District presents technology budget; informational item previews ML tools, projectors and new servers

The district presented its technology budget as an informational item at the board meeting, describing recent major server upgrades, ongoing laptop rollouts and planned purchases including machine‑learning software and new short‑throw projectors for auditoriums.

Staff said the overall technology budget is down from previous years even though software spending is rising, because major hardware upgrades — including server replacements and staff laptop implementations — were completed earlier. “Because this budget is extensive, we put it on informational tonight, let you guys digest it, and then we'll put it on the May board meeting as an action item,” said a staff member who presented the item.

Why it matters: staff said planned purchases are intended to support classroom instruction and district operations. The items mentioned include classroom Chromebook cabinets, IDF wiring, an uninterrupted power source for the district’s secondary data center, expanded software that the presenter described as including machine‑learning tools (“BrainCraft, Immigrates” as named in the presentation), and short‑throw projectors to enable digital scenery during auditorium performances.

Staff described their review process for instructional software: teacher requests route to Greg Raheal, identified in the presentation as an instructional technology specialist, who evaluates value, duplicate products and utilization data before purchases are approved.

The presentation also said the district used savings on software and other items to purchase server hardware earlier than planned. The presenter recommended awarding a server/storage purchase to Dell, stating Dell’s quoted components (power supplies and boot drives) were preferable to competitor quotes. The presenter noted that technology equipment purchases are exempt from the state bidding process but that competitive quotes were obtained.

Discussion at the meeting included how the district manages software licensure terms (one‑year versus multi‑year contracts) and how upgrades are handled inside multi‑year contracts. Board members asked about utilization monitoring and whether the district re‑evaluates software annually; staff replied utilization reviews are part of their budgeting process.

No formal action was taken on the technology budget itself (it was presented as information). The presenters invited board members to submit questions before the item returns as an action item at a future meeting.