USD 443 reports positive Chromebook pilots; plans quote to replace high‑school laptops

District technology staff gave a progress report on the district Chromebook rollout and said pilot results at elementary, middle and high school levels support expanding Chromebooks at the high school.

The district began using Chromebooks in elementary grades, then rolled them to middle schools after pilot testing. Staff said the Acer Chromebook 511 used in K–8 was notably more durable than prior Windows laptops: over a comparable span the report showed approximately 440 Chromebook incidents with 15 replacements versus roughly 400 Windows laptop incidents and 30 replacements for the earlier fleet (K–8 figures). IT staff said most Chromebook failures were limited to screens or charging ports; full replacements were less common.

At the high school, the district deployed six carts of 30 Chromebooks each for a meaningful pilot. Staff said students adapted quickly and required little instruction to use the devices. Some high‑school teachers reported that the 11.6‑inch Chromebook screen felt too small for some students’ typing and project work; in response the district brought 14‑inch Chromebook models for another pilot to match the screen real estate users were accustomed to.

Why it matters: Staff said Chromebooks provide lower in‑house repair costs, faster turnaround and increased durability — attributes the district cited as reasons to consider replacing end‑of‑life Windows laptops at the high school.

Next steps: Technology staff said they will request quotes from vendors and present a purchase and deployment plan — including device specifications and timeline — to the board at the end of January. No formal purchase was approved at Monday’s meeting.