As private schools grow, technology becomes more complex.
Student devices multiply.
Cybersecurity requirements increase.
Cloud applications become essential.
Networks become larger.
Technology projects become more demanding.
Eventually, school leadership faces an important question:
Should we hire another IT employee, or should we partner with a Managed Service Provider?
There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.
The right decision depends on your school's current technology team, budget, growth plans, and long-term goals.
This guide compares both options so school leaders can make an informed decision.
When Hiring Another IT Employee Makes Sense
For some schools, expanding the internal IT department is the right choice.
Hiring another employee may make sense when:
- Daily help desk requests exceed current capacity.
- Your Technology Director spends most of the day supporting users.
- Classroom technology support has become difficult to maintain.
- Faculty and staff need more immediate onsite assistance.
- The school has enough budget for salary, benefits, training, and ongoing professional development.
An additional employee can improve day-to-day responsiveness and strengthen relationships across campus.
However, hiring also comes with challenges.
The True Cost of Hiring an IT Professional
Salary is only part of the investment.
Schools should also consider:
- Benefits
- Payroll taxes
- Health insurance
- Retirement contributions
- Continuing education
- Certifications
- Recruiting costs
- Paid time off
- Equipment
- Software licensing
In many cases, the total annual investment is significantly higher than salary alone.
Beyond cost, schools must also consider whether one employee can realistically provide expertise in networking, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, cloud infrastructure, VoIP, disaster recovery, and strategic planning.
When a Co-Managed IT Partnership Makes Sense
Many private schools already have an experienced Technology Director who understands the school's people, culture, and day-to-day operations.
Rather than replacing that person, Torch Networks supplements their expertise.
A co-managed partnership is often a strong fit when your school needs:
- Advanced network engineering
- Enterprise cybersecurity
- Microsoft 365 expertise
- Strategic IT planning
- Additional engineers for projects
- Business phone system management
- Infrastructure upgrades
- Vendor management
- Technology consulting
Instead of hiring one additional employee, schools gain access to an entire team of specialists.
Comparing Your Options
| Hiring an Employee | Co-Managed IT |
|---|---|
| One area of expertise | Team of specialists |
| Salary and benefits | Predictable monthly investment |
| Recruiting required | Immediate access to experts |
| Limited availability | Team-based coverage |
| Vacation and sick time | Continuous support |
| Ongoing training costs | Specialized expertise included |
| Capacity limited to one person | Multiple engineers available |
For many schools, co-managed IT provides broader expertise without increasing headcount.
What Does a Co-Managed Partnership Look Like?
Your Technology Director continues managing:
- Faculty support
- Student devices
- Classroom technology
- User accounts
- Day-to-day operations
Torch Networks provides:
- Network engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Microsoft 365 administration
- Firewall management
- Cloud infrastructure
- VoIP systems
- Strategic planning
- Infrastructure projects
Together, the partnership allows each team to focus on what they do best.
Real-World Success Story
Christ the King Catholic School
As Christ the King Catholic School grew, its Technology Director faced increasing demands on the school's network and infrastructure. Rather than replacing internal IT leadership or hiring additional specialists for every new challenge, the school partnered with Torch Networks to provide advanced engineering expertise and strategic support.
Working together, the team redesigned the school's network, resolved long-standing performance issues, and created an infrastructure capable of supporting continued growth.
"Before Torch Networks, our network was small and basic. As we grew, this caused huge slowdowns during the day that our previous provider couldn't fix. Torch Networks came in and worked through all the problems delivering a reliable network, which allowed continued growth and new technology upgrades. The value of Torch is the ability to open a ticket and know your issues will be immediately addressed by their knowledgeable technicians."
Ron Hudson
Director of Technology
Christ the King Catholic School
This is exactly how co-managed IT should work. The school's Technology Director remained in control of daily operations while Torch Networks provided the engineering expertise needed to solve complex infrastructure challenges.
Questions Every School Should Ask Before Hiring
Before adding another IT position, consider these questions:
- Are we missing day-to-day support or specialized expertise?
- Do we need another employee or access to multiple specialists?
- Can our current Technology Director benefit from engineering support?
- How often do we need advanced networking or cybersecurity expertise?
- Would a predictable monthly investment provide more flexibility than another salary?
The answers can help determine which approach best supports your school's long-term technology strategy.
Why Private Schools Choose Torch Networks
Torch Networks partners with private schools throughout Central Texas by strengthening existing IT departments instead of replacing them.
Schools choose us because we provide:
- Local Austin-based engineers
- Education-focused expertise
- 15-minute response commitment
- Unlimited support options
- Custom co-managed IT solutions
- Advanced network engineering
- Microsoft 365 expertise
- Enterprise cybersecurity
- Strategic technology planning
- Onsite project support
Our goal is simple.
Help your Technology Director accomplish more while giving school leadership confidence that technology can support future growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will co-managed IT replace our Technology Director?
No. Your Technology Director remains the leader of your school's technology program. Torch Networks provides engineering expertise and additional resources to support their success.
Is co-managed IT more affordable than hiring another employee?
For many schools, yes. A co-managed partnership provides access to multiple specialists for a predictable monthly investment instead of the full cost of recruiting, hiring, and supporting another full-time employee.
Can we choose which services Torch Networks manages?
Absolutely. Every engagement is customized based on your school's staff, infrastructure, and technology goals.
Can Torch Networks provide onsite engineers?
Yes. We regularly assist with campus projects, network upgrades, classroom technology deployments, and infrastructure improvements.
Ready to Strengthen Your IT Team?
Every school reaches a point where technology demands exceed the capacity of a single IT professional.
The question is whether adding another employee or partnering with experienced engineers provides the greatest long-term value.
Torch Networks helps private schools answer that question through customized co-managed IT partnerships designed around your school's unique needs.
Schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your current IT structure and discover whether a co-managed approach is the right fit for your school.
