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Board warned Chromebook losses and repair costs may threaten 1:1 program
Summary
Technology staff reported rising device disposals and repair costs at the middle school, projecting replacement costs rising toward $400 per Chromebook and current insurance and fees not covering losses; the board discussed possible changes to device policies and classroom models.
Mister Gonzales presented district technology data and said the district’s PowerSchool instance was not affected by the late-December breach. He then outlined Chromebook inventory and repair trends and told the board the middle school shows an "alarming trend" of devices that are disposed or damaged beyond repair.
Gonzales gave figures from the district spreadsheet: the middle school had 27 disposed devices to date, costing roughly $9,261; 112 repairs approximated at $11,200; and device insurance collected this year totaled $4,050. He used a conservative repair average of $100 per repair and said the district is budgeting $18,300 for device rotation. Gonzales warned that even if the district collected insurance from every student, it probably would not cover the present level of losses.
He said the high school’s device losses are lower (10 disposed, roughly $3,430, and 32 repairs for about $3,200), and that insurance almost covers those costs. But he cautioned that the district is on a trajectory that may make sustaining a 1:1 program difficult: "We're projecting $400 a Chromebook," he said, noting market pressures and potential tariffs.
Board members asked whether limiting take-home privileges at the middle school could reduce damage and whether a classroom-only model would be feasible. Gonzales said classroom models reduce damage but raise equity and access questions (internet and device availability at home) and could shift the repair burden to other buildings. The board agreed to continue conversations and gather more detailed numbers before changing policy.
No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; administration will return with further information for discussion.
