The Sun Prairie Area School District Board of Education approved the purchase of 1,800 student Chromebooks from Trafera at a cost not to exceed $650,500 during a special meeting held on March 9. The meeting took place at the District Support Center in Room 106.
The decision to invest in new Chromebooks is part of the district’s ongoing effort to maintain its 1:1 device program for students. There is no cost to families for these devices. Director of Digital Media, Innovation and Strategy Curt Mould said that $522,000 will cover the cost of the Chromebooks and management licenses, with the remaining funds allocated for warranty and repair under technology budget Fund 10. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Nick Reichhoff said that funding will come from the district’s 2026-27 budget.
Mould explained that quotes were requested in December to secure better pricing, as early orders are believed to save money. He also noted past challenges with less expensive devices during pandemic virtual meetings and said that “the District now goes with a more expensive processor that is more robust and a benefit to students.” Feedback from students about their needs led to choosing an eight-gigabyte processor model which Mould described as standard in larger urban districts.
Mould added that instead of purchasing 2,000 devices as originally planned, existing eighth-grade Chromebooks will be repurposed for elementary school device carts or used as loaners when repairs are needed. He also stated that students now keep their devices for four years rather than three, resulting in additional savings. “This is all an effort to save us money,’’ Mould said.
Reichhoff addressed concerns about timing by saying: “It may feel like it is a rush, but we purchase Chromebooks all the time… This won’t come as a surprise to community members.” Four bids were received for this purchase; new devices will go to students in grades six through nine.
During discussion on future meetings, Board president Diana McFarland emphasized updating the annual calendar based on member input and prioritizing topics raised by both board members and community feedback. She asked: “What do we want to do with our time, at least for the next six weeks?… I just want to make sure we are on the same page on how we spend our meeting time.’’
Melissa Grayson suggested focusing efforts on selecting a new superintendent over addressing other issues during upcoming meetings. The board reviewed plans for regular meetings scheduled throughout April including swearing-in ceremonies and officer elections.
