Staff requests $94,400 for 200 student laptops as part of wider technology budget increase

The Winslow School Board heard a technology-budget request focused on replacing aging student laptops, with district technology staff saying the plan calls for buying about 200 devices next year and moving toward a five‑year replacement cycle.

A staff member presenting the two‑page technology budget said the request seeks an additional $79,160 overall and noted that "that is the outright cost to buy them" and that the line for new student devices is about "$94,400 in new devices for students." The presenter explained that the district has roughly 1,000 devices and aims to replace about 20% per year so machines remain on a five‑year rotation.

Board members asked whether that 200‑device buy is an urgent catch‑up or part of a steady cycle; the presenter said the district had leaned on a state laptop program that provides about one grade level a year but that those allocations have not kept pace since COVID. On leasing, the presenter cautioned that interest‑rate uncertainty makes lease pricing variable and said the district will compare purchase versus financing options when finalizing plans.

The request was framed as catching up on a cluster of devices bought around 2020 that are now five or six years old and more likely to suffer battery and software‑support issues. The presenter noted the district refurbishes parts where possible and maintains a pool of spare screens and spare units for testing and standardized assessments.

If the board approves the technology lines as presented, the district would use a mix of state program allocations and local funding to reach the five‑year replacement target while continuing to evaluate lease financing based on prevailing interest rates and vendor terms.

The board moved on to other budget lines after the discussion; no formal vote on the technology package was recorded at this meeting.