Trustees review $19.8M-plus technology package: Chromebooks, teacher amplification and data storage among priorities

The district’s technology subcommittee presented a package of proposed projects included in the $495 million planning total that would replace student devices, upgrade network infrastructure and refresh instructional technology equipment. The committee evaluated 37 technology projects and recommended 28 for inclusion based on time frame, state mandates, operational impact and student impact. Committee members and district staff emphasized that statewide testing (STAR and other assessments) is administered online, which the presenters cited as a key driver for device availability and network capacity. Highlights discussed by trustees: - Device refresh: staff presented a planning-level figure of approximately $19.8 million to replace aging Chromebooks and iPads for students and to sustain the district’s 1:1 device initiative. Presenters said Chromebooks remain the primary device for statewide testing and that many campuses rely on devices taken home by students. - Leasing versus purchasing: Bond counsel Matt Lee explained that leasing devices would be a maintenance-and-operations (M&O) expense, not a bond expense; any lease obligations would be paid from the M&O tax rate rather than the interest-and-sinking (I&S) debt service tax rate. Trustees asked staff to prepare a leasing-vs-purchase cost comparison. - Teacher amplification: the package includes $4.4 million to refresh classroom amplification systems, which committee members said improves comprehension and instruction when used; trustees asked for data on how many systems are installed and in active use. - Infrastructure: upgrades to Wi-Fi, network switches, the district data center and on-site storage were described; staff said the district maintains an on-site data center with cloud redundancy and a recovery center at a high school. Trustees asked for lifecycle and inventory details (count of desktops/laptops, monitor ages, and percent of devices damaged annually — staff cited a 10–12% damage rate processed through the help desk). Trustees asked staff to return with more granular data: the number of devices per campus, expected lifecycle, costs to lease vs. buy, and quantitative usage statistics for teacher amplification systems. Staff said they would produce those items for further discussion and for voter-facing materials.