The district-wide wireless upgrade project is nearing completion ,Chief Technology Officer Nick Takacs told the Bethlehem Area School Board at its finance committee meeting Jan. 19.

In December 2014, renovations began to incorporate Wi-Fi throughout all BASD campuses in an effort to parallel advancing nationwide approaches to technology and curriculum.

So far, 17 out of the 21 schools have been fully outfitted with blanketing wireless accessibility. Three schools, Farmersville and Braughal elementary schools and Northeast MS, have had minor issues that Takacs expects to be fixed my month’s end.

As for costs, “BASD is responsible for 20 percent of the total $1.87 million cost of the project, thanks to the federal E-Rate reimbursement program,” Takacs said.

E-rate is a tax on phone bills instituted nationwide in 1997 that directly contributes to public school technology support.

This wireless project enables coverage through the common and instructional areas for students and faculty members. “The project’s goals were to address a longstanding deficiency across the district’s schools around wireless access,” said Takacs.

Board member Eugene McKeon questioned the process of connecting the Wi-Fi. Takacs confirmed that students would not need to physically register their devices with the school in order to enable the connection.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Jack Silva said though the physical installation may be complete, there are a number of refinements needed, such as access filtering, usage and district policy. Takacs hopes to have the system fully operational for next school year.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy said the time between now and the system going fully live – namely how many students will possess their own wireless devices and not need to borrow district-owned devices by that time – will prove a critical financial and equity issue.