Chromebook laptop purchase on agenda for McCook schools

McCOOK, Neb. — The purchase of 550 Chromebooks for the high school and a contract for a new business manager will be up for approval at the regular McCook Board of Education meeting Monday, night, 6:30 p.m., at the McCook Junior High conference room.

The board will also be asked to approve two resignations, a donation from McCook National Bank’s Bison debit card and a policy concerning safe pupil transportation.

The purchase of Chromebooks comes as McCook High School is cycling out of its first implementation of 1:1, meaning each student has their own laptop. In 2014, the board approved buying Apple iPads at $244,000. One board member at that time brought up the option of using a Chromebook instead of the pricer iPads, but the technology director at that time said it was his understanding that state testing could not be assessed on the Chromebooks.

According to Monday night’s school board packet, administrators of McCook Public Schools have concluded that Chromebooks better fits student’s needs rather than the iPads. Three different Chromebook models were tested and the HP x 360 G1 11EE, that includes a world-facing camera and stylus, was priced at $164,840.50 for a total of 550 devices. Reasons given for the change includes the addition of a keyboard on Chromebooks, stronger filter and management system and the capability of using a cloud-based storage. State assessments can also be used on the devices.

The board will also be asked to approve Monday night a contract with John T. Brazell as McCook Schools business manager. Current business manager Rick Haney is leaving at the end of this school year.

Brazell has been the director of business affairs at Beatrice Public Schools from 2010 to the present. Before that, he was superintendent/elementary principal at Anita CSD in Anita, Iowa from 2007-10; superintendent/elementary principal at Freeman Public Schools in Adams, Neb., from 2000-07; elementary principal at Elkhorn Valley Schools in Tilden, Neb., from 1991-2000; and K-12 principal at the Spalding Academy in Spalding, Neb., from 1989-91.

Resignations the board will be asked to approve Monday night come from Haley Wurst, third-grade teacher at McCook Elementary, and Meghan Gregg, school psychologist.

Other items the board will consider approving includes the $1,866.75 donation to the school district, received from McCook National Bank’s Bison debit card and a policy that outlines safety procedures for students riding McCook Schools buses. Areas addressed in the policy include mechanical breakdowns, severe weather and student behavior on the bus.