Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ed Tech Chromebooks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves Chromebook purchase from Common School Funds; staff clarifies total devices and warranty
Summary
The Beloit committee voted to recommend purchase of Chromebooks using Common School Funds. Staff said the district requests $75,825 per set of 30 devices for five elementary libraries (150 total) and that Common School Funds flow from a state constitutional allocation for libraries; a five-year warranty was included in procurement materials.
The School District of Beloit committee on April 15 recommended that the board authorize the purchase of Chromebooks for elementary school libraries using Common School Funds.
Brandy Grady, the district library media coordinator, told the committee the district requested $75,825 per set of 30 Chromebooks to update devices at five elementary libraries that had not been refreshed last year. A clarification during the meeting noted the district is purchasing 30 devices for each of five elementary schools — 150 devices total — and the $75,825 figure applies per 30-device set; procurement documentation will be corrected to show the package is 30 devices per building.
Grady explained Common School Funds are a long-standing Wisconsin constitutional allocation to support district libraries. She said Common School Funds must be used for library-specific purchases: books, makerspace items and devices used in the library and for shared checkout or loaner devices. She said the district received approximately $446,000 in Common School Funds this spring and that the funds are restricted to library uses.
Committee members asked about tracking and warranty. Staff said the purchase included a five-year warranty and that the district began a device loaner tracking sheet at the middle school this week; the district will expand tracking to better document need for loaners and to support future requests.
A motion to recommend the Chromebook purchase to the full board passed unanimously at the committee meeting.
Details: the purchase is funded from Common School Funds; devices are intended for library circulation and loaner use during testing. Staff will correct the purchase description to reflect 30 Chromebooks per elementary school and the procurement includes a five-year warranty.
