District demonstrates Ayla Pro translators bought with $175,000 newcomer funds

The Morgan County School District No. Re-3 Fort Morgan demonstrated a handheld translation device the district purchased using state 'newcomer' funds.

Speaker 2 said the district applied for newcomer money and received $175,000, and that the district bought Ayla Pro units costing about $2,500 each with three years of vendor support and an estimated $400-per-year maintenance cost after that. "This tool allows for immediate accurate communication across multiple languages," the presenter said, describing plans to distribute units to school buildings and keep one at the district office for family visits.

Staff explained the device supports roughly 160 languages and can run in a broadcast-room mode so multiple listeners can select their preferred language and hear or read translated text. The presenter said initial use during kindergarten registration showed the devices provided near-real-time translations and that the district expects the tools to reduce dependence on outside interpretation services and shorten response times for families.

District staff said one device was ordered to trial the technology before expanding purchases and that units will be deployed to buildings and the central office to assist front-office staff when multilingual families arrive. No dollar amount was given for the total number of units ordered beyond the per-unit price and the $175,000 allocation.

The district did not frame the purchase as replacing certified interpreter services for formal meetings; rather, staff described the devices as a day-to-day customer-service tool to improve access for families, especially during registration events. The board did not take formal action solely on this demonstration; it was presented as an informational item.