District staff propose Chromebook refresh plan; board asked to set aside $110 per device, student fees suggested

District staff presented a proposed four-year Chromebook refresh plan during the meeting, outlining estimated device counts, cost assumptions and a recommended funding split that would partially rely on school funds and a district-designated fund described in the presentation as “Katz money.” The plan identifies roughly 1,185 Chromebooks and an estimated per-device cost of about $270, producing a near-term device purchase need described in the presentation as “almost about $320,000.”

The presenter said the district and Superintendent Howard discussed the plan and “felt like [the] best course of action after going over [it] several times, was to put Baker, Cannonbolt, GRC, and Phoenix on a ... 4 year plan of work,” an approach intended to stagger purchases so not all devices are refreshed at once. The presenter emphasized the $270 figure is only an estimate and that the district will solicit bids to seek lower per-unit pricing.

Under the funding proposal laid out to the board, the district would set aside $110 per Chromebook; the presentation described the remainder of the per-device cost coming from what the presenter identified as “Katz money” and from school funds. The presenter also proposed charging families a damage or participation fee: $10 for students in grades 9–12 and $5 for students in grades K–8. The presenter said the district will return in May with updated enrollment-based fee language if the board approves the plan to proceed to bid.

The presenter described current local device inventories as including loaners and older devices in circulation and noted accidental-damage protection was not currently included in the $270 estimate. The presenter said if the board wished to purchase three-year accidental damage protection, the district would ask the board to commit an additional amount per device from the identified district funds.

Staff repeatedly cautioned that figures are estimates and that the final price will depend on the results of a formal procurement process. “Whatever you all decide to do tonight, we’ll put out a bid. So, hopefully, we can get lower than $270 per device,” the presenter said. The presentation did not include a formal motion or recorded board vote on the plan during the transcripted portion.

No formal action or vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt; the presenter framed the item as a request to approve moving the plan to bid and return with final pricing and enrollment-based fee language. Implementation was described as dependent on procurement outcomes and any further approvals the board may require.