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Northville board approves $2.7 million Chromebook purchase to expand elementary device fleet
Summary
The board authorized a $2,697,989 contract funded by the sinking fund to buy rugged 11-inch Chromebooks for K-12 use, aiming to keep devices in each building for state testing, digital curriculum access and to reduce device-sharing disruptions to instruction.
The Northville Public Schools Board of Education voted to award a contract to purchase K-12 Chromebooks totaling approximately $2,697,989, funded by the district's sinking fund.
Treasurer Lisa McIntyre presented the motion, saying the district needs more devices so elementary schools do not lose access when Chromebooks are moved to middle or high schools for state assessments. "We keep taking the Chromebooks away from our elementary kids and they don't have access ... this will allow us to have an existing fleet that lives in both spaces," McIntyre said.
A district technology staff member explained administrators had acted quickly to secure a price window amid supply constraints. The staff member said the devices are rugged, 11-inch Chromebooks with a flip touch screen that better suit early-elementary students and allow the district to shift older devices to middle and high schools.
Administration described instructional and equity rationales: state assessments and benchmark tools require district devices, some digital literacy and intervention resources provide differentiated learning pathways, and having a consistent device model reduces lost instructional time when teachers are troubleshooting varied home devices.
Board members questioned how the rollout aligns with classroom workflow and whether the devices' management would reduce login and support burdens for teachers; administrators said the Chromebooks are easier to manage than mixed-device fleets and that buildings would still control checkout for at-home use.
The motion passed with board members voting in favor.
