A new IT director inherited a data center they could not access and network closets that had gone years without attention. So Weaver replaced the data center. Then we ran a K-12 E-Rate network upgrade to rebuild the closets and lab networking at every campus.
The challenge: a data center no one could access
The district is a Texas public school district with students across multiple campuses. When a new IT director joined, the size of the infrastructure problem became clear. The data center had aged past the point of manageability. It ran on a legacy platform that no longer had support, and the new director could not get into the existing systems at all.
The campuses had problems too. Over the years, network closets had collected tangled cabling, old hardware and weak power. Each of those created a possible point of failure. They also limited how far the district could expand lab connectivity as classroom technology use grew.
Our approach: a data center refresh and a K-12 E-Rate network upgrade
Weaver scoped two coordinated projects. First, a full data center refresh would replace the aging environment with modern infrastructure the IT director could manage. Next, a K-12 E-Rate network upgrade would clean up the closets and improve lab networking at every campus.
We sized each project to fit the budget and the school calendar. In addition, E-Rate carries strict compliance and documentation rules. So Weaver managed that process for the district, and the team met each filing deadline while the fieldwork moved ahead.
What Weaver delivered
- Data center refresh. We replaced the legacy environment with documented systems the IT director could access from day one.
- 3-2-1 backup strategy. Three copies, on two media types, with one offsite, so the district can recover data when it matters.
- Closet cleanup. We cleaned and reorganized closets at every campus and replaced old cabling.
- Reliable power. New UPS systems now keep campus network gear running.
- Fortinet lab switching. New switches give classroom labs dependable connectivity.
- E-Rate management. Weaver handled the paperwork and deadlines on the district’s behalf.
Results of the K-12 E-Rate network upgrade and refresh
Today, the district runs a modern data center with a 3-2-1 backup strategy. It replaced an environment the IT director could not even access. As a result, the team can now see, manage and recover its own systems.
The K-12 E-Rate network upgrade also gave the campuses a cleaner foundation. Every closet now has neat cabling, new UPS power and room to grow. Meanwhile, Fortinet switches give the labs the connectivity that classroom technology needs. Because the district chose Weaver based on past projects, the work built on a relationship of trust. Competitive pricing also helped Weaver win the E-Rate bid.
A common challenge for Texas K-12 IT leaders
District IT leaders often inherit infrastructure they did not design and cannot fully see. A workaround might seem cheaper at first. However, an inaccessible data center is real operational risk, so a full refresh was the right call here. The closets are less visible, but they matter just as much, and E-Rate funding can help cover the work. Clean, well-powered closets with modern switching from Fortinet give every classroom a dependable path to the network. Clean infrastructure in both places is the foundation everything else runs on.
Inherited an environment you can’t fully see?
Weaver can assess your data center and campus closets and show where E-Rate funding can help. Talk with our team, or browse more case studies.
