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Craven County board backs DPI screen-use guidance and approves several tech contracts
Summary
At a work session, the Craven County Board of Education reviewed North Carolina DPI guidance on intentional screen use, debated K–5 iPad use and equity, and approved purchases and renewals including Actively Learn ($164,196) and a Moseley device-management contract ($106,590).
The Craven County Board of Education on July 1 reviewed newly released state guidance urging ‘‘intentional’’ and developmentally appropriate device use in classrooms and approved a series of technology contracts the district says are needed to support instruction.
Assistant superintendent Lilly and library-media coordinator Emrick presented guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction distinguishing active and passive screen use and stressing teacher modeling, tech-free instructional moments, and professional learning for media coordinators and teachers. The presentation noted the district’s digital learning plan (published 2022) and said the next steps include staff training, an iPad request form, and local rubrics to align apps to standards.
The board then addressed how that guidance intersects with existing investments. Dr. Sellers requested approval of a one-year Actively Learn subscription for secondary ELA, science and social studies to give teachers shared, leveled digital texts and annotation tools; the contract was stated as $164,196 and the board unanimously approved proceeding. Separately, Ms. Sean asked the board to renew the district’s Apple device-management services with Moseley Corporation for 2026–27 at $106,590; that invoice likewise passed unanimously.
Board members pressed staff on evidence and equity concerns. Miss Mason and others questioned K–5 iPad use, citing classroom observations and district test-score trends and urging analysis tying device usage to performance. Staff replied that state testing is online (with paper exceptions specified in IEP/504 plans), that some accessibility features and instructional platforms (for example, Lexia and Active Learn) support remediation and differentiation, and that the district will analyze return on investment and usage patterns.
Officials also acknowledged digital access gaps: some families lack home internet, which affects equity of device-dependent homework; several board members suggested pursuing legislative remedies or alternate policies such as designated ‘‘tech-free’’ days. Staff noted that device management, filtering, app deployment and reporting features provided by the Moseley contract are integral to enforcing district settings and providing teacher dashboards for progress monitoring.
The board’s actions leave the district with an approved instructional platform and device-management contract while moving forward with DPI-recommended training and a plan to monitor outcomes. The board directed staff to return with metrics and implementation details during the coming months.
