Board tables Chromebook RFP after vendor price shocks; approves purchase plan for 750 laptops
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Summary
Board tabled the Chromebook procurement due to sudden vendor price increases tied to AI-driven component shortages; the board approved a laptop purchase plan for up to 750 units with a maximum projected cost of $651,712.50 (vote recorded as 7–1; one recusal).
The Barrow County Board of Education on Jan. 6 voted to table a Chromebook RFP after district IT staff reported abrupt vendor price increases tied to industry demand for memory and storage components.
Mister John St. Clair (IT) told the board that after Thanksgiving he and vendors began receiving notices that component manufacturers had shifted supply toward artificial-intelligence manufacturing, causing consumer memory prices to spike. He said the low-bid respondent later acknowledged an error that raised their price by about $255,000, and a second vendor reported an increase of approximately $157,000, prompting the superintendent to recommend tabling the Chromebook award to seek updated bids.
The board agreed to table the Chromebook RFP (motion by Miss Kelly; second by Mister Calloway). No formal tally was recorded in the public transcript for the tabling motion beyond the board agreeing to table the item.
On a separate action, the board considered a laptop purchase to replace end-of-life teacher machines. IT recommended purchasing up to 750 Dell laptops from three respondents (Golden 5, Millier Tech and Dell) in an allocation plan that uses stock available at each vendor in sequence. The recommendation listed a maximum combined cost of $651,712.50 using refresh funds. Presenters warned that available stock will determine how many units can be bought at each vendor’s quoted price and that prices are changing rapidly.
A motion to approve the laptop RFP was made (motion by Miss Hendricks, seconded by Miss Brent). Miss Gomez announced a recusal. The motion passed with a recorded tally of 7–1.
Board discussion noted surplus disposition plans for replaced devices (district uses a turnkey surplus vendor that grades and auctions used devices and returns proceeds to the district). IT said Dell would hold pricing through Jan. 19 for part of the purchase window but that longer-term market stabilization is not expected until 2028.
Action items recorded in the meeting packet will be returned for formal contract execution consistent with board approval.