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Board approves Chromebook refresh and network/UPS upgrades to modernize district IT
Summary
The board approved a Chromebook lease to replace ~410 aged devices and authorized HB450‑funded cooperative contracts to install UPS units and replace end‑of‑life network switches and access points; administrators cited security risks, outages and E‑Rate opportunities.
Pojoaque Valley's board approved a set of IT investments on Dec. 17 to replace aging student Chromebooks and to shore up the district's network and power protection.
Director of IT Will Krizette recommended leasing about 410 replacement Chromebooks (the vendor offered a 4‑year lease with a deferred payment schedule). Krizette said the lease reduces e‑waste, provides warranty and repair services, and allows a predictable refresh cadence; the district has about 1,500 devices overall and prioritized roughly 410 units older than five years for immediate replacement. The board voted to approve the refresh proposal.
The board also approved cooperative‑education services (HB450) contracts for a UPS and locking‑rack project to protect critical network and security equipment. The district presented an equipment and labor estimate of roughly $289,000; E‑Rate would cover about 80% and the HB450 share (about $58,058) will be paid by the district. IT staff emphasized environmental sensors and cooling evaluations will be part of the bid process.
Separately, the board approved a network‑infrastructure replacement plan to exchange end‑of‑life switches and vendor‑specific access points (staff proposed standardizing on Aruba gear). IT staff said replacing outdated equipment will reduce packet loss and improve reliability and that cabling and fiber planning will continue as the new middle school project progresses.
Board members discussed loss/liability policies for student devices and recommended depreciated valuations for damaged or lost Chromebooks rather than full replacement cost. Administrators said the district uses inventory systems and family agreements to limit losses and will refine liability procedures.
