(18-Dec-09) Carlos Rosa’s IT infrastructure had everything he needed, and then some. But, he realized, the “and then some” was probably too much.
Mahwah Township Public Schools’ eight-year-old network was top of the line. “That comes at a price,” says Rosa, the New Jersey district’s IT manager. But in his mind, the price that didn’t add up was the annual maintenance warranty, which could be as much as 20 percent of the cost of the equipment. So upgrades, maintenance and support on a $10,000 switch over a five-year period could double the price.
“Change is a scary word. If something is working, most nontechnical people believe the motto, ‘If it ain't broke, don't fix it,’ ” says Rosa. “When you start doing the math and see that by changing certain aspects of an infrastructure you’re going to save money and get more power in the long run, it’s not that complex.”
Last summer, Rosa joined the ranks of school IT leaders swapping out not just one or two pieces of technology, but entire infrastructures. Although it may seem like a bold move in such a belt-tightening economy, it can easily lead to cost savings.