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Superintendent outlines technology audit and Chromebook needs; audit estimated $150K–$200K, devices about $450K
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Poteet reported the district is pursuing a full technology audit estimated at $150,000 to $200,000 (not to exceed $250,000) and a Chromebook replacement need of roughly 1,451 devices at an estimated $450,000; board members expressed caution because ongoing replacement costs and final federal aid remain uncertain.
Superintendent Dr. Poteet told the Winslow Township Board of Education on March 12 that the district is pursuing a district-wide technology audit as a priority and has begun gathering cost estimates and scope information.
Dr. Poteet said the audit will need to cover all schools and district buildings (administration, early childhood center, bus garage, maintenance building and food-service modular) and that early estimates based on vendor contacts place the audit cost at roughly $150,000 to $200,000, with a stated upper bound of $250,000 if scope expands. The superintendent said the district is still gathering proposals and hoped to present vendor options at a subsequent meeting.
On devices, Dr. Poteet reported a recent needs assessment: roughly 526 Chromebooks for the middle school and approximately 925 for the high school, for a total around 1,451 devices. The superintendent said replacement and upgrade costs were estimated at about $450,000 for those devices, and emphasized that the district had not budgeted for Chromebooks in the tentative 2025–26 budget approved that night. Dr. Poteet and board members cautioned that one-time purchases require ongoing replacement budgeting—"not a one-and-done"—and noted that if federal aid for programs such as IDEA or other grants were reduced, some programs would need to be absorbed into the general fund instead of supporting devices.
Board members discussed whether to scope the audit narrowly (schools only) or comprehensively; the superintendent recommended a full-audit approach to avoid repeat work. Several board members asked for timing and indicated they were reluctant to commit to device purchases until final federal and state aid numbers were certain. Dr. Poteet said the audit might be squeezed into the existing budget but that Chromebooks would require separate budgeting decisions.
No board action was taken on the audit or device purchases at the meeting; the superintendent asked for guidance and said he would return with proposals and costs once vendor information is complete.
