Wake County unveils draft post‑pandemic device strategy; board asks for faster pilots and parent input

Wake County Public School System technology and academic leaders presented a draft post‑pandemic device strategy on Thursday that balances instructional goals, device stewardship and looming budget constraints.

Lede: Chief Padula and the cross‑functional team framed the issue as simultaneously technical, pedagogical and fiscal, noting that pandemic‑era device provisioning left Wake County with a districtwide 1:1 Chromebook ratio for K–12 and a three‑year refresh schedule. The team said devices are essential for many instructional functions but raised concern about unproductive or excessive device use in early grades.

Nut graf: Staff distilled work into five guiding principles—"learning drives instructional choices," ensure access when needed, provide deliberate student and teacher support, emphasize stewardship, and build adaptability to rapid change. They proposed near‑term actions (usage analysis, test pilots for leasing and accidental damage protection, a study of 3–5 classroom set vs. take‑home policies) and longer‑term options (realigning pre‑K/K provisioning, piloting a BYOD opt‑out policy for older students, and re‑prioritizing Promethean panels to classrooms with greatest pedagogical need).

Near‑term actions and pilots: Staff said they will pilot accidental damage protection (ADP) for sixth grade and study leasing vs. purchasing and replacement cycle length. A usage analysis of device apps and screen‑time is already underway and staff flagged a statutory requirement to report break/fix and total cost of ownership data by August 2026.

Longer‑term options: The team presented three options that could affect budget planning for 2027–28: (1) realign devices in pre‑K and kindergarten toward classroom sets rather than take‑home provisioning; (2) explore a BYOD opt‑out model in which families who meet district device specifications can decline a district device, freeing inventory for other needs; (3) rationalize interactive panels (Promethean) so they are provisioned where pedagogically most useful. Staff noted pros (cost savings, targeted provisioning) and cons (access equity, device management complexity, state testing rules that require district devices for standardized tests).

Board reaction: Trustees pressed staff on several fronts—how Promethean panels are used at different grade levels, risks and logistics of BYOD, teacher and parent input, the timeline for change, and opportunities to accelerate cost savings for the 2026–27 budget. Several trustees recommended parent education and targeted surveys; staff said parent feedback will be part of the 3–5 study and that they will convene teacher groups and peer districts to assess BYOD models.

Staff commitments and timeline: Staff proposed spring/summer near‑term work (3–5 classroom‑set recommendations, pilots, usage analysis) and longer‑term planning ahead of the 2027–28 budget cycle, with the break/fix reporting due August 2026. They also paused procurement of additional Promethean panels for 2026–27 as an immediate savings lever.

Why it matters: District decisions on device provisioning will affect classroom practice, student access, and multi‑million‑dollar procurement and refresh cycles. Trustees asked staff to return quickly with a short‑term plan that more concretely lists potential near‑term savings and the stakeholder outreach plan.

Closing: Staff said they will expedite pilots, incorporate teacher and parent input into the usage study, and return to the board with a more detailed short‑term plan and cost estimates ahead of budget deliberations.