Board OKs purchase of 70 interactive classroom displays and shifts teacher device plan

The School District of Beloit approved a purchase of 70 Newline interactive classroom displays at a May 20 Business Operations & Finance Committee meeting and full board vote, with a purchase cap set at $135,000.

Technology staff explained the replacement is timed to remove aging SMART Boards, which staff said are 10–12 years old and difficult to maintain. "The SMART Boards are 10 to 12 years old, and they're getting pretty old. They're hard to maintain, parts are expensive to replace, or hard to find, and they're beyond our replacement cycle," the presenter said. Technology staff said the low bid came from CDW at about $1,900 per unit and that CDW could supply a seven‑year advanced‑replacement warranty versus a five‑year warranty in other quotes.

District staff also proposed changing the teacher device strategy. Technology staff told the committee MacBooks currently on a three‑year lease are due to be collected July 1 and said selling the leased MacBooks instead of re‑leasing them could produce roughly $550,000 in one‑time savings over the next three years; staff characterized that figure as a one‑time savings and said the potential annual lease‑avoidance savings could be roughly $160,000–$190,000 depending on lease options. The plan presented would keep Chromebooks for staff and students, eliminate a second device for staff, and simplify integration with the Newline panels.

Board discussion focused on classroom coverage (not every classroom has an interactive display today), warranty terms and the timing of the purchase within the current fiscal year budget. A motion to approve the purchase, “not to exceed $135,000,” carried without recorded roll‑call opposition.

Ending: District staff said the replacements are budgeted for 2024–25 and will be integrated during the coming school year; staff will return with implementation timing and disposal/sale plans for replaced units.