The Jaffrey-Rindge School District has begun to solicit bids to double its fleet of Chromebooks despite the School Board not yet approving a purchase.
Technology director Warren Luebkeman approached the board Monday, requesting the board approve a proposal to purchase 300 Chromebooks, using $62,000 in reimbursed and unused technology funds. In a 5-2 vote, the board approved to begin the bid process, but said more information is needed before a purchase would be approved.
“Our technology plan expired with the Department of Education four years ago,” said board vice chair Charlie Eicher. “I’m not opposed to bringing in more technology, but we need a plan in place so we know what we are doing with these Chromebooks, and what kind of success we are hoping to achieve with them.”
Luebkeman said he would bring more information back to the board at a future meeting, noting the school is nearing completion on upgrading the district’s infrastructure. The district is also working toward a technology curriculum, but said more time is needed.
Jaffrey-Rindge’s Chromebook pilot began in the 2014-15 school year, with the purchase of 80 Chromebooks, with 130 more added the following year, after the district determined Chromebooks should replace the school’s iPad fleet. A total of four pilot programs were created – three at the middle school and one at the high school – to explore the use of the technology in the classroom.
“Students are more intrigued and involved in class,” said middle school teacher Dayna Jackson, one of the pilot teachers. “The quality of my students’ work is going up and we are more connected.” If approved, Luebkeman said 200 of the Chromebooks will go to the elementary schools, with the remaining 100 split between the middle and high school.