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Derby school board approves Chromebook purchase, cardiac plan and capital projects; several curriculum items okayed
Summary
At its April 14 meeting, the Derby Public Schools Board of Education approved a $697,950 purchase of 2,150 Chromebooks, a district cardiac emergency response plan and a series of capital and curriculum items. Multiple routine minutes and consent items also passed.
The Derby Public Schools Board of Education on April 14 approved a set of routine and substantive items, including a $697,950 purchase of 2,150 student Chromebooks, formal adoption of a cardiac emergency response plan and multiple capital and curriculum measures.
The board voted unanimously on the major action items. Dennis Eldridge, director of technology, told the board that vendor pricing was changing rapidly and asked for immediate authorization to buy devices at a price guaranteed by the vendor through that day. The board approved the purchase, 6-0, even though the amount is about 2.5% over the district’s budget estimate.
The board also approved a cardiac emergency response plan brought forward by Don Gresham, director of special services. Gresham thanked staff members who helped simplify the plan for practical use in schools. The board voted 6-0 on that item.
Other approved items included curriculum adoptions for DHS (pre-algebra and Thinking Mathematically), a graduation-requirements update for the Class of 2028 and authorization to provide buses for a regional safe-driving competition. The board also approved routine minutes and the consent agenda, and it authorized bids and the district’s 2025–26 infrastructure plan so summer maintenance projects can proceed.
Votes at a glance
- Student device purchase: authorize purchase of 2,150 Chromebooks for $697,950 — Outcome: approved, 6-0. - Cardiac emergency response plan: Outcome: approved, 6-0. - DHS pre-algebra and Thinking Mathematically curriculum adoptions: Outcome: approved, 6-0. - Graduation requirements (Class of 2028 STEM credit rules): Outcome: approved, 6-0. - Bus use for Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association event (9 buses): Outcome: approved, 6-0. - Request to advertise/accept bids for parking-lot and ring-road projects: Outcome: approved, 6-0. - 2025–26 infrastructure capital outlay plan (selected projects authorized): Outcome: approved, 6-0. - Consent agenda and minutes (March board meetings and routine donations, travel, personnel, claims): Outcome: approved, 6-0.
The board indicated the device purchase exceeded the district’s budget by roughly 2.5 percent but approved the buy to lock in vendor pricing amid a volatile market. Eldridge said the vendor guaranteed the quoted price only until midnight on the day he reported it.
The meeting moved from routine approvals to discussion items and then to an executive session at the end of the agenda.
