SLD ERATE FUNDING

The Chicopee Public Schools currently receives ERATE funding at the 71% reimbursement level in the following areas.

Internet Access ERATE applications have been funded by the SLD for 9 years.  These funds have enabled our school district to expand our band width from one 56k line in 1996 to our current 6 T 1 lines.  Merrimack Education Center (MEC) is our service provider and has provided excellent service to our school district over the years.

Our first Telephone application was funded in the 2003-2004 ERATE funding year.  These funds have greatly helped with the large telephone bill that the school district maintains to provide services in the district.  Prior to this year we only had been funded for 8 dial-in lines providing Internet access.  Currently we file ERATE applications for both POTS lines and Cell phones.

Our first Internal Connection SLD ERATE application was funded in the 2004-2005 ERATE funding year for our two 90% schools.  This is enabling us to replace the two ageing servers in those buildings.   In year 10 of ERATE we will be again trying for internal connection applications for another 90% school and three of our 80% schools.