Board approves $1.003 million purchase of Chromebooks for five-year replacement plan

The Catawba County Board of Education on Nov. 24 approved a $1,003,617.20 purchase order for 2,620 Lenovo 100e Chromebooks, part of a district plan the technology department said aligns with a five-year replacement cycle for students in grades 3 through 12.

Marty Sharp told the board the purchase includes a four-year unlimited platinum warranty that covers accidental damage and hardware defects, one charger per device and protective shells estimated at about $20 per device. Sharp said the county commissioners have already approved and transferred the funding; after the purchase staff said about $5,000 of the commissioners’ allocation would remain.

Sharp described the district’s approach as a multi-year replacement plan. He said the district’s projected number of students in grades 3–12 divided over five years yields about 2,620 devices per year; the current order is for 2,620 Chromebooks. Board members asked no substantive questions before moving and approving the purchase by voice vote.

Also on the technology agenda the board approved a renewal for Learning.com, a digital-skills and keyboarding program used K–8 and funded by state funds for tier 1 and tier 2 counties.

The district’s technology office indicated college and vendor background checks and warranty terms will govern device support and deployment; staff said protective cases and warranty coverage are intended to extend device life through the replacement cycle.