Board facing huge expense for technology

School board members learned last week that the parish system is facing a huge expense as it moves to equip schools and students with the latest in computer-based technology.
The price tag could run as high as $3.3 million over the next two to four years.
The needs (and wish) list includes new end-of-course testing platforms, on-line testing computers, interactive display systems for every classroom, and Chromebook tablets and laptop computers for most of the parish’s students.
The board has set aside $1.5 million of the $64.5 million generated by its 2016 bond issue for technology but has not explored other funding sources for the balance of the new technology.
Board members heard a presentation from its technology staff during a special meeting last week.
Christine Foster, technology and virtual program supervisor, outlined the various needs, including 210 computers needed immediately at the parish’s three high schools in order for students to take the new state end-of-course tests in December. That carries a price tag of $254,535.
Another 35 computers are needed at St. Martinville Primary for testing to be conducted in April.
She also pointed out that the district currently has 408 interactive display systems but there are 55 teachers without the units in their classrooms. And the systems in 136 classrooms are more than eight years old and another 210 are between four and seven years old.
The units cost anywhere from $4,800 to $5,700 each.
The projected cost of purchasing more than 150 new systems over the next three years and then buying 40 more each year could run to as much as $2.1 million.
The cost of purchasing Chromebooks for all 5th through 8th grade students as well as for high school English, social studies, math and science classes over the next two years was put at $1,257,512.
And staffers say it will cost another $1 million to purchase Chromebooks for all the parish’s K-4 students three to four years down the road.
Board members were expected to authorize the purchase of the testing computers during today’s (Wednesday) monthly meeting but no firm decisions on the other technology equipment and possible sources of funding, have yet been discussed in detail.