Humble ISD moves to increase Chromebook ratios, upgrade CTE labs and shore up infrastructure; e‑rate and bond funds cited
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Summary
District technology staff told trustees they invested roughly $3 million recently to expand device ratios and CTE lab equipment, are pursuing an '85% Chromebook' threshold for campuses and are phasing infrastructure upgrades funded in part by E‑rate and Bond 2022 to avoid a device‑replacement 'cliff' in 2029.
Humble ISD technology leaders told the board on Oct. 23 that the district is increasing student device availability, updating career and technical education (CTE) labs and investing in network infrastructure to support a longer‑term, sustainable refresh cycle.
Chief technology staff and Melissa Holloway outlined a three‑year plan to raise device ratios and to avoid funding cliffs that would require mass replacement at the same time. The district said it has committed more than $3 million over the past six weeks to improve CTE labs and district device ratios and that about 14 campuses have received infrastructure updates so far. Officials said additional bond dollars from Bond 2022 plus federal E‑rate reimbursements will be used to maximize the district’s purchasing and infrastructure investment.
Highlights from the presentation: - A target “85% project” was described: the district will bring each campus to at least 85 percent as many Chromebooks as students so that rooms and schedules can operate without device shortages during most of the school day. - The technology team said it expects to deploy roughly 1,500 devices to 10 campuses as part of that 85% effort in short order; devices are on order and some shipments had arrived at campuses at the time of the meeting. - CTE lab refresh: the district reported being seven labs away from completing 55 updated CTE labs across 13 campuses; the work includes lab‑grade equipment and Chrome carts that will be deployed within weeks. - Device lifecycle concerns: officials warned of an ‘‘end‑of‑life’’ cliff beginning in June 2029 tied to the large device purchases made during the pandemic; they said roughly 26,000 devices purchased around that time will need replacement in a narrow window unless the district stages refreshes. - Funding and procurement: the district said E‑rate funds can be used for infrastructure (not devices) and that timing is critical to maximize federal reimbursement while avoiding federal procurement delays.
Trustees asked about title funding variances across campuses (some campuses used Title I funds to accelerate device purchases) and about device stewardship and policies for devices taken home. Technology staff said student devices include 4–5 years of accidental damage coverage in standard pricing, and the district will continue to evaluate policies to support device care and long‑term sustainability.
Administration asked trustees to support ongoing monitoring and budget planning to smooth future replacement needs rather than creating a large single‑year replacement obligation.