The district presented a strategic‑plan update and a detailed technology report focused on classroom engagement, device refreshes and infrastructure upgrades.

Superintendent (presenting the strategic plan) described the district’s four strategic pillars — teaching well‑rounded learners, fostering belonging and inclusion, promoting community engagement, and investing in long‑term capacity — and said the district is in the third year of the 2023–26 plan. The superintendent noted professional learning, project‑based environmental literacy cohorts and a community book study on engagement as current levers for the year.

Jerome Simon, identified in the meeting as Director (technology), outlined technology projects tied to the strategic plan. “We decided to move forward with Mac devices for staff,” Simon said, describing a pilot that deployed 26 MacBooks to early adopters and a planned phased rollout. Simon said the district expects to deploy 71 MacBooks in the immediate phase and ultimately move to full staff deployment over a multi‑year cycle, with a five‑year refresh plan thereafter.

On student devices, Simon described Chromebook lifecycle changes and a push toward 1:1 in lower grades. The district has already moved grade 2 to 1:1 and plans grade 1 in the current cycle; middle schools have locker replacement solutions at some sites (Ralston and Sandpiper) to speed device swaps. To address intentional damage, the district said it began parent billing for Chromebook damage last year and is integrating that process into its new ticketing system, Incident IQ.

Infrastructure work includes a wired network upgrade using HPE Aruba equipment funded in large part by a prior bond measure; Simon said the overall project budget is about $1,500,000 with an expected federal E‑rate Category 2 reimbursement of $295,000. The district also bid WAN capacity that allows moving from a 5‑gig to a 10‑gig connection to better serve sites; the main collector site will move to Nesbitt as the district office site transitions during construction.

Other completed and planned projects Simon listed: a district‑wide IP phone system with site‑specific 911 and voicemail‑to‑email, migration of campus security from Sonitrol to Verkada cameras and alarms (completed at four sites with more planned), and a wireless refresh pilot tied to bond timelines. Simon also discussed exploratory work on AI tools; the district has opened Google Gemini access to staff in Google Workspace and plans pilot projects such as a policy chatbot.

Board members asked about Chromebook damage billing and teacher support for Mac adoption; Simon said billing reduced repeat offenders but that damage rates show mixed results and that staff training and one‑on‑one support are available for teachers switching platforms. Trustees discussed timeline questions for remaining Verkada deployments and for district office transition; Simon and staff gave projected summer or early‑fall windows for completion.