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Board asks for costs and tradeoffs for removing or scaling back K–2 Chromebooks
Summary
Members requested precise cost comparisons for providing 1:1 Chromebooks for K–2 versus classroom cart sets; staff will supply costs, licensing and projected program replacement costs and model impacts on instruction and teacher workload before the March decisions.
Board members asked staff for a clear, itemized comparison of the cost and instructional tradeoffs of maintaining 1:1 Chromebooks in kindergarten through second grade versus using classroom cart sets or delaying device introduction until third grade.
"So if you have a set of 10, the idea would be that you could use those Chromebooks in a small group setting," a staff presenter explained, describing how carts could be used for assessment or small-group instruction. Several board members said they were concerned about screen time for the youngest learners and asked whether eliminating devices in K–1 (or K–2) could save money without harming readiness for later assessments.
Staff committed to returning with a package of options and costs, including device replacement schedules, licensing costs for online resources, possible reallocation of existing devices to other grades, and an analysis of teacher workload and required consumables should devices be reduced. The superintendent said staff would provide the cost comparisons prior to the SEON/CIP decision points so the board could give direction before the March 24 adoption vote.
