The Marshall Public Schools Board of Education discussed contracting for an internet provider during its meeting on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Assistant Superintendent David Reinke stated to the board switching providers, although cheaper, would actually cost more over the long run due to the need to change IP addresses. The total cost per month through Bluebird Network will be $1,080 according to Reinke with E-Grants paying for 80 percent of the cost.

The board also discussed the wide-area network (WAN) that connects offices, data centers, cloud applications, and cloud storage together. It is called a wide-area network because it spans beyond a single building or large campus to include multiple locations spread across a specific geographic area, or even the world. Marshall Municipal Utilities was recommend by Reinke for the service.

The board approved both contracts.