Ironwood Area Schools Moves to Regional Server

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The Board of Education for Ironwood Area Schools voted to move their school servers to a virtual server hosted by the Regional Educational Media Center Association of Michigan (REMC1). The $26,684 five-year contract will allow the district to save on energy costs for their on-site server room and provide expanded services like student information systems, curriculum management, finance, and library circulation.

Why it matters

As school districts increasingly rely on technology, managing and maintaining on-site servers can be a significant operational and financial burden. By outsourcing their server infrastructure to a regional provider, Ironwood Area Schools can focus resources on educational priorities while benefiting from economies of scale and expanded service capabilities.

The details

The board voted to move to the REMC1 virtual server after a system crash in 2025 prompted them to back up their systems. The REMC1 service will cover a range of critical school functions beyond just hosting the servers, including student information systems, curriculum management, finance, and library circulation. The move is expected to save the district on energy costs compared to maintaining an on-site server room.

• The board voted on the REMC1 contract on Monday, March 17, 2026.
• The district experienced a server system crash in 2025 that led them to seek an outsourced solution.
• The REMC1 contract is for a five-year term.

What’s next

The board will need to monitor the implementation and performance of the REMC1 virtual server over the five-year contract period to ensure it is meeting the district's needs and delivering the expected energy and operational savings.