Selectmen approve school technology purchases and E‑Rate network upgrade after debate over bids and warranties

The Waterford Board of Selectmen approved several Board of Education technology purchases and an E‑Rate‑supported network upgrade after questions about procurement sourcing and warranty coverage.

A written public comment read into the record by the chair urged the board to reject the Board of Education's technology request. "I urge the Board of Selectmen not to approve this request," the comment from Helen Kwasniewski said, adding that the Board of Education had requested a $3,000,000 budget increase.

Board members then considered a Board of Education request to purchase Chromebooks, desktops and tablets through cooperative purchasing contracts. Board members questioned using an out‑of‑state consortium and asked for backup bid documentation. One Selectman moved to table the Chromebook award until all bid backups were provided; the motion failed for lack of a second.

Board of Education staff explained the procurement process and defended the recommended vendors as the lowest qualified bids and emphasized warranty and white‑glove setup services. "This includes a 40 year warranty, white glove service on the setup...they actually come to us already set up," a Board of Education presenter said, describing the contract terms that include device setup and turnaround for damaged units.

Members also discussed refurbished devices and insurance. Staff said refurbished units typically carry only short warranties and have shorter useful battery life, so the district preferred new devices with a multi‑year warranty. The presenter said the district offers an optional parent insurance plan; accidental damage is covered under the vendor warranty but intentional damage would be billed to parents.

On a separate agenda item, the board approved a federal E‑Rate grant‑backed award for access points and switches to Total Communications Inc. in the amount of $222,353; the Board of Education's share after E‑Rate reimbursement is $111,176.50. A presenter explained E‑Rate is a federal education fund that reimburses a portion of eligible networking purchases based on the district's free and reduced‑price lunch percentages; Waterford qualified for about a 50% reimbursement rate.

The chair instructed staff to correct agenda language for a vendor award that mistakenly listed "desktop computers" when the intention was iPads before finalizing paperwork. The meeting adjourned after the votes.

Next steps: staff will finalize award paperwork and forward appropriations and contract awards to the Board of Finance as required.