Board approves $200,000 technology purchases; middle-school devices to remain at school

The Harper Creek Board on May 12 approved technology purchases to be funded from PILT/casino allocations and heard administration outline a change in the district’s 1:1 device model for middle school.

Purchases and funding

Technology director Jim Maynard said the board previously allocated $200,000 from casino/PILT funds for technology purchases. He told the board that three items were already purchased with exact costs recorded and that the remainder of the recommended purchases are estimates. The approved purchases include Chromebooks, carts, licenses, protective bags and staff laptops, plus projectors and audiovisual upgrades including portable wireless microphones and band-room AV improvements.

Program change: fewer devices taken home

Maynard said the district is shifting parts of the 1:1 program to a cart-based model in some grades to reduce damage and repair costs. Under the model described, younger grades and certain high-school grades keep devices in a cart for classroom use, while historically some seventh-grade students had taken devices home. "We find the damage is extensive when they take them home, and it drops significantly when they don't," Maynard said. He said the change requires buying more classroom carts (roughly 30–32 devices per cart) and some extra spare units.

Administration notes and timing

Maynard told the board the district acted in advance to buy certain seventh-grade Chromebooks to avoid price increases; he characterized that purchase as consistent with board policy for emergency procurement and asked the board to ratify the purchases on the record. The motion to approve technology purchases carried by roll call.

Ending

Board approval allows technology staff to proceed with orders and deployments ahead of the 2025–26 school year.