District recommends laptop refresh for middle schools, adds $25 protective case to reduce breakage

Ms. Feiner and technology staff presented the district’s middle-school device-refresh schedule and recommended proceeding with upgraded laptops for grades 6–8, with devices scheduled to arrive in August 2025 if approved.

Staff said principals evaluated device options (iPad, Chromebook, laptop) and preferred continuing with laptops. Missy Johnson, technology staff, identified the model in use as the "31 40" device, described its specifications—8 GB RAM and a 256 GB solid-state drive— and said the purchase would include pro support covering one accidental break per year and an extended three-year battery warranty.

Johnson also recommended adding a protective Gumdrop case at an estimated $25 per device. She cited Onslow County, which the staff said had implemented the same case and reported a 92% reduction in breakage after adoption.

“If we implement a $25 Gumdrop case, we hope that’ll do the same for us,” Johnson said.

Staff said the intent is to order the devices in late December or early January to be ready for the 2025–26 school year. Committee members asked whether cases would be purchased for existing devices; staff responded that, because high-school breakage is lower (about 17%) and a high-school refresh is planned next year, the district anticipates reusing devices collected from middle schools for high school and deferring some case purchases.

Ms. Dawson reminded the committee that tech refreshes are already budgeted in the district’s capital allocations. The chair asked that the Dell Latitude approval for the middle-school refresh be placed on the Dec. 9 board agenda for formal action, and asked the finance committee to identify funding for cases.

Next steps: the committee referred the refresh approval to the Dec. 9 board meeting and asked staff and finance to prepare cost and funding details.