Lincoln-Way 210 Awards $1.98 Million Contract for Network Cabling Upgrades

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | March 19, 2026

Article Summary: The Board of Education approved a $1.98 million contract with CDW/Greatline Solutions to upgrade aging wired infrastructure at the Central and East campuses to support modern technology and faster network speeds.

Cabling Upgrade Key Points:

• A contract for a total cost of $1,982,901.00 was awarded to CDW/Greatline Solutions.

• The project replaces 20-to-25-year-old CAT 5e cabling with CAT 6A, supporting up to 10 gigabits per second.

• The district anticipates receiving $480,000 in reimbursements through the federal E-Rate program.

• The new cabling comes with a 25-year manufacturer warranty.

The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education on Thursday, March 19, 2026, unanimously approved a contract for a total cost of $1,982,901.00 with CDW/Greatline Solutions for a district-wide wired infrastructure upgrade.

The district issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in January 2026 to upgrade components of its wired infrastructure through the federal E-Rate process. According to Director of Technology Cheryl Kay, much of the existing cabling at Lincoln-Way Central and East is 20 to 25 years old. The older CAT 5 and CAT 5e cabling standards do not support the faster speed capabilities of modern switching and wireless equipment recently purchased by the district.

“To put this into perspective for you, CAT 5e cabling supports speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, while CAT 6A cabling can support speeds up to 10 gigabits per second,” Kay explained to the Board. “I’ve used the garden hose versus the fire hose analogy in the past. So essentially, the new cabling allows more data to move through the network at one time.”

The upgraded infrastructure will also establish a foundation for future technology projects, including IP communication systems, digital signage, emergency alerting, and intercom systems that are nearing the end of their usable life.

The district received three proposals. While Netsource Solutions submitted a lower bid of $1,885,001.00, the district rejected it because the company only had 25 total employees. Kay noted that the district had significant concerns about a company of that size being able to complete the massive scope of work on time across multiple buildings. CDW/Greatline, a vendor the district has successfully used for past fiber projects, was selected instead.

The project is included in the district’s 5-year technology plan. Because a significant portion of the work qualifies for E-Rate reimbursements, the district anticipates receiving roughly $480,000 back after the project is completed. The installation work will be completed between April 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027, working around the district’s upcoming HVAC construction schedule.