Schools
Did Smithfield Get the Best Deal on the School Wi-Fi Contract?
Last week, the school committee voted 4-1 to participate in a state contract for wireless networks in schools — but could the school board have saved more by going out to bid?
Schools in Smithfield will soon go wireless with the installation of wi-fi networks, following the local school committtee's vote last week to use a state vendor for the work.
But one school board member voted against the plan, and a local businessman said the school department could have saved money by bidding out for the work instead of joining the state contract, the Valley Breeze reported.
Find out what's happening in Smithfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Supt. Robert O'Brien told the committee that the state Department of Education is paying the estimated $459,000 cost of setting up the wireless networks, and said that if the local board tried to set up its own contract, it would lose the state funds, according to the newspaper.
Find out what's happening in Smithfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
SmithfieldPatch wants to know: What do you think?
Is this an example of the Rhode Island Department of Education overstepping its authority? Or does giving the money to Smithfield mean that the agency can say where it's spent?
Speak your mind in the comments below.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
