Board told to expect recommendation to buy classroom Chromebook carts for K–5; carts priced at about $273,200 from bond funds

A technology presentation to the Waterford Board of Education recommended switching K–5 classrooms from a 1:1 Chromebook take-home model to classroom cart sets, citing teacher survey results, device longevity and lower long-term replacement costs.

The presenter said more than 80% of K–2 teachers and over 70% of grades 3–5 teachers favored the cart setup. The district showed an "Elevate Air" open-cart model that charges devices via USB‑C and avoids bulky locking doors and individual charging blocks. The presenter said carts will keep devices charged overnight, which improves battery longevity and reduces replacement cycles.

Staff described the procurement route: the vendor Bloom is Ramsey-contracted for the chosen manufacturer and the purchase is planned to be funded from bond dollars. The presenter estimated the cart purchase at approximately $273,200; the carts carry varying warranties (cart lifetime warranty, charging block two years, charging cords one year). Trustees clarified that the quoted cost covers carts only and does not include Chromebooks themselves.

Staff said they will bring a recommendation at the next board meeting to award the contract and noted the cooperative procurement source (REMC) used for technology purchases. Trustees asked about rollout timing, classroom logistics and whether cart charging responsibility would fall to teachers (staff confirmed teachers/students would handle daily plugging).