Students across the Racine Unified School District will have use of 5,000 new laptops, one of the first purchases using funds from the $128 million referendum approved in November.
“This will be the first purchase with referendum funds to address the dire and critical need in our schools to provide our students with technology,” said Unified Superintendent Lolli Haws in a story from The Journal Times.
Improving technology in the schools and student access and use of technology was one of the goals of the referendum.
The laptop purchase totals $2.26 million and includes:
- 5,250 Google Chromebooks for $325 each
- 6,000 sets of headphones for $2.70 each
- 6,000 $5.92 computer mice for $5.92 each
- 171 Chromebook carts for computer/accessory storage that will be shared. The carts are $1,300 each.
Additionally, school board members approved hiring three different architectural firms to begin design work for three building projects; adding 60,000 to 70,000 square feet to Gifford; and replacing Olympia Brown and Knapp each with a 60,000-square-foot facility, the story continues.
Partners in Design (Kenosha) was hired for the Gifford addition; Bray Architects (Milwaukee) will work on the new Knapp Elementary; and Zimmerman Architectural Studios (Milwaukee) will design the new Olympia Brown.
All three building projects are expected to complete in the next 18 months.