School District #27 is currently replacing approximately 80 per cent of the classroom laptops in its schools at an estimated cost of about $350,000.
Kevin Futcher, SD27 secretary treasurer/corporate financial officer, says the May 30 open board meeting led trustees to approve the replacement of these older laptops, due to the inadequate performance and age of the equipment.
“The laptops have been ordered and are arriving. Estimated cost is approximately $350,000 and has been paid for using existing funding (district and schools’ budgets).”
Other 2017-2018 budget-related classroom items were also discussed at the meeting, he adds.
Futcher explains SD27 had conducted a review and assessment of the condition of SD27 technology equipment utilized in classrooms, as well as desks and chairs.
This review identified equipment that needs replacing, as well as recommendations to purchase new technology for use in classrooms, he adds.
Futcher says two additional proposals resulting were also presented to trustees at the meeting – one for the purchase of technology equipment, and the other for desks and chairs – which together have an additional estimated cost of approximately $350,000.
The financial officer says the other equipment needing replacement discussed on May 30 included projector screens, digital display projectors, and desks and chairs, but those are only approved for purchase by trustees if there is room in this year’s budget.
These items include document cameras, which allow the teacher or student to quickly display a book, science experiment, 3-D objects and the like on the projector screen, as an up-to-date replacement for old overhead projectors, he adds.
While some classrooms currently have mounted projectors for digital display, Futcher notes those do not have the DVD ports they need, and many are at the end of their useful life.
“As the School District approaches its current fiscal year end, staff will review district and school budgets to determine whether these items can be purchased from within existing budgets.”
However, he says it isn’t yet clear to him what will happen if there is no room in this year’s budget for those equipment updates, as there was no discussion around that at the board meeting.
Other capital updates
Futcher says the SD27 trustees have also approved the 2018-19 five-year capital plan submitted by district staff, which has now been submitted to the Ministry of Education for their review.
“This capital plan includes the request for funds to replace two schools in the district: 100 Mile Elementary School and Marie Sharpe Elementary School (in Williams Lake), seven school buses and approximately $1.4 million in school enhancement funding.
“The school enhancement funding would be utilized to replace outdated water systems in three schools at an estimated cost of $439,000, and $1 million to replace a worn out heating/ventilation system at a school.”