the board ASAP and send out the schools letter the following week after Thanksgiving break.

Action Item: Adjournment

President Epperson adjourned the meeting at 10:80 am