Board moves forward on summer technology purchases including Chromebooks and iPads

The North Scott Community School District Board of Education heard presentations on summer technology purchases and recorded approval to proceed with technology bids covering Chromebooks, Chrome licensing, projectors and interactive whiteboards.

District staff described two main purchase groups: 850 Chromebooks to refresh student devices used primarily by fourth, seventh and tenth graders and a 125-unit replacement of touchscreen devices used by staff. Staff also described Chrome licensing to support student and staff devices, projector replacements and 11 interactive whiteboards that need replacement. The presenter said refurbished devices removed from older grade levels would be repurposed into carts for early elementary classrooms.

“Make a motion to approve the technology bids,” a board member said; the board responded with an aye voice vote and the motion passed. The transcript records the approval as a voice vote; no roll-call tally or mover/second names were provided.

Separately, district staff outlined Apple purchases sent later in the packet: iPads intended primarily for all kindergarten classrooms and for some students per their individualized education programs. Staff said the higher iPad counts reflect the addition of a new kindergarten section and that some units are spares being refreshed. Staff asked the board for approval to purchase the iPads; the transcript records the request but does not show a separate recorded vote on the Apple purchases.

Budget or funding source details for the technology purchases were not specified in the meeting record. The presentation and the board’s voice approval occurred during the agenda item described as summer technology updates.

At the meeting’s close on the technology item, board members moved on to other business including food-service bids and facilities items.