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Ketchikan school board approves five‑year lease for student and staff computers totaling up to $275,000
Summary
The board voted unanimously to approve a five‑year lease with American Capital Finance for roughly 445 devices to support the district's 1:1 device program. The contract commits up to $55,000 for FY2025–26 and up to $275,000 over five years; the board and staff said final disposition of devices after five years has not yet been determined.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School Board approved a five‑year lease agreement with American Capital Finance on April 23 to provide student and staff devices for the district's 1:1 technology program. The motion passed unanimously at the meeting.
Under the approved motion the district will enter a five‑year lease with an annual payment not to exceed $55,000 for FY2025–26 and a total five‑year payment ceiling of $275,000. The leased equipment list in the packet identified roughly 445 devices: a majority of Chromebooks for students, with a smaller number of higher‑performance laptops for staff and instructional use. The initial payment is scheduled for July 15, 2025, and the district said the first year cost is built into the FY2025–26 budget.
Business manager Daniel Schueller said the leasing arrangement is similar to past technology leases the district has used and that the district took the current lease to the borough first for approval under a new ordinance. "This is the same company that we worked with previously ... the only difference is that the last time we did a 4 year lease, this time we're doing a 5 year lease," Schueller told the board.
Several public commenters had urged more detail in the contract before approval, citing unclear language about end‑of‑term disposition, insurance responsibility, shipping and repair liability and the lack of an explicit buyout option. District staff said those issues are typical considerations for equipment leases and noted that parents can purchase low‑cost insurance options to cover accidental damage in many school districts.
During the meeting the board discussed that the lease was reviewed by the borough before being presented to the board, per borough requirements for equipment leases. The board voted 6–0 to approve the five‑year lease agreement, and staff said they will return with implementation details, including policies on repair/replacement and any optional insurance available for families.
The board approved the contract with the understanding that additional clarification on parent responsibilities and any insurance options would be communicated to families before devices are distributed.
