A student Chromebook typically costs just over $400, but when purchased with bond funds, the average cost of the initial device goes from $405 to $715 per device when factoring interest.
Bob Deneau, chief information officer, said Chromebooks are an important part of students’ learning.
“Chromebooks are compatible with these digital resources at a good price point for school districts,” Deneau said.
Rockwood Technology purchases Chromebooks with a 4-year total care warranty that covers all costs associated with accidental Chromebook breakage and keeps maintenance costs low.
“A safe, secure and reliable network is key to learning with digital resources and devices such as Chromebooks,” Deneau said.
Proposition 3, which is on the Tuesday, Nov. 7, ballot, aims to shift the district’s financial priorities from long-term debt interest payments to annual safety, technology and facility maintenance.
This shift will occur by having a dedicated annual levy for these items to ensure that 100% of proceeds go to schools instead of banks in the form of interest.
If Prop 3 passes, MHS may benefit through having 2-way radios, updating door access control and monitoring system, updating and adding security cameras, revamping the intruder alarm system and creating a surveillance station for the School Resource Officer (SRO).
“The district will have to assess the costs of projects, and not all things will be done as seen fit,” Sophomore Principal Kyle Devine said.
Mary LaPak, Chief Communications Officer, said that the last bond issue funds have been depleted, and today’s interest rates are higher than they were in April 2022. Needed resources cost more than $30 million annually.
“We are simply asking taxpayers to allow us to reallocate tax revenue we are already receiving from debt to capital projects,” LaPak said.
If Prop 3 passes, it will accumulate approximately $26-$27 million annually when fully phased in.
If Prop 3 does not pass, the district will again return to voters with bond issues to fund annual safety, technology and facility updates. The district would continue to fix major issues as they occur; however, long-range preventative maintenance would fall behind.
“All priority projects at every school can be funded in the first few years if Prop 3 passes, but we want all patrons to be informed about which projects have been identified as priorities at each school,” LaPak said. “The absence of a transfer to Capital Projects is already taking a toll on schools.”
