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Board approves classroom audio enhancement with translation capability for remaining classrooms
Summary
The board approved a purchase to finish equipping classrooms with audio-amplification and translation features; district and vendors demonstrated real-time translation in classroom tests and staff said initial rollout was funded with ESSER money.
The Hillsborough County School Board on Aug. 22 voted to purchase and install classroom audio-enhancement systems that include live translation capabilities and integration with school intercoms, completing equipment already installed in roughly 75 percent of classrooms.
Superintendent Van Ayers and operations staff described the system as a classroom microphone and speaker package that can translate instruction into dozens of languages and tie into existing classroom speakers. "So as the teacher is speaking in English, in this case, mister Anderson, it translate there's Hindi that you can see right there. So they hear the Hindi translation in their ears, and then they see it in front of them," a district operations representative said during a demonstration. The same presentation noted the translation is AI-assisted and typically shows a two- to three-second delay on classroom displays.
Why it matters: Staff said the system supports multilingual learners and students who are deaf or hard of hearing and can increase classroom engagement and academic access. District leaders told the board ESSER funds paid for the initial 75 percent of classrooms; capital funds will pay to equip the remaining rooms so the whole district has the technology. "There is no cost for this. The the laptops we already have, the headphones they already have, it will translate, right there in front of them," the presenter said.
Board members asked about teacher training and maintenance. The district said summer trainings are scheduled and that three in‑house technicians were trained by the vendor; warranty terms and a 10‑year warranty were highlighted in discussion. Member Combs, who pulled the item for questions, said she expected teachers to adopt the devices once they saw student engagement: "Once they use it, they never take it off and they love it," she said.
The motion to approve the audio-enhancement purchase (agenda item C714) was moved by Member Perez, seconded by Member Combs and passed unanimously.
Speakers quoted in this article appear in the meeting record and include district operations staff and board members.
