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After Surface Go ends, Radnor staff recommend Chromebook Duet as one-year stopgap for freshmen
Summary
Facing discontinuation of the Surface Go and rising prices, district staff recommended a one-year Chromebook Duet rollout for incoming freshmen (2026–27) while planning a larger stakeholder process for a multi-year device strategy; committee discussed BYO, testing comparability and screen-time goals.
District leaders presented a short-term and long-term plan for student devices after Microsoft announced the Surface Go would be discontinued. Dr. Hahn told the May 5 curriculum committee that the district explored multiple vendors (Lenovo, Acer, Surface Pro 12) and surveyed students and teachers before recommending the Chromebook Duet as a one-year option for freshmen in 2026–27.
Hahn said pricing volatility was a key driver. He reported that initial Surface Pro 12 pricing had been quoted near $1,400 but that Microsoft’s published April price for a comparable Surface Pro 12 rose to about $1,800, making the device a far more expensive option. By contrast, Dr. Hahn cited a baseline price of roughly $545 per Chromebook Duet (including accessories) for the proposed one-year rollout. He said the district could offer an optional insurance plan—$20 with a $40 deductible—rather than charging families for the device itself, mirroring the insurance model used in lower grades.
Staff summarized feedback from stakeholder surveys and focus groups: a large share of students said a touch screen and stylus are important, and many teachers preferred a district-managed device to reduce classroom management problems caused by heterogeneous BYO (bring-your-own) devices. One student in the focus group cited continuity with middle-school Chromebooks as a reason to prefer a Chromebook at the high-school level.
Committee members asked whether the Commonwealth will treat PSSA science results as comparable to prior years; staff said the 2026 science PSSAs should be treated as a year-one baseline because the standards and tests have shifted substantially. Members also debated whether BYO should continue and raised concerns about classroom distractions, printing and equitable access. Some members questioned the extent to which the district needs daily devices in every classroom and asked staff to survey parents specifically about cost and durability concerns (parents, not teachers or students, are often responsible for warranty claims and repairs).
Dr. Hahn said the Chromebook Duet recommendation is intended as a stopgap for one year while the district forms a larger, demographically balanced multi-stakeholder committee next year to build a five-year device strategy that will consider instructional models, screen-time guidance and AI-related requirements. The committee did not take an immediate vote; staff said recommended procurement steps and final quotes will be sought as phase 5 of the plan, and distribution was planned for August 12 to support freshman orientation and "freshman fundamentals."
