New hire to get funds for district

BURBANK — The Burbank Unified School District has hired a new company to apply for around $180,000 in state funding — an effort district officials say will save money.

Each year, the district applies to receive the money from E-rate, a federally funded reimbursement of Internet and phone services to school districts.

This year, the district will save at least $75,000 by employing California School Management Group Inc. It has ended the contract with its former E-rate filing company, said Rick Vonk, district technology services manager.

The board of education approved a contract with California School Management Group Inc. in January.

The management group will receive $25,000 for services in the next two to three years — a steep savings on the previous E-rate filing service, which cost the district $100,000 for one year.

The management group will fill out forms and compile information necessary for applying for the grant.

Burbank Unified's bill for Internet and phone services amounted to about $350,000 last year, Vonk said. Nearly 58% of that was recovered from E-rate.

Internet and phone services may include fiber optics upgrades and e-mail services. The fiber-optic upgrades have increased the speed of Internet service to classrooms and libraries.

E-rate is a source of funding with a complex allotment criteria and application process, Vonk said, and how much E-rate money the district will get depends on the percentage of families participating in the district's free and reduced-meal program, Vonk said.

The district hopes to maximize the amount of money received by bringing in professionals who are well-versed in the process of E-rate application and audits.