The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

March 19, 2010

School's phone bid comes in under budget

Plan has 1,250 phones, internet protocol

By Tanner Kent Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Fortuitous circumstances are leading to a new phone system, and some budget savings, for Mankato Area Public Schools.

With the construction of Rosa Parks Elementary as well as the remodeling of Eagle Lake Elementary, the district budgeted $500,000 to install or replace phone systems at both schools with an Internet-based phone system.

In January, the district called for bids on the project. And this month, they were surprised to find that HickoryTech could not only complete the project at Rosa Parks and Eagle Lake, but throughout the whole district — and for a cost of only $373,610 over five years, which was substantially under budget.

Mike Olsen, director of sales for HickoryTech, said the Mankato-based company was able to provide a lower bid partly because of its recently inked contract with SOCRATES, a telecommunications consortium of southern Minnesota schools and a variety of public agencies.

Through the agreement with SOCRATES, Olsen said HickoryTech was able to offer their own service to Mankato schools — as opposed to the district purchasing the service for itself and then having to purchase and pay for its own equipment and technical specialists.

The agreement means Mankato schools will receive HickoryTech equipment and have access to its 24-hour technical support. It also means the district saved hundreds of thousands of dollars — perhaps as much as 75 percent on the cost of a district-wide installation.

For complete story, see the Friday print edition of The Free Press.

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