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Board considers buying Chromebooks early to avoid a possible 25% tariff increase
Summary
District staff proposed using fund balance/budget amendment to pre-purchase Chromebooks before a potential tariff that could raise device costs about 25%; board discussed delivery timing, warranties and budget treatment.
District technology and finance staff presented a proposal to order Chromebooks in the current fiscal year to avoid a potentially proposed tariff that a vendor said could raise costs by roughly 25%.
Staff said the Chromebook rotation covers two grade cohorts each year (fifth and ninth grades under the district’s device cycle). The vendor offered notice that a tariff could increase pricing significantly; as a result staff proposed a budget amendment to use available fund balance temporarily to purchase the devices now and then remove the one-time appropriation from next year’s budget if the expenditures align with FY26 appropriations.
Staff and board members discussed procurement details: the Chromebooks would be purchased from a state-approved contract vehicle (identified in the packet as TIPS Technology Solutions Products and Services contract), which staff said would allow the purchase without a separate three‑bid process. Board members asked whether the hardware purchase would also trigger overlapping software or subscription periods; staff said the immediate purchase is largely hardware and that warranties (four-year coverage for freshman devices) and storage until distribution were part of the plan. Staff said the county commission has allowed similar early ordering in past Julys to secure devices ahead of budget deadlines.
Finance staff estimated the district could avoid roughly $100,000 or more in higher costs if the tariff is enacted; staff emphasized this is a projection and not a guaranteed savings. Delivery timing was discussed: technology staff indicated the devices could be delivered and stored for distribution at the start of the following school year and that freshmen customarily keep devices for four years.
Staff said they would prepare a budget amendment for formal board consideration at the next business meeting; no procurement or appropriation vote occurred during the work session.
