A Modified BYOD Program for Grosse Pointe Public Schools

The Grosse Pointe Public School Board of Education has reached an impasse while trying to update the District’s antiquated technology infrastructure.  The confusion that has erupted in the past month is evidence that a bond should not be on the ballot this November.  To advance this bond proposal and prepare Grosse Pointe students for the challenges ahead, District officials need to think outside the box.

Ms. Gafa has stated that she can not vote for a bond proposal that would require the Board to return to voters when the money is gone, because the Administration wasn’t able to fund everything that was needed.  Her concerns are valid, and when I looked at the proposal I noticed that once the bond expired the District would need to find a way to fund the proposed 1:1 program

My plan for how to get devices in the hands of students in a sustainable and cost effective manner is for the Grosse Pointe Public School System provides a selection of personal computing devices for sale at a discounted rate (GPPSS pays 25%, individual pays 75%).

The Specifics

Children living in the geographical boundaries of GPPSS, but do not necessarily attend GPPSS schools, ages 6-18 could purchase up to 3 devices through this program.  Families would have a maximum of four (4) years to pay off the cost of the device, without interest.  GPPSS would sign maintenance contracts with local computer repair businesses to maintain the devices purchased under this program at no cost to students enrolled in the District.  Each device purchased through the program would have their serial numbers recorded in a master database, devices purchased by students enrolled in the district would have their serial number stored in a separate database.  Only devices in this separate database are eligible for support through the District’s contracts.  Students not attending a GPPSS school can purchase support/repair coverage from GPPSS.  Students on Free/Reduced Price Lunch would be eligible for an additional discount.  The database of all serial numbers will be given to local police departments, if a device is lost or stolen and found by police they can return it to the proper owner.  As this is an semi-unfunded liability, local municipalities would be asked to make a one-time contribution to a “Dissolution Fund.”  This fund is to be maintained at a level equal to or greater than the liability.  If local municipalities did not wish to contribute, the program would not be open to residents of their community who do not attend a school in GPPSS.  In the event that municipalities did not make a contribution, the District would establish a “Dissolution Fund” with existing operating funds.  After the fund has been established, and has met a minimum balance the budget would be restored and any fees assessed to increase revenue would be reduced.  In the event that the program needed to end, the District would be able to pay off the liabilities immediately, while individuals continue to pay the District for their devices.    To comply with the State law, spelled out in a 2003 memo from former Superintendent Tom Watkins, that districts must provide items free of charge for any required or elective course, items such as pencils, paper, crayons, scissors and glue sticks, the District would purchase a sufficient number of computing devices for student use during the school day.  These devices would be owned by the District, and would be unavailable outside of school.  The District would purchase insurance to protect themselves against unforeseen emergency costs (Natural disaster occurs in the Pointe’s and large numbers of devices are destroyed at the same time and all need repairs).  Using the District calculated expected cost of devices ($500):

• The District would pay $125, leaving the individual to pay for $375 over 4 years.
• The annual cost to the individual for one (1) device would be $93.75
• Over the course of 12 years (6-18) an individual in this program would expect to pay $1,125 for 3 devices.
• The cost to the District to fund the first 9,000 of these devices would be $1,125,000 ($3,075,000 less than the anticipated cost of a 1:1 program).
• A 1:1 program would require additional IT staff totaling $170,000/yr, using 2 additional IT staff at $85,000/yr each (no basis for amount, just a guess).  Dr. Harwood has commented that repairs on devices in other districts have been small in number.  If small is 10% or less, 900 devices would be able to receive $188 worth of care each year.

What this solves?

• It solves the need for more funding at the end of a ten or seven year bond.
• It is cheaper than a 1:1 program, but still gives students the opportunity to have a device.
• It allows for students to choose what devices work best for their learning style.  Not every student will find the iPad helpful.
• The District doesn’t own thousands of outdated devices.
• Provides incentive for people to move into the District.
• If the District experiences a large influx of students, it will be able to accommodate them with affordable devices without placing additional strains on the technology budget.

Grosse Pointe Public School System is known for being innovative, and on the leading edge of “out-of-the-box” thinking (think teacher contracts).  We have an opportunity to lead the way once again.  Providing devices in this fashion will significantly reduce the financial burden placed on the District, thus allowing for a smaller technology bond.  Finally, if the program needs to be dissolved, the financial burden of the district is eliminated no later than four (4) years after dissolution.

Students in Grosse Pointe deserve better technology and taxpayers deserve a better deal, the above plan satisfies both of those criteria.

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