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Board approves $240,000 for camera servers and votes to buy Chromebooks outright
Summary
The Colleton County School District Committee of the Whole approved $240,000 for new camera servers and voted 6–1 to purchase roughly $4.02 million in Chromebooks, with administration authorized to use capital-project funds and the remainder from fund balance.
The Colleton County School District Committee of the Whole on Tuesday approved $240,000 to buy servers needed to support upgraded camera systems and voted 6–1 to purchase Chromebooks outright rather than lease them.
The board unanimously approved a motion to buy districtwide camera servers at a cost of $240,000, funding the purchase from the district’s capital projects account. Board members said the servers are required because the new cameras will not run on the old equipment.
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Williams asked the board to approve acquisition of Chromebooks. Administration reported a purchase price of roughly $4,020,000; a previously proposed lease would have spread payments of about $1,100,000 per year over four years. Trustee Erwin moved to buy the devices outright with “money, as deemed by administration coming out of capital projects and then the balance of that money, to purchase them outright coming out of our fund balance.” The motion carried 6–1.
During discussion, a board member noted cost savings from buying rather than leasing. “We've got the money in the bank right now. We could save the district $400,000,” said board member Sadler. Administration reported the vendor discount reduced the price below an earlier $4.5 million estimate; an administrator said, “we're a little bit over $4,000,000, roughly about 4,020,000.”
Board members and staff also cited timing and supply risks as reasons to act now. A trustee warned that lead times for large Dell orders can grow and prices could rise if the vote was delayed. Technology staff confirmed the vendor (Dell) would provide the same level of service whether the machines were leased or purchased.
The board gave administrators flexibility to determine the exact split between capital-project funds and fund balance when finalizing payment and procurement. The district intends to place orders this summer so devices arrive before the new school year; staff said inventory and setup work will follow delivery.
