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Poudre School District board approves 2026 device‑refresh plan amid questions on K–5 screen time
Summary
The board authorized purchase orders to renew and refresh student and staff devices and debated platform choices, screen‑time policies and opt‑out options; the motion passed 5–1.
The Poudre School District R-1 Board approved expenditures authorizing staff to issue purchase orders to vendors for the 2026 student and staff device refresh after a presentation and extended discussion Tuesday evening.
Chief Technology Officer Bud Hunt described the district’s device program, funded through a 20.10 mill levy, as a recurring investment that supports a K–12 one‑to‑one or cart model depending on grade band. Hunt said Chromebooks are provisioned for K–2 (often as classroom carts) and Windows laptops for grades 3–12, and emphasized a four‑year refresh cycle with devices sometimes reused beyond that lifecycle. He warned of short‑term price pressures driven by high demand for certain components.
Board members pressed staff on screen time, whether new math or literacy curriculum requires devices to go home with elementary students, and whether parents can opt out. Hunt said district policy sets baseline device controls and that parents currently do not have a districtwide opt‑out; some site‑level or individual arrangements can be made in limited circumstances. He described plans for pilot work and committee review to refine K–5 device ratios, screen‑time expectations and assessment‑window management.
Several directors praised classroom management features and said they wanted clearer, specific examples of technology concerns from parents. On a recorded vote the motion passed 5–1.
Next steps: staff will proceed with procurement and pilots described in the presentation, and the board signaled interest in receiving specific recommendations on K–5 device policy and usage in future meetings.
