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District outlines Chromebook 1:1 program, device counts and insurance costs
Summary
Curriculum staff described the district’s 1:1 Chromebook program (K–12), device counts (3,275 devices), device unit cost ($340), repair/supply expenses (~$60,000) and voluntary insurance terms ($20 annual, deductibles for repairs). They also reviewed instructional uses by grade group.
Curriculum staff gave the board an overview of York Suburban’s 1:1 Chromebook program, device lifecycle and how teachers use devices across grade levels.
Presenters described the district’s deployment policy: kindergartners and first graders use classroom devices, students in grade 2 receive a device for use through grade 7, and a replacement device is issued in grade 8 that students use through grade 12 (and may keep under a buyout option if they maintain insurance). Staff reported the district’s official October 1 student count at 2,954 and said the district has 3,275 devices including classroom labs and spare units for repairs.
Key device and program figures presented: • Device unit cost under current procurement: about $340 each (administration expected to finalize purchase order in May). • Repairs and supplies: roughly $60,000 projected for the year; factors include broken screens and lost/damaged chargers. Staff said the district averages about $18 per device per year in maintenance costs. • Insurance program: voluntary self‑insured program collecting $20 per device per year; deductibles are $15 for the first damage, $25 for a second, $35 for more than two; about 1,419 students currently participate in the district’s insurance program.
Curriculum uses and classroom practices Curriculum staff summarized how Chromebooks are used at each level: primary grades use devices for foundational skills and teacher‑guided work; intermediate grades use Chromebooks for digital literacy, differentiated reading and math supports, Google Classroom assignments and formative assessment tools; secondary students use devices for research, multimedia projects, collaboration and digital portfolios. Staff noted that PSSA and Keystone assessments will move online and that Chromebooks support classroom formative assessment and quicker feedback.
Questions from the board included whether students keep devices after graduation, feedback on device performance and battery life for current models, and options to survey staff and students on device experience. Administration said about 60% of graduating seniors typically keep their device and that the district buys a one‑year manufacturer warranty; additional accidental damage coverage is handled through the district program and insurance fund.
Why it matters: Chromebooks are core instructional tools and a material district expense (procurement, warranties, repairs, insurance). The presentation provided procurement timing, lifecycle assumptions and estimates of total cost of ownership.
