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Student‑designed SEL device 'Turbobo' presented as classroom resource; founder offered procurement and pricing details
Summary
Ryan Meehl, founder of Turbobo, demonstrated a weighted, sensory plush designed to reduce child anxiety, described school pilots in Queens, and provided pricing and procurement information for Title I and school purchases.
Ryan Meehl, founder of Turbobo, told the District 25 Parent Engagement PAC that his company makes a weighted, sensory plush designed to reduce anxiety and support social‑emotional learning in classrooms.
"It weighs about 5 pounds," Meehl said of the standard Turbobo model, describing features that include a weighted body, a fidget tail, zippered ear pockets for gel packs and aromatherapy pads, and a storybook titled Meet Turbobo included with each unit. Meehl said a smaller "Turbobo mini" is also available.
Meehl said about 180 NYC elementary and middle schools have adopted Turbobo in classrooms and support offices and that one District 25 school, P.S. 79, used Title I funds to purchase roughly 60 units for classrooms and outside service providers. He said principals and parent coordinators often invite him to present; he described recent principal meetings in which schools purchased devices following demonstrations.
Meehl presented pricing: the full‑size Turbobo bundle (dog, inserts including aromatherapy pad and gel pack, storybook and a one‑page best‑use guide) is priced at $85 per unit; the smaller Turbobo mini costs $40 per unit. He said Turbobo is a sole‑source vendor with the Department of Education and that purchases can be made via district purchase order or the company's online store (www.turbobo.co), but recommended discussing procurement with principals or district staff to use Title I or other available funds.
Parents and DPAC members asked about school presentations and implementation; Meehl said he will do Zoom demonstrations for principals and attend principal and parent‑coordinator meetings on request. DPAC members said they would arrange meetings with District 25 principals and the parent‑coordinator network to explore use of the device with remaining Title I set‑aside funds.
Meehl framed Turbobo as a classroom tool to help students regulate and reorient so they can engage in learning; no formal purchase decisions or motions were made at the meeting.
