Erie schools to pilot 41 Pocketalk devices to aid multilingual family engagement
Erie School District Board of Directors (Committee of the Whole / Regular Session) · December 11, 2025
Summary
The district will pilot 41 Pocketalk handheld translators as a short‑term measure to improve staff-family communication; devices will be deployed at two per building with additional units at Erie High, and staff said the district already owns software (Guardian) for complaint tracking.
The Erie School District board on Dec. 10 heard details of a pilot purchase for 41 Pocketalk handheld translation devices intended to improve communication with multilingual families.
"Pocket Talk is a translation device that is offered in 92 different languages," Mr. Brockman told the board while outlining an initial rollout plan that would stage two devices per school building, with additional units at Erie High and at receptionist desks. He said the devices are intended for staff‑family interfacing and not for regular classroom instruction.
Board members asked whether the devices require a subscription or ongoing software fee and whether they support all of the district’s top languages. Mr. Brockman said Pocketalk covers nine of the district’s top 10 languages (Kurdish was noted as the one not currently included) and that adding languages may be handled via device software updates rather than a separate subscription.
Questions about cost arose during the discussion. A director noted an understanding that a pilot figure of about $12,000 had been discussed; Superintendent Gibbs and others clarified that individual devices cost about "$400 plus" each and that a $400,000 total referenced earlier was incorrect. Staff committed to verifying whether additional per‑language charges or subscription costs apply.
On logistics, the district highlighted that home‑language information is collected in the Infinite Campus enrollment packet and that devices will rely on network connectivity; board members confirmed the district would pilot the devices to collect usage data before any broader rollout.
The board signaled general comfort with proceeding with the pilot pending verification of final pricing and any subscription details.
Next steps noted in the meeting: staff will confirm procurement pricing and any ongoing costs and report back to the board; the pilot is intended to produce usage data to inform possible expansion.
