Jose Romero
editor-in-chief
Outdated technology like monitors and computers will begin getting upgrades districtwide within two years.
The $2.9 million proposal was approved during the monthly board of trustees meeting Nov. 18.
“With the ongoing need for this enablement for distanced learning, the district needs to replace devices that currently do not effectively facilitate the continuation of distanced learning,” said Dave Killingsworth, executive director of IT business administration and user support, during the work session meeting a week prior.
According to Killingsworth, TCC is behind right now when it comes to the technology it’s been using. He said upgrading will refresh outdated technology and allow the district to replace failing devices by simply swapping them out.
“This project is a great opportunity to utilize HEERF funds to catch up and accelerate our technology refresh,” he said.
Another improvement made to TCC’s technological infrastructure is toward its virtual desktops. The Virtual Desktop Infrastructure allows students and faculty to use a Windows 10 desktop anywhere with internet access.
“With this, we will empower students to have the best possible workspaces for utilizing all of our VDI technology,” Killingsworth said at the work session. “The devices will be more powerful, easily supported and ensure optimized VDI experience for our students using our flexible lab spaces.”
The current goal is to have this $343,902.75 project finished by the end of the fiscal year.
TCC has 290 votes to allocate toward candidates for the Tarrant Appraisal District board of directors. TAD is responsible for local property appraisal. Initially, board vice president Kenneth Barr made a motion to allocate 136 votes to Jungus Jordan, and 154 to Kathryn Wilemon, but board member Shannon Wood moved for a substitute motion, allocating 136 to Gary Losada instead. The substitute motion had four members vote no, while the initial motion had five vote yes, so the votes went to Jordan.
The board approved of a one-year renewal of Network on Demand circuits through AT&T.
The contract is for three years and amounts to $414,425. It provides the college with more flexibility in the way it delivers internet to its locations, Killingsworth said.
In 2019, the TCC Means Business ad campaign was started in cooperation with PytchBlack, a creative consulting firm. The board approved $1 million for the campaign, and now, they approved an extra $750,000 to expand it so it can reach additional audiences.
During the public comments section, Karl Ronacher, a former TCC human resources employee, shared his concerns on the HR department.
“You can’t sit here and tell me that this turnover rate within this department is not harming our district as a whole, is not harming our students,” Ronacher said.
