Weston school leaders say aging Chromebooks must be replaced as board debates instructional value

Technology staff told the Western Board of Education on Thursday that the district’s student Chromebooks and supporting network equipment have reached the end of their usable life and should be replaced next fiscal year.

The technology presentation centered on hardware lifespan, repair difficulty and instructional uses of devices. “We really have to replace these Chromebooks next year,” said Dan DeVito, who presented the device and infrastructure analysis. He said replacement parts for older Chromebooks are increasingly unavailable and that loaner devices are also deteriorating, creating multi‑week delays for students who need devices for curriculum‑aligned work.

Board members pressed for classroom evidence and alternatives. Board member Chad asked whether Chromebooks are necessary in early grades and whether iPads or unplugged instruction could reduce costs. Dr. Gina Henkel, who co‑authored the instructional document in the board packet, responded that the administration uses technology to “individualize the needs for students” and to support interventions, assessments and computer science standards starting at kindergarten. Henkel added that staff created a “typical day” document to show students are not on screens for extended periods: “none of our students ... are sitting in front of a computer for 6 hours.”

DeVito outlined the district’s six‑year technology plan and explained a cascading deferral: because the district prioritized replacing back‑end infrastructure (firewalls, switches, wireless access points) after vendor end‑of‑life notices, the student device replacement moved from FY25 to FY26. He said that staff laptops would be pushed out a year as a result. DeVito also provided repair counts for the prior 12 months — for example, 209 LCD screens replaced — and noted that many replacements now require refurbished parts.

On costs, DeVito said the district’s quoted Chromebook price (including four years accidental‑damage warranty and a case) is about $365 per device; education‑priced iPads without accessories list near $300, but with damage protection and a case iPads are “almost the same exact cost,” he said. Gina Henkel and DeVito both argued that Chromebooks provide more flexible web‑based access and easier maintenance than tablets.

Some board members suggested delaying purchases or testing different device mixes; others urged reliance on staff judgment. Board member Steve said he would like to see stronger evidence of staff support for the devices: “If 80% of the staff think these tools are useful ... I will stop this,” he said. Administration members said the curriculum and assessment needs (DIBELS, NWEA, Smarter Balanced, state science assessments) and the district’s computer science standards underpin device decisions.

The technology discussion did not result in a formal vote. Administrators said they would provide further documentation, including the “typical day” use examples, comparative pricing and historical grant efforts, ahead of the next budget meeting.