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Board approves 60 staff laptops and 500 Chromebooks ahead of expected vendor price hikes
Summary
Marquette schools approved the purchase of 60 staff laptops and 500 student Chromebooks for $152,723.80 to maintain the district's 1:1 replacement cycle and a new five-year laptop refresh. Staff cited vendor warnings of 40%–60% price increases for next bid contracts.
Technology Director Eli Gladwell recommended purchasing 60 staff laptops and 500 student Chromebooks before anticipated vendor price increases; the Board approved the purchase by motion (5-0).
Gladwell explained the purchases will sustain the district's one-to-one Chromebook program (students entering 6th grade receive a new device to keep through 12th grade) while initiating a five-year replacement cycle for staff laptops. The packet lists device pricing through a REMC bid: HP ProBook-series staff laptops (60 units) and HP Fortis-series Chromebooks (500 units) for a combined quote of $152,723.80. Gladwell told the board vendors have warned of contract price increases of 40%–60% for 2026–27 bids, which factored into the recommendation to order now.
A motion to approve the purchases was made by Cherryl Maddox-Smith and seconded by Eric Smith; the motion carried 5-0. Staff said the purchases will be funded from the Capital Projects Fund and related transfers approved in the budget amendment.
