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Board weighs $50,000 one‑time tech purchase and capital moves to fund portables as part of draft budget
Summary
Board reviewed a draft 1.0 budget that includes a staff ask for a $50,000 technology purchase for PCIA students and a proposal to move $200,000 into capital projects toward portable classrooms; staff suggested using newly available forest grant dollars to buy laptops this summer and begin an adoption cycle.
At a budget workshop, Mill A School District staff told the board they had identified roughly $49,248 in additional federal forest funds this year and proposed using those funds to accelerate a one‑time purchase of student and teacher laptops so PCIA is ready for the fall.
Kelly read a student statement describing frequent hardware failures and slow machines that disrupted coding and 3D‑modeling classes. "Having new reliable computers would make a huge difference for our school," the student said (statement read by staff).
Staff proposed a $50,000 one‑time purchase for hardened laptops for PCIA students and several staff devices, and outlined a plan to move to a rolling adoption cycle (for example, buying a tranche of devices each year to avoid large one‑time outlays). The discussion covered options for hardened devices versus lower‑cost Chromebooks, the need for some higher‑capability machines for advanced programming and 3D work, and the possibility of phasing purchases as enrollment grows. Staff estimated the one‑time purchase could supply roughly 15–20 capable laptops depending on configuration and prioritization between students and staff.
On facilities, staff proposed shifting $200,000 into the capital projects fund; with continued transfers the district would aim to approach an estimated $500,000 needed for site preparation and installation of a portable classroom. Board members asked about used portables from nearby districts and potential donations to reduce cost.
The board asked staff to provide vendor quotes and an implementation plan at the next workshop. Staff also said state Representative Kevin Waters would meet with district leaders to advocate for a modernization grant that could help fund safety and facilities upgrades.
No final spending decision was made; the board instructed staff to return with quotes and options at the June budget workshops so the board could consider timing and whether to use this year’s grant money to equip students before the fall term.
