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Board hears plan to buy 98 desktops and ~708 Chromebooks; action slated for April 8
Summary
District technology staff recommended replacing aging equipment with 98 HP desktop computers and about 690 HP Chromebooks plus 18 touchscreen units for Wilkshire. Total not-to-exceed cost was estimated and the purchase would come from the technology capital outlay or sinking fund; the board was asked to act on April 8.
The Haslett Board of Education on March 11 received a recommendation to replace aging technology across the district: 98 Hewlett-Packard desktop computers and roughly 708 HP 11-inch Chromebooks, including 18 touchscreen Chromebooks for Wilkshire's STEAM lab. Jeff Cassin, who presented the plan, asked the board to approve a not-to-exceed authorization to allow staff to place an order when the statewide purchasing window opens in mid-April.
Cassin said the desktop purchase would be paid from the district's technology capital outlay budget and proposed a not-to-exceed figure of $57,820 for 98 HP desktop units (exact pricing to be determined by the statewide bid award expected by April 1). He estimated the combined Chromebook devices and required Chrome management licenses would result in a total anticipated not-to-exceed expense of about $180,900. Cassin said the statewide device purchasing program satisfies the board's bidding requirements and frequently yields sizable discounts.
Board members asked whether 18 touchscreen Chromebooks would be sufficient for Wilkshire's STEAM lab; Cassin said those touchscreen units would replace an existing lab of about 18 desktop computers and that teachers plan group rotations rather than simultaneous full-class use. He also said the district has about 550–575 desktop computers and that this purchase would replace roughly 20% of the inventory.
Cassin described equipment disposition practices: the district solicits offers from recycling companies and historically received resale amounts ranging from about $2,500 to $9,000 depending on demand and condition. He told the board the statewide purchasing program typically reduces cost by roughly 40% compared with retail pricing because vendors provide educational discounts and aggregated-volume pricing.
Cassin asked the board to take action at the April 8 meeting to authorize the purchase so staff can submit a purchase order once vendor award and delivery windows are confirmed.
