District to pilot charging carts for K–2 devices, citing lower replacement costs and less screen time at home

District staff proposed a pilot to keep kindergarten through second‑grade devices in school overnight using charging carts, arguing the move would reduce device damage, limit unnecessary screen time at home, and extend device lifespans.

Mr. Souza presented the proposal and described his testing of cart models; he said the district expects a one‑time carts investment of roughly $12,000 per grade (about $800 per cart) and estimated that keeping devices at school could defer a roughly $140,000 per‑grade replacement bill by one to two years. He described teacher discretion for sending devices home for planned e‑learning or special assignments and noted some districts send devices home before a known e‑learning day.

Board members raised practical concerns: unplanned e‑learning days, charging logistics, accommodations for families that need devices at home, and whether electricity costs and device‑loan contingencies were included in the calculations. Staff said the pilot would allow the district to evaluate logistics, teacher and parent feedback, and durability before any expansion to higher grades.

Quote: Mr. Souza framed the proposal as a long‑term investment in device longevity: "We're looking to spend some money to save a lot of money or at least defer the payment back a year or two."

Next steps: the board did not vote on the pilot at the meeting; staff will collect feedback from teachers, principals and families, run the K–2 pilot and then report back with results and recommendations for expansion or changes.