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District considers 2Gb E‑Rate upgrade and rush purchase of Chromebooks amid supply squeeze
Summary
District technology staff recommended upgrading to a 2 Gbps E‑Rate connection and warned of a national shortage and price spike for student devices; staff urged the board to consider a time-limited purchase of about 300 Chromebooks from a local vendor to avoid higher future costs.
District technology staff told the board the district is currently on a 1 Gbps connection and proposed upgrading to a 2 Gbps E‑Rate‑funded line to reduce occasional lag during peak use. The vendor quote discussed was roughly $1,459.80 per month pre‑discount; with the district's typical 60% E‑Rate discount, the local cost would be substantially lower.
On devices, Mr. Davis said the market for end‑user devices has tightened because of broader data‑center demand for RAM and other parts. He said devices that previously cost about $369 are now approaching $1,000 for comparable machines and that resellers are quoting four‑day holds on prices. Mr. Davis recommended the district consider Chromebooks and flagged a local vendor (RTI) offering a limited run of about 300 touchscreen Chromebooks at a price the district could honor if it acted quickly.
Board members and staff discussed logistics for transitioning from Windows PCs to Chromebooks, warranty start dates, teacher-device needs and possible phased rollouts. One board member urged caution about locking into a specific brand or model but supported acting quickly if a demonstrably good deal is on the table.
Administration emphasized the operational importance of reliable connectivity and devices, noting that standardized testing and digital curricula depend on bandwidth and sufficient end devices. The board asked staff to continue price and vendor verification and to return with purchase recommendations and contract terms for consideration at the next finance meeting.
Next steps: technology staff will gather final bids, confirm E‑Rate timelines and discounts, document warranty terms and bring a procurement recommendation to the board.
