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Board approves Chromebook procurement; district shifts first‑grade technology strategy
Summary
The board approved a financing and procurement plan for Chromebooks, moving first grade toward touchscreen Chromebooks and beginning a replacement cycle that will reduce reliance on older iPad generations.
The Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201 Board of Education approved a Chromebook procurement agreement Tuesday, authorizing the district to lease and finance a batch of touchscreen Chromebooks as part of a multi‑year device strategy that shifts first‑grade classrooms away from older iPad devices.
Director of Technology Aaron Souza and staff explained that the district evaluated four Chromebook manufacturers for ruggedness, repairability, performance and warranty and selected an Asus model. Souza said supply chain timing favored ordering now because quoted prices were time‑limited.
The technology presentation described the district's rationale: older iPads across multiple generations (some no longer supported for updates) require replacement, and pilot first‑grade Chromebook deployments at several buildings had produced positive teacher feedback. "Last month, I believe, we kind of, like, settled on first grade Chromebooks as the future for our students," Souza said.
Administrators said Providence Capital will finance the purchase under a lease arrangement that allows the district to receive devices now and begin payment in the next fiscal year. They also described a plan to collect and evaluate existing iPads at the end of the school year and pursue resale, recycling or reuse for spare inventory as appropriate.
The board approved the procurement on a roll call recorded as unanimous.
Ending: District staff said they will collect older devices this summer to assess condition and determine resale or recycling options and will proceed with ordering and configuration to have devices ready for the next school year.
