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Board approves purchase of 2,225 Chromebooks for roughly $617,000 amid supply concerns
Summary
The board approved a superintendent recommendation to buy 2,225 Chromebooks at a total cost of $616,998.25 to replace aging devices and cover incoming ninth graders; district IT staff cited 2–6 month lead times, chip shortages and rising prices.
The board approved the superintendent's recommendation to purchase 2,225 Chromebooks at a total cost of $616,998.25. Matt O'Brien, director of technologies, told the board the district is ordering early because device market conditions are "about COVID level crazy" with chip and memory shortages pushing lead times to two to six months and causing prices to rise.
O'Brien said the order covers incoming freshmen devices, replacement devices for paraeducators and older elementary Chromebooks approaching five to seven years of age. He told trustees Dell had agreed to match last year's pricing for this order but cautioned that vendors are not guaranteeing availability until orders are placed.
Board members discussed replacement cycles and device damage. O'Brien said the most common failures are keyboards and screens and that replacement parts availability and cost drove the decision not to buy touch‑screen models across the board; he estimated touch screens would increase replacement costs materially over time even if the upfront purchase price difference appeared modest.
Trustees approved the recommendation by voice vote. O'Brien warned there may be follow‑up purchases later (for carts or other models) depending on final decisions about middle‑school device deployment, and that a supplemental purchase could be needed to support cart models for certain grades.
No detailed individual roll‑call vote totals were recorded in the transcript; the motion carried by voice vote.
