Portage Township Schools board approves $460,327 purchase of 970 Dell Chromebooks

The Portage Township Schools board on May 27 approved the purchase of 970 Dell Chromebooks for the 2025–26 school year, a contract priced at $460,327.10 after a cooperative-purchasing discount.

Superintendent Dr. Zachary Allen told the board the purchase is part of the district’s device-replacement plan and is intended to upgrade the district’s 1-to-1 device program in specific grade levels. He said the district will fund the purchase but is anticipating a Portage Redevelopment Commission grant of up to $250,000; the board approved the purchase “with the expectation” that portion would be reimbursed if the grant is awarded.

Board members discussed which grade levels the allocation will target during the meeting; trustees referenced grades 3, 4 and 8 in the discussion as the intended recipients of the devices. The purchase price reflected a cooperative-purchasing discount of nearly $28,000, the superintendent noted.

A motion to approve the Chromebook purchase was made and seconded and the board voted to approve the motion. Trustees who were named on the roll call as voting in favor included Trustee Maleta, Trustee Wilkie and Trustee Vasquez; the motion outcome was recorded as approved.

The district staff said the purchase follows the district’s device replacement plan and will be incorporated into the 2025–26 technology deployment schedule. Dr. Allen also noted the district has applied for the RDC grant and will use district funds if the grant is not awarded.

The board moved from the item to other contract approvals later in the meeting and then concluded with student demonstrations and refreshments.