Hillsdale School Board Approves $112K Fiber Optic Installation

New fiber optic cables being installed at Hillsdale's three K-8 schools will allow the district to enter a shared service agreement with Pascack Valley High School that will improve Internet speed and save the district money.

The Hillsdale Board of Education approved a $110,137.43 contract with Millennium Communications Group to install the network and an additional $2,300 for an annual inspection after the warranty period during their meeting Monday night.

Millennium submitted the lowest of three bids for the project, according to district officials. The funds for the project have been alloted in this year's $21 million budget.

The Hillsdale and Pascack Valley Regional Boards of Education both previously voted to approve a shared service agreement for fiber optic Internet service. The contract will last from September of this year until September 2018 at a cost of $1,500 per month to Hillsdale Schools, with a possible extension of five additional years.

Hillsdale Schools Business Administrator Lirca Garcia said the work is expected to start this summer, and should be finished by January 2014. Exactly how long it takes is largely dependent on Verizon, she said.

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