Pub. 9 2019-2020 Issue 1

11 Maintaining computers that can adequately meet teachers’ needs allows them to spend more time focused on their students and teaching, eliminating wasted time spent trying to accomplish administrative tasks on a subpar computer. ADVERTISEMENT state testing applications will require the latest version of ChromeOS, which means you may be in for a nasty surprise if you don’t take that into account when testing rolls around. To avoid such issues, keep an inventory of your Chromebooks. List when they were purchased and when the Auto Update Expiration Date is (you can easily export the enrollment and expiration dates from the Google Admin Console). Plan on replacing each batch of Chromebooks as they reach the expira- tion date, or when they reach perhaps four years of age. Your older Chromebooks may still be useful in some situations, but you won’t want to depend on them for testing. Staff Computers As with Chromebooks, you’ll want to keep an inventory and track the age of your staff devices as well. While not as likely to be damaged to the same extent as the student devices, you’ll still want to plan for the replacement of teacher and admin computers every three to five years. OIder devices will run more slowly, causing frustration and a decrease in productivity. Maintaining computers that can adequately meet teachers’ needs allows them to spend more time focused on their students and teaching, eliminating wasted time spent trying to accomplish administrative tasks on a subpar computer. If you don’t want to foot a fairly large expense every three to five years keeping your staff devices current, one effective strategy is to replace 20-30 percent of your staff computers each year. Other options might include leasing staff computers or engaging with a provider of a device-as-a-service offering. Network Infrastructure While you likely don’t think about them as often as Chromebooks or laptops, the equipment supporting your network behind the scenes is just as critical to maintain in order to ensure your technology works for you and not against you. Wireless access points, network switches, servers, firewalls, and filters all play an important role in providing internet con- nectivity, security, and safety features to students and faculty. Maintaining your networking equipment can be difficult to do without the right expertise. You’ll want to make sure your wireless access points are the latest WiFi standard and have the capacity to handle dozens of students in a classroom at once. You’ll also want to ensure your firewall and network switches are up-to-date and support enterprise-level security features. Using the federal E-Rate program is a great way to get your network infrastructure up-to-date in an affordable way. The E-Rate program allows charter schools to refresh their network infrastructure every five years, with 20 percent to 90 percent of the cost being subsidized by federal funding (determined by the percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program). E-Rate service providers can provide the equipment, implementation, and even maintenance of your network, all of which is eligible for federal reimbursement. Since your school’s eligibility for E-Rate funds is renewed every five years, there is no reason not to apply for and use them! Your technology won’t always work perfectly, but as you plan for your upcoming needs and keep your technology in the right state, you’ll encounter far fewer headaches and be able to get back to doing what you do best – educating Utah’s next generation. We provide the most personalized business services and financial analysis to charter schools who value autonomy. Monty Hardy 801.394.4140 433 N 1500 W Ogden, UT 84404 www.redapplefinance.com Pantone 195 Pantone 186 Black Pantone 389 Pantone 377